Macabre Belgian CGI Circus Drama ‘Juul’ Picked Up By Studio 100

Marking a significant shift in its acquisition strategy, Munich-based Intl. sales agent Studio 100 Film has announced its acquisition of Juul, a visually striking CGI drama for young adults and adults from Belgian animation studio Fabrique Fantastique.

It seems fitting that Juul, the most ambitious project developed by Belgian animation studio Fabrique Fantastique, would find a home at Studio 100, founded in the country in 1996 before later opening its Studio 100 Film offices in Germany in 2013.

But for an independent sales agency specializing in family movies (Maya the Bee, 100% Wolf, Heidi and Miss Moxy are among the major titles previously sold by the agency), taking on this 90-minute CGI feature for young adults and adults represents a new direction, one that Lorena Booth, senior manager of sales and acquisitions at Studio 100 Film, is eager to pursue.

Juul represents the kind of ambitious animated storytelling we are increasingly looking to bring to international audiences. Its remarkable visual identity, emotional depth, and universal themes demonstrate the creative breadth of animation today. We are excited to present the project to buyers at TIFF and to continue expanding our slate with distinctive, filmmaker-driven productions.”

Set in the 1950s, Juul follows 17-year-old circus acrobat Juul, whose life changes forever after a tragic accident leaves her in a coma and declared brain-dead. Facing financial ruin, her magician father makes a desperate and morally complicated decision: he steals her body from the hospital and presents her as a “living puppet” to revive the failing circus.

But Juul is still conscious, trapped inside a body she no longer controls. As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.

Tom Van Gestel, Juul director and managing director at Fabrique Fantastique, added:

Juul is an incredibly precious project to me, both as its producer and director. For the past eight years, the development has been treated like a precious diamond carefully cut, shaped and polished into a multifaceted jewel, with every aspect crafted to shine. Juul dares to go where most animated films don’t. It tackles a dark, raw, and difficult subject, but does so by keeping every character deeply human. At its heart, Juul is the story of a young girl who is constantly being pulled down by the world around her. Yet, no matter how hard she is pushed, she finds a way to fight back.

Studio 100 Film will introduce the project to international buyers at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Delivery is expected later this year, followed by an international premiere in early 2027.