Danot, Serge

(1931, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France - December 23, 1990, France)

   In the early 1960s, he was the victim of an industrial injury while working as a painter on the renovation of the Eiffel Tower. During his convalescence, he began filming animated shorts. Then he joined the Cinéastes Associés Studios as a sweeper. In 1963, he made his real filmmaking debut shooting animated commercials produced by La Comète studios. He met there British animator Ivor Wood, with whom he created the animated series Le Manège enchanté (also voice, 1964). He directed the thirteen episodes of the first season in his apartment. In 1969, he founded his own studios, Danot Films. Le Manège enchanté was released in more than sixty countries and was especially popular in Great Britain, where Eric Thompson, actress Emma Thompson's father, did English adaptations and narration. Two feature films performed by his animated characters were shot after his death (2005 The Magic Roundabout / Pollux—Le Manège enchanté / USA: Sprung! The Magic Roundabout, Dave Borthwick, Jean Duval, Frank Pass-ingham, UK / France; 2006 Dougal, Dave Borthwick, Jean Duval, Frank Passingham, UK / France).

 Filmography

1970 ◘ Pollux et le Chat bleu / UK: Dougal and the Blue Cat (also original story, co-screenwriter)

 Television Filmography

1980 ◘ Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours (II X 5')