Concept

A series of 13 by 13 minute animated episodes, adapted from the books by Yak Rivais, published by Nathan.

Direction: Hoël Caouissin

At St.Patrick's Graveyard, everyone knows that the dead are alive!

When the children of the town come to play in the maze of paths between the graves, they find themselves playing with devils, vampires, trolls and other phantoms that haunt the graveyard. But not to worry, for even the worst of the worst graveyard spirit's plans is no match against the imagination, creativity and courage of these children.

INTRODUCTORY NOTES:

"At St.Patrick's Graveyard, everyone knows that the dead are alive!"

St.Patrick's Graveyard Tales, by Yak Rivais caught our attention because of the originality and the tone. The stories are humorous and frightening without going too far in either direction.

Additionally, they use characters from French and Celtic literature with energy and enthusiasm.

All of the stories take place in St.Patrick's Graveyard, a very animated place. In addition to the dead, resting in their graves who never fail to offer their opinions, advice and humor, the graveyard is also home to a world of both good and bad creatures.

We can rely on the devils, devil's helpers, trolls, vampires, goblins, black cats, and a whole cast of ghosts and spirits to frighten and challenge us.

Opposite to this spiritual world are the living children, who have no super powers, with one exception perhaps: their ability to think, invent, and act courageously. They come filled with common sense, humor, a sense of adventure and self-confidence. They can rely on their imagination to foil the traps of the graveyard's bad spirits and are always able to turn the situation to their favor.

These graveyard tales allow us to alternate between horror and comedy: As soon as a scary situation arrives, it will be turned around with humor which provides us with a great between laughter and screams. These stories remove the emotional drama from death with originality.

In order to add a little more spice, we will accentuate the impertinent side of the children as well as the irreverence of the tales. We will add to the episodes by increasing the spotlight on the mythical characters of the graveyard, to give the series more depth.

At the same time, each episode will have its own moral: we will modify certain stories so the children always win over the bad characters.

The graphic style (not that of Yak Rivais) will be appealing. The graveyard residents will be funny and ugly at the same time, with expressive faces and active bodies. The animation will be lively, rhythmically in a cartoon style but without the stretch, in order to maintain a touch of realism, to frighten as well as to amuse.

The human characters will be stylized, but again will maintain the realistic touch in order for the spectator to easily identify with the heroes. Of course we will happily create special effects, visual and aural: will-o'-the-wisp, glowing vapors, ghostly apparitions, trembling gravestones, storms, grumbling and much more.

The setting is simple and will always be the same: in the middle of the small town, the graveyard stands, dotted with green grass and flowers and a maze-like path moving throughout. It is shadowed by a tall ancient church and by many surrounding side chapels. When night falls, movement can be felt in the shadows as a multitude of creepy characters with strange and frightening behaviors come out to haunt the grounds.

The Graveyard and its antiquated residents will make up part of the recurring characters of this series, rich with surprises, suspense and comedy.