Michel Gagné’s “Saga of Rex” Optioned for Animated Feature

Veteran animator Michel Gagné’s graphic novel Saga of Rex has been optiond by Belgian animation/vfx shop Grid Animation for development as an animated feature.

The Saga of Rex was initially serialized over a period of 6 years in the now-defunct comic anthology, Flight. It was subsequently compiled into a graphic novel, which was published in 2010 by Image Comics. Then, Gagné ran a Kickstarter campaign that allowed him to produce this proof-of-concept short:

“Years ago, I discovered The Saga of Rex in Flight, and I immediately loved it,” says Mark Mertens, managing director for Grid Animation. “After the Kicktarter campaign, I contacted Michel to inquire about the rights for the movie. I was thrilled to discover that they were still available.”

Grid, which was awarded “European Animation Producer of the Year” at last year’s Cartoon Forum, has provided animation services to films like The Triplettes of Belleville and the upcoming Astérix: The Mansion of the Gods. The company has facilities in both Ghent and Brussels.

“I’m extremely excited about the prospect of working with Grid Animation and have access to the amazing European talent pool,” says Gagné. “With a proper budget, and an inspired team to help me fulfill my vision, my dream of making an animated feature film that is a poetic work of art is now closer than ever to becoming a reality.”