1. General Information Title: À L’INFINI Director: Olivier Duval Genre: Psychological Drama, AI Animation Format: Animated Series / Short Film Duration: 5min Technologies Used: Generative Images & AI Animation
2. Synopsis Jennie, 16, has just lost her big brother Mickael — her guide, confidant, and role model. But Mickael didn’t leave her completely alone. Knowing he was terminally ill, he recorded a series of videos to help Jennie cope with her grief. The last one was for her 16th birthday — and he wasn’t able to record more. Passionate about emerging AI technologies during his lifetime, he had one final wish: that when the technology was ready, his parents would give Jennie a digital avatar of him, to continue guiding, supporting, and inspiring her through her mourning.
3. Cinematic References & Inspirations “Her” (Spike Jonze, 2013) – An AI that fills an emotional void but raises questions about the nature of human connection. “Coco” (Pixar, 2017) – The importance of memory and connection with the departed through music and emotion. “Black Mirror – Be Right Back” (2013) – A digital avatar recreated after a loved one’s death, exploring the limits of grief and technology. “My Life” (Bruce Joel Rubin, 1993) – Michael Keaton records videos for his unborn child, creating an emotional legacy.
4. Director’s Statement In À L’INFINI, I wanted to explore a deeply universal and intimate theme: grief and emotional reconstruction. Today, technology is ever-present in our lives — but what if it could become a bridge between the living and the dead? Through this story, viewers will follow the initiatory journey of a teenager facing the absence of her brother. But beyond grief, she must learn to distinguish memory from illusion, and understand that love is not measured by a digital presence, but by the impact left on our lives. This project blends the emotional power of animated cinema with a reflection on the future of human connection in the digital age. Can we truly heal while clinging to an artificial presence? Can AI help us grieve — or prevent us from doing so? À L’INFINI is above all a human story, a tribute to sibling love, memory, and resilience.
5. Technical Approach (AI Animation) Tools Used: ChatGPT: Support with writing and prompting Gen-2 & Act One (Runway ML): Animation generation and performance capture of the director (also an actor) to ensure authentic emotion Kling: Animation generation After Effects: Manual compositing and refining of AI-generated content for artistic coherence Midjourney: Generative imagery ElevenLabs: Voice-over Suno: Original song and lyrics generation for the film
6. Director Profile – Olivier Duval Olivier Duval is an artist, director, and digital image specialist with over 30 years of experience in animation, cinema, and emerging technologies. Background & Experience: Hybrid animation expert, skilled in both traditional tools and artificial intelligence, with a focus on 2D cut-out and compositing Former animation studio director and supervisor (Caribara Annecy) Freelance creator in digital image production for over a decade, exploring new applications of AI in storytelling and animation Actor & voice-over performer, bringing immersive emotional depth to his creations AI instructor in animation, working with schools and professionals in the field Artistic Vision & Intentions: Olivier Duval is dedicated to creating works that combine technological innovation and human emotion. Passionate about AI and its artistic implications, he explores new narrative forms where artificial intelligence becomes a tool for sensation, presence, and realism. With À L’INFINI, he delivers a poignant reflection on grief, memory, and the evolving nature of connection in the digital age.
7. Conclusion À L’INFINI is a unique project, blending emotion and innovation, and challenging our perception of grief in a technological world. This film invites us to reflect on what truly defines us as human: our memories, our bonds, and our ability to move forward. Will Jennie find her own voice, beyond Mickael’s?
Is her digital brother here to save her… or to teach her how to let go?
To be continued…