Press Release

Custom designed future Citroen for Renaissance: Paris 2054 movie

As other car makers are poised to launch their 2007 model cars, cinema goers in Australia will be able to preview Citroen’s 2054 model year range thanks to a new cutting-edge animation film, “Renaissance: Paris 2054” starring the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, as well as renowned actors Ian Holm and Jonathan Pryce, and which opens on 17 August 2006 in Sydney and Brisbane and this week in Melbourne.

Citroën’s animated launch onto Australian movie screens comes at the same time as its own award-winning animation, the acclaimed Dancing Robot, turns to ice skating and takes up residence on Australian TV screens in support of its alter-ego, the Citroën C4.

Although the look of the Citroën’s Robot and Renaissance are very different, they both used the latest motion capture technology to produce their seamless animation movement. Real dancers, in the case of the robot, and actors for the film were filmed by a computer and their movements translated into movement. Both the advertisement and the film have set new technical standards.

“Its no surprise that a film maker wanting to show the world in 50 year’s time should turn to Citroën,” says Miles Williams, General Manager of Citroën in Australia. “Citroën is renowned for its cutting edge designs, such as the original Citroën DS and today’s Citroën C4. The dancing, and now ice skating, Citroën robot was produced using cutting edge film animation techniques that are now being used to make major feature films, so Citroen’s influence is significant on and off the silver screen!”

Citroën’s involvement in Renaissance: Paris 2054, described by Studio Magazine as “an animated and cinematic wonder”, is more than just providing ideas and helping the French film industry take on the Japanese industry at their own game by producing an animated film. “Renaissance: Paris 2054” is about a dark dystopian future set and the film’s director had a clear vision for his hero.

"Initially, I wanted Karas, the hero, to drive a Citroën DS,” says director Christian Volckman. “So we went to ask Citroën for permission, but then Citroën suggested that we work with their designers. Their proposals were truly visionary. The final design of the car, produced after three months of close cooperation, perfectly fits the futuristic backdrop of the film."

Citroën has a long and illustrious history of appearing in films and TV shows, but, although its rally cars have appeared in virtual form for years in video games, this is the first time that a Citroën has been created in virtual form for a film.

Citroën was very much interested by the ambitious technical effects used in the film, such as motion capture and 3D. It therefore decided to commit fully to the "Renaissance" project by offering to design the hero's car.

Citroën’s designers immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the film, and came up with a futuristic but realistic car, reflecting the graphic world created by the director.

The final design shows a vehicle whose clean, flowing lines reflect the pursuit of aerodynamic perfection that is specific to Citroën vehicles.

The eye-catching front end creates an impression of power, while the sharper lines of the rear end suggest stability and dynamic performance. The attention to detail, illustrated by the design of the wheels, for example, also contributes to the overall look of the car, accentuating its elegance.

Renaissance: Paris 2054 is on show in Melbourne at Cinema Nova and opens in Sydney at the Greater Union Cinema, George Street, and Birch Carrol and Coyle’s Indooroopilly Cinema in Brisbane on 17 August 2006. Full details of the film are available at www.renaissance-lefilm.com.