The Comet

Julie Charette's textured and subtle coming-of-age tale is animated in a way that's redolent of children's old school storybooks, like the much loved Ladybirds. It offers a snapshot of life for eight-year-old Emile (Laurent Lemaire) in which he comes to understand that actions can have serious consequences and is intended for older rather than younger audiences..

The 2D artwork, which uses oil pastel, gives the animation a "shimmering" style that fills every frame with movement – older British viewers might find themselves recalling Roobarb And Custard, although Canadian animator Charette's work is much more true-to-life and detailed.

The energy of the animation is matched by that of Emile, who is bombing about the rural road near where he lives on his bike, a playing card clattering against its back spokes. it's here that he first encounters a cat and a group of unpleasant older boys, who will both return to the story later.

Charette's short – based on the short story Two Faces (Les deux visages) by Sylvia Trudel – has the quality of a remembered day from childhood. There's stargazing with Emile's sister Françoise (Camille Rivard), but also an act of cruelty that comes like a bolt from the blue and proves contagious.

Charette holds the mood in the balance. On the one hand, she captures the sort of idle hanging around children tend to do at that age, making their own entertainment, but the sound design, which creeps in at the edges of Emile's game playing, reminds us that the older boys are bored too and finding much less wholesome ways to entertain themselves.

The Comet has picked up several awards already, including Best Canadian animation at Ottawa International Animation Festival and is screening at both Dok-Leipzig and Tallinn Black Nights. A skilful calling card in a distinctive style.

Reviewed on: 29 Oct 2026