Studio TF1 Pours $25 Million Into New French Animated Feature "Yes Chef"

At the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Studio TF1 announced a $25 million investment in a new animated feature that promises to whisk audiences into a televised pastry competition. The family‑friendly comedy, titled "Yes Chef," is slated for theatrical release in 2028.

The project is a joint venture between TF1, Octopolis and nWave Pictures. It is based on an original concept by Clara Oheyen and Matthieu Zeller, and the screenplay was written by Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin—both of whom worked on Disney’s live‑action "Mulan" and Skydance Animation’s "Spellbound." Direction will be shared by Annie Carrel and Benjamin Mousquet, who previously helmed "Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness" and its sequel.

Managing director Nathalie Toulza Madar told Variety during the festival that TF1 is partnering with Zeller from the beginning. "There isn’t another recent animated project like ‘Yes Chef,’ where the studio is investing so fully alongside an outside partner," she said. The partnership follows the studio’s recent collaboration on the comic‑book‑based film "Les Gendarmes."

Production will be handled by nWave Studios, Octopolis and Blue Spirit, with UMedia acting as the tax‑shelter partner. TF1 will manage domestic theatrical distribution through its Blue Spirit unit and will also oversee international sales, led by Rodolphe Buet and Alice Damiani.

"Yes Chef" follows a world of anthropomorphic animals competing in a long‑running TV pastry contest hosted by chef André Lamour. Contestants include a grandmother sheep and her teenage lamb grandson, deer cousins, twin cat sisters and other animal bakers. Behind the scenes, producer Jeanne Gazelle struggles with declining ratings while a crew of small rabbits runs the show’s cameras and lights. As the competition escalates into increasingly extravagant challenges, the contestants rebel with a "No Chef" chant and demand a return to baking and cooperation.

Zeller explained that the concept grew from the popularity of baking shows, TikTok baking videos and the broader family appeal of food entertainment. He added that the project offers a "new brand" with IP potential, stating that the feature film is the starting point for future development.

The film’s $25 million budget places it in the same range as nWave’s recent features. It will use 3D animation techniques the studio has long employed, but it will be the first nWave film created entirely with a Maya‑Houdini pipeline developed in partnership with Blue Spirit.

French animation has been gaining international traction, with recent successes such as Illumination’s "Minions & Monsters," co‑written and directed by French animator Pierre Coffin. Zeller, a former executive at Studiocanal, has a track record of producing modest‑budget European animated movies that perform well in theaters; his "Chickenhare" sequel drew 858,000 admissions in France last year.

TF1’s move comes as the company expands its film distribution arm in France while leveraging its animation studio and sales network. The studio’s presence at Cannes this year included titles such as László Nemes’ "Moulin," which competed in the festival’s main section.

Industry observers note that "Yes Chef" represents one of the most significant recent investments in French animated features. The film’s combination of family‑friendly storytelling, animal characters and a competitive baking premise positions it to appeal to a wide audience, while the partnership model may serve as a template for future French‑European co‑productions.

The project is still in development, with a planned 2028 theatrical release. No further dates for production milestones or distribution agreements have been announced.