Illustration : Ankama
To mark its very first Annual Exhibition, the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation is honouring a major player in French entertainment, Ankama, with its exhibition entitled "Ankama: from Sketch to Saga, 25 Years of Creation".
The Cité invites visitors to come and explore the fascinating world of Krosmoz from 19th June 2026 to 31st January 2027.
The Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation, a one-of-a-kind cultural hub with multiple attractions
A cinema, exhibitions, a museum, artistic and cultural educational workshops, a boutique-café* and artists residencies: a divinely rich and varied programme awaits the public!
Just four months before its opening, the Cité is divulging its Annual Exhibition, focused on the prolific universe of the French studio, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
"Having Ankama on board for the opening of the Cité was an obvious choice. We wanted to kick off this first Annual Exhibition with a French success story, one that originated in this region and inspired a universe that has captivated several generations. With Anthony Roux's Krosmoz universe, Ankama has created a hugely popular saga, our "French Star Wars", which naturally extends across video games, animation and publishing. This exhibition aims to embody the rich storytelling and give animation film the recognition it rightly deserves today." – Mickaël Marin, CEO of CITIA
*scheduled to open in autumn 2026
Ankama and its epic journey in Annecy
Having been a regular presence at the Festival and the Mifa for many years and having invested heavily in an Annecy-based studio, this exhibition is the perfect opportunity for Ankama to consolidate its ties with Annecy and the Cité while also demonstrating its deep-rooted commitment to animated creation and its future.
"The Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation d'Annecy has done us a tremendous honour by showcasing the worlds of Ankama in their inaugural exhibition. It is a marvellous recognition for both our studio and its artists.
We have been developing Krosmoz as a genuine playground for over twenty-five years. We have created a space for adventure and storytelling, where we experience the narratives just as much as we tell them. It is wonderful for us to see this work be transported from our screens and notebooks to the walls of this unique venue dedicated to creation and animation. I hope you enjoy discovering this epic and burlesque world as much as we enjoyed creating it." – Anthony Roux, Creator of Krosmoz, Ankama
Krosmoz at the Cité, a participatory wonderland where media worlds collide
Ankama is leading a true creative explosion involving top animation and gaming professionals from its DOFUS video game to its feature film Dragon Princess, its WAKFU television series, and its forays with webtoons and French manga.
The Krosmoz is the perfect narrative space for observing how animation is developed across different media, with each offering a different way of connecting with its community. Ankama's fans have embraced every stage of its history, and the studio is a long-standing pioneer in a culture based on audience participation.
25 years of art history...
... and advances in creative processes will be presented in this first Annual Exhibition, which is co-produced by CITIA and Ankama. Conceptualised as an entertaining journey, the exhibition will showcase works and documents related to the Krosmoz universe, a comprehensive body of work that examines animation in all its forms. Antoine Rigaud is curator of the exhibition, whose scenography is designed by the scenorama studio. Visitors will be able to explore the creative process behind an animation work, the art of video games and all the nuances of a world and its characters.
A poster reuniting iconic characters
"To celebrate Ankama's 25th anniversary, we designed a visual reuniting iconic characters from a variety of media to illustrate the rich diversity of our worlds. Among them are Poil from Dragon Princess, representing the big screen, Yugo, the hero of our WAKFU series, and an iconic Iop from our game DOFUS. This striking image has become our anniversary symbol. It therefore seemed natural to create a specially redesigned version for the event organised at the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation in the Haras d'Annecy.
This adaptation was based on the exhibition's title: "Ankama, from Sketch to Saga". The characters spring to life, bursting out of the frame in an explosion of colour and stylised pixels.
By playing with size and scale, the composition deliberately echoes the iconic illustrations from the video game. This creates a unique dynamic galaxy, brought to life by a vibrant colour palette that stays true to the visual identity of Ankama's productions.
Each individual element has been carefully designed to evoke celebration, energy and, most importantly, our desire to share this event with all audiences." – Ankama
Working in collaboration with the CITIA teams, the visual design has been integrated into the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation's overall graphic concept.
Illustration : Ankama
About:
Ankama
Created in 2001, Ankama is an independent entertainment and digital creation group, and a key player in the gaming world. Since the phenomenal success of its online game DOFUS in 2004, Ankama has branched out into several different areas – animation series and feature films, video games, publishing –, and become a true transmedia group.
CITIA
CITIA, a public cultural cooperation institution (EPCC), runs the Cité internationale du cinéma, organises the International Animation Film Festival and its Market, and coordinates the creative industries hub at Les Papeteries – Image Factory. Throughout the year, it spearheads a range of initiatives for industry professionals and the general public.
La Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation
The Cité is a place of entertainment, discovery and education, with the ambition of becoming a global benchmark dedicated to the art of animation in all its forms. Thanks to its extensive museum and film programme, artist residencies, artistic and cultural education workshops, it successfully brings together the core values of CITIA's ambitious project: promoting dialogue between heritage and innovation, local and global perspectives, and creation and transmission.
The Cité is supported by the City of Annecy, the Département de la Haute-Savoie, the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the State and the CNC.
Le Haras d'Annecy
An urban oasis and part of an ambitious restoration project lead by the City of Annecy, the Département de Haute-Savoie, the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the State, the Haras d'Annecy is emerging as a gastronomic, cultural and heritage site, the jewel box of the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation. Listed as a French historic monument, its construction in the 1880s coincided with scientific discoveries related to the analysis of motion, which were instrumental in the invention of cinema.
The Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation's inauguration will take place on 19th, 20th and 21st June 2026, just before the Annecy Festival opens its doors.
