The movie Flight 666: artistic and narrative challenges
News . 11 Apr. 2025
Directed in 2023 by Julie Corniere, Anselme de Pertat, Killian Derlin, Manon François, Anaïs Lavault, Léo Le Corre, Aliénor Poisson and Lucas Roy, Vol 666 is a film full of character, driven by an unabashed black humor and a colorful visual universe.
When the sky becomes a source of inspiration…
An airport named HEL, flight number 666 between Helsinki and Copenhagen, sometimes scheduled for a Friday the 13th… This is what sparked the imagination of the directors of Flight 666. This offbeat and deliciously absurd 3D animated film, made by ESMA students, plunges its viewers into a hellish journey.
Propelled to Hell after a turbulent flight, Johnny, an inveterate con artist and gambler, and his wife Monica, a venal manipulator, have no choice but to negotiate with the Devil himself in an attempt to save their souls.
The characters at the heart of the narrative, artistic and technical challenges
It was not in the spectacular effects, but rather in the creation of the characters that the students found one of their greatest challenges. Before existing in 3D, they first came to life on paper, in 2D. Their digital transposition then raised many constraints: expressiveness, rigging, animation… so many obstacles to overcome in order to bring these imagined figures to life.
The fluidity and credibility of the dialogues were based on impeccable lip synchronization and careful facial transitions. Every aspect of the characters, right down to their teeth, was worked on to best capture emotions and offer uncompromising realism.
Although intended for a single shot, the props required special attention. The directors had to juggle between the aesthetics of the film, the clarity of the shapes and the need to avoid them being perceived as childish objects. A subtle balance, aimed at reinforcing immersion while guaranteeing flawless visual credibility.
A unique brand of humor!
A huge congratulations to the team of directors for their brilliant collaboration on this project!
What really sets the film apart is undoubtedly its dark humor and decidedly sarcastic intentions. The directors have chosen a humor that is both accessible and pungent, where irony makes all the difference.
“We wanted our film to speak to everyone,” they insist. A bet brilliantly kept, in the end, with humor that hits the mark, and a tone that satisfies the whole team: “We found a humor all our own,” they conclude, “and we hope it will make you laugh as much as it does us!”