Louca #4 - 'Hope Springs Eternal' (English-language edition).
Bruno Dequier is a French animator and comic artist. He has participated in computer animation of films like 'A Monster in Paris' (2021) and 'The Lorax' (2012), as well as the 'Despicable Me' and 'Minions' series. On the side, he is the author of the supernatural soccer-themed comic series 'Louca', which has appeared in Spirou magazine since 2011.
Early life and education
Bruno Dequier was born in 1980 in Bordeaux. After high school, he enrolled at the École Émile Cohl in Lyon, where he studied graphic arts between 2000 and 2003. He then passed the difficult entrance exam to the animation course of the prestigious Gobelins school of visual communication and arts in Paris. He graduated in 2006 with the animated short 'Pyrats', made in collaboration with some fellow students. Dequier ranks the Disney animator Milt Kahl as one of his major influences, but he also finds inspiration in Japanese manga and anime.
Animation career
After his graduation, Bruno Dequier was recruited by the French animator and director Bibo Bergeron to work as a storyboard artist on the 3D computer-animated feature film 'A Monster in Paris' (2011) for EuropaCorp. Dequier worked with Bergeron and his Nice-based team on this project from 2007 on. Since 2009, he has also worked for Universal Picture on the 'Despicable Me' franchise. He was character animator on the original film (2010), and then served as animation director on the second (2013) and third (2017) installments, as well as the 'Minions' spin-off (2015). He was also character animator on Universal's 'The Lorax' (2012), a film based on Dr. Seuss' 1971 children's book.
'Louca', #1 - 'De Aftrap' (Dutch-language edition).
Louca
During his busy activities, Dequier also found the time to develop his own comic series about a clumsy adolescent, for which he made the first sketches in 2009. He pitched his idea at the publishing house Dupuis, where it was instantly accepted. 'Louca' made its first appearance in Spirou magazine #3832 (21 September 2011). The series combines elements of sports (notably football), high school, romance, crime, corruption and the paranormal. The title hero is a typically clumsly adolescent, full of self-doubt, in search of his own identity, and madly in love. Louca, however, fails to make an impression on the pretty Julie, and is a fiasco as the soccer team's goalkeeper. Luckily, he finds a friend and coach in Nathan, who besides handsome, sharp and sporty, is also a ghost. Only Louca is able to see Nathan, who helps him improve his soccer skills, while in return Louca helps him recover his connection with wordly life and find out how and why Nathan died.
Dequier's artwork is highly dynamic, and reveals both the author's background in animation and his passion for manga. The 'Louca' albums have been published by Dupuis and are translated in Dutch (by Strip2000) and English (by Europe Comics). In addition to the comic book series, Dequier has written and illustrated a spin-off picture book series, 'Anto et Antin' (Dupuis, 2019), featuring two little boys from the 'Louca' series.
Recognition
For the creation of 'Louca', Dequier received the Prix Conseil Général (2013). The album 'Si Seulement...' from the series was honored with a Prix Saint-Michel for "Best Juvenile Humor Comic" (2014).
'Louca' #3 - 'If Only...' (English-language edition).