Fortiche wouldn’t be Fortiche without a generous dose of… music! At Annecy 2025, we peeled back the layers during two dedicated conferences, orchestrated by Fortiche and Riot, to show just how profoundly music shapes our DNA and creates that irresistible magic when fused with animation.
The Music Video, A Visual Lab with our co-founder Jérôme Combe
Jérôme Combe, Fortiche co-founder, captivated the 350 attendees, taking center stage, to unravel the profound influence of music videos on his artistic journey and how it shaped Fortiche’s distinctive style.
He spoke of music clips as a “Musical Laboratory,” highlighting how projects like Respire (Mickey 3D) (awarded at the French Victoires de la Musique 2004) was a playground for experimenting new techniques of animation – especially the mix of 2D/3D and the realistic approach of animating with La Gaviota (Limousine), which was a pivotal turning point that settled Fortiche’s visual and narrative signature and even sparked our collaboration with Christian Linke from Riot Games.
This is precisely when music videos become “A Hub for Collaboration” – an incredibly open creative landscape fostering unique connections between diverse artistic talents. Our first international collaboration with Gorillaz marked a significant milestone, becoming a launchpad for further creations that continue to enrich our creative vision, such as Jet Jinxed with Riot Games, which laid the groundwork for Arcane.
Ultimately, for us at Fortiche, a music video transcends mere advertising; it evolves into “Art Beyond Promotion.” It allows us to condense action, amplify emotion, and enrich the storytelling. The most recent testament to this philosophy? Ma Meilleure Ennemie video clip, featuring Stromae and Pomme.
Studio Focus with Alex Seaver & Anton Borkel : The Musical Power of Riot Games
The festival also offered a fascinating Studio Focus on Riot Games Music. It’s no secret that from their flagship game League of Legends to Global Esports and Arcane, music plays a pivotal role in every Riot Games production.
The session, hosted by Shauna Wynne, featured Alex Seaver (songwriter, composer, executive music producer, and singer known as Mako) and Anton Borkel (Director of Strategy for Game Integration & Short Form at Riot). They provided an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Riot’s expansive musical creative journey, discussing innovation in music across their games, events, and animation.It was a fantastic opportunity for the 400 attendees to see how music isn’t just an accompaniment but a foundational element in building immersive worlds and compelling stories!
Our time at Annecy 2025 truly underscored our belief that music videos can be a powerful tool for visual storytelling and shaping unique identities!
