The Angoulême festival : a catalyst for change in cartoons

The international cartoon festival, which was started thirty years ago by an enthusiast , was instantly successful and gained international recognition. It coincided with a revival of interest with the launch of numerous specialised magazines. The festival established itself as the breeding ground for new cartoonists. Today, despite the fact that it has become a key event and an institution in the cartoon world, the festival remains delicately balanced, and site in Angoulême is very precarious despite numerous initiatives which have helped put Angoulême and its region on the map. At a time when the European cartoon industry is undergoing major change with the advent of the 'star system', the arrival of mangas and the prospect of a narrowing of the gap between the world of animation and the video game sector, the festival must now embark on a new chapter in its history.