Already present three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2018, the Anookis, these two endearing Inuits, are making their comeback for the 25th edition of the Festival of Lights for a show at Tête d'Or Park.
After six years of absence, they are finally back! Recognizable by their rounded shape, their faces buried in their Inuit outfit, the A little while agoreturn to illuminate the 25th edition of the Festival of Lights in Lyon. They will be exhibited from December 5 to 8, at the Tête d'Or park, already shaping up to be one of the successes of this 2024 edition.
From Lyon to the international
Having already appeared three times in Lyon, these two endearing characters, created by David Passegand and Moetu Battle, embody great friendship and infectious joy. Their first screening in Lyon, during the Festival of Lights, dates back to 2012. An event which marked a decisive turning point in the lives of their creators.
“The first video mapping at Saint-Paul station was a revelation. When we saw people's reaction, we were transported. It's very gratifying, each time we have the feeling of bringing a little happiness to a few moments”, tells Moetu Battle to BFM Lyon.
Two years later, in 2014, the two characters were displayed on the facades of another emblematic monument: the Lyon opera house. Then in 2018, the two Inuit gained height and volume to transform into giant inflatable structures on Place Bellecour.
With their exhibition in Lyon, their fame has continued to grow. The Anooki have attracted audiences around the world thanks to around thirty international screenings.
“They are so sober, so simple. People can project their imagination. That’s surely what makes them universal,” explains Moetu Battle.
However, for the co-founders, the immense success of their mascots still remains surprising. “We are not marketing geniuses, we are not Walt Disney,” David Passegand humbly confides to BFM Lyon. “We don't have an established plan for the Anooki's journey over the next few years. We simply want to create things with it. The Anooki are our playground.”
An ecological message
Beyond their joyful, dancing and playful side, Anooki also convey a strong environmental message. As David Passegand reminds us, they are “naturally messengers of the environment”.
Direct witnesses to climatic upheavals, these characters symbolize victims of the melting of their ice pack. A drama that pushes their creators to raise public awareness of ecological issues. “A message that they carry throughout the world,” underlines Moetu Battle.
This combination of lightness and ecological awareness will be at the heart of their performance during the Festival of Lights. Their return to the Tête d'Or park also marks the 25th anniversary of their creation.
Pauline Tugend with Alexandre Simoes
