Who is Sylvain Chomet, the Frenchman behind the animation that opens “Joker: Folie à deux”

Five years after the smashing success of the Joker, American director Todd Phillips returned last month with a second installment titled Joker: Folie à deux. For this highly anticipated return of Arthur Fleck, the world’s most infamous killer clown played by Joaquin Phoenix, Phillips decided to open the film with a short animated film. In this mini-cartoon, done in the style of Looney Tunes, the hero battles his evil shadow as he prepares to step onto a TV set, recreating a pivotal scene from the first movie where Fleck brutally murders the TV host live on air. This animation is the work of Sylvain Chomet, a French director known for his feature films as well as animations for The Simpsons and the music video for a song by Stromae. Chomet’s Hollywood adventure began with a simple email: shortly after the release of the first film, Phillips reached out to the French director, explaining his project and inviting him to participate. "He told me he was a big fan of *The Triplets of Belleville*, especially the opening scene. That’s exactly what he wanted for his film: an opening with a retro cartoon, but not in the style of Betty Boop like in *The Triplets*’ introduction. So I suggested making a Tex Avery-style cartoon, like from the 1940s. He loved the idea." explains Chomet. 

The 60-year-old French director and animator wasn’t chosen by Phillips by chance. In 2003, his first feature film The Triplets of Belleville made waves worldwide, earning him international acclaim and two Oscar nominations. In 2010, he directed The Illusionist, an animated film inspired by an unfinished script by Jacques Tati. This masterpiece won the first-ever César for Best Animated Film in 2011. In 2013, Chomet ventured into live-action with Attila Marcel, a film well received by critics, though it only drew around 50,000 viewers in theaters. The following year, he returned to animation, creating a "couch gag" for The Simpsons, infusing his signature retro and melancholic style into the beloved opening sequence. He also collaborated with Stromae, directing the music video for his song Carmen, further showcasing his diverse talents.

For the opening scene of Joker: Folie à deux, Chomet worked alongside a team of fifteen other French animators. Without knowing the overall script of the film, he enjoyed total creative freedom, with no constraints or limitations, and was provided with a substantial budget to explore all his ideas. In the meantime, Chomet is also working on his next animated feature film, titled Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol, a biopic about writer Marcel Pagnol, who passed away in 1974. The film, expected to be released in mid-October 2025, promises to be a world away from Joker: Folie à deux, offering a deep dive into the life and work of the illustrious author. This shift proves Chomet’s ability to move seamlessly between different worlds, always adding his unique touch and creative vision. While you wait for his next masterpiece, be sure to catch *Joker: Folie à deux* in theaters, paying special attention to the opening scene that sets the tone.