Michel Ancel: Difference between revisions
Crazyray08 (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
|||
| (21 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Ancel 20.jpg|frame|Michel Ancel]] | |||
'''Michel Ancel''' (born March 29, 1972) is a French video game designer for [[Ubisoft]]. He is best known for creating the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]], for which he was the lead designer for the first two games and the more recent ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' and ''[[Rayman Legends]]''. He is also known for the cult favourite ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' and for the video game adaptation of Peter Jackson's ''King Kong''. | |||
He was last working on a sequel to ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' with a small team of developers, using development tools specially designed to make game development more accessible to a greater audience. | |||
Michel Ancel retired from the video game industry in September 2020 to dedicate himself to a wildlife sanctuary, resulting in his last projects ''Beyond Good & Evil 2'' and ''Wild'' having to continue without him. | |||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Michel Ancel was born in Monaco on the 29th of March, 1972. Ancel is currently married to Alexandra Ancel ''née'' Steible, with whom he has two children. He is the stepfather of Alexandra's four older children, and has two more children of his own from a previous relationship. His eldest child, Claire, was born when he was sixteen years old. Alexandra worked with Ancel on the first two ''Rayman'' games, as well as ''[[ | Michel Ancel was born in Monaco on the 29th of March, 1972. Ancel is currently married to Alexandra Ancel ''née'' Steible, with whom he has two children. He is the stepfather of Alexandra's four older children, and has two more children of his own from a previous relationship. His eldest child, Claire, was born when he was sixteen years old. Alexandra worked with Ancel on the first two ''Rayman'' games, as well as ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' and ''King Kong''. | ||
==Video game developing career== | ==Video game developing career== | ||
| Line 21: | Line 15: | ||
Ancel's first game as both programmer and graphic artist, ''The Brain Blasters'' (also known as ''The Teller'') was published by Ubi Soft in 1990. In 1992, he began to work on ''[[Rayman 1|Rayman]]'', his directorial debut. It was originally released in 1995 for the Atari Jaguar and PC, and in 1996 for PlayStation and Sega Saturn. | Ancel's first game as both programmer and graphic artist, ''The Brain Blasters'' (also known as ''The Teller'') was published by Ubi Soft in 1990. In 1992, he began to work on ''[[Rayman 1|Rayman]]'', his directorial debut. It was originally released in 1995 for the Atari Jaguar and PC, and in 1996 for PlayStation and Sega Saturn. | ||
Ancel was also heavily involved in the development of ''[[Rayman 2: The Great Escape]]'' in 1999, but had only an advisory role on ''[[Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]''. Although he praised its development team, he says that the game is "a bit too concrete for my tastes", and that he "would have made the game differently". | Ancel was also heavily involved in the development of ''[[Rayman 2|Rayman 2: The Great Escape]]'' in 1999, but had only an advisory role on ''[[Rayman 3|Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]''. Although he praised its development team, he says that the game is "a bit too concrete for my tastes", and that he "would have made the game differently".<ref>GameSpy (via archive.org), ''Michel Ancel: Beyond Rayman'', http://web.archive.org/web/20040604122727/http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/september03/ancel/</ref> | ||
In 2003, he created ''[[ | In 2003, he created ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'', which garnered critical acclaim and a cult following, but was a commercial failure. However, acclaimed film director Peter Jackson's admiration for the game – and his frustration with EA's handling of the ''The Lord of the Rings'' license – led to Ancel being given direction of the ''Peter Jackson's King Kong'' video game adaptation. In spite of Ubisoft's reluctance to produce a ''Beyond Good & Evil'' sequel, Ancel has expressed a clear wish to produce one in the future. | ||
On April 5, 2006, [[Ubisoft]] announced Ancel was leading the development of the fourth game in the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]], ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'', for the Nintendo Wii. The game began production in early 2005 and was released on November 15, 2006 for the launch of the Wii. However, Ancel was notably absent from the project after its E3 announcement, and he has made no public appearances regarding the game after the development team switched focus from a free-roaming platformer to the final minigames format shortly after E3. In the final game, Ancel was only credited with storyboarding and character design, while design credits were shared between multiple other people. | On April 5, 2006, [[Ubisoft]] announced Ancel was leading the development of the fourth game in the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]], ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'', for the Nintendo Wii. The game began production in early 2005 and was released on November 15, 2006 for the launch of the Wii. However, Ancel was notably absent from the project after its E3 announcement, and he has made no public appearances regarding the game after the development team switched focus from a free-roaming platformer to the final minigames format shortly after E3. In the final game, Ancel was only credited with storyboarding and character design, while design credits were shared between multiple other people. | ||
In an interview with ''Nintendo Power'', Ancel confirmed that he was working on a new project which meant a lot to him. He also talked about Jade from ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' and said that "I really hope that Jade will continue to keep her values and her personality". [[Ubisoft]]'s CEO, Yves Guillemot, confirmed that Michel Ancel was currently working on several unannounced projects, as of March 2008. | |||
In an interview with ''Nintendo Power'', Ancel confirmed that he was working on a new project which meant a lot to him. He also talked about Jade from ''[[ | |||
In a 2008 interview with French video game magazine ''JVM'' (for ''Jeux Vidéo Magazine''), Ancel stated that a sequel to ''Beyond Good & Evil'' has been in pre-production by a small team for about a year, but they still await Ubisoft's approval before moving into full production. | In a 2008 interview with French video game magazine ''JVM'' (for ''Jeux Vidéo Magazine''), Ancel stated that a sequel to ''Beyond Good & Evil'' has been in pre-production by a small team for about a year, but they still await Ubisoft's approval before moving into full production. | ||
| Line 50: | Line 42: | ||
Michel would go on to found an independent game studio, named Wild Sheep Studios. However, he is still working with UbiSoft Montpellier. | Michel would go on to found an independent game studio, named Wild Sheep Studios. However, he is still working with UbiSoft Montpellier. | ||
On October 12, 2017, Ancel posted on his Instagram account that he is very interested in making the 'fourth' [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' adventure]],<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/BaI0eAwAEPb/?taken-by=michelancel Michel Ancel Instagram post</ref> suggesting of a future revival of the prototype or [[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|the then-planned original fourth game that was cancelled]]. Though he does mention that it will most likely happen once both ''Wild'' and ''[[Beyond Good and Evil 2]]'' are done. | On October 12, 2017, Ancel posted on his Instagram account that he is very interested in making the 'fourth' [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' adventure]],<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/BaI0eAwAEPb/?taken-by=michelancel Michel Ancel Instagram post</ref> suggesting of a future revival of the prototype or [[Rayman 4 (2005 cancelled prototype)|the then-planned original fourth game that was cancelled]]. Though he does mention that it will most likely happen once both ''Wild'' and ''[[Beyond Good and Evil 2]]'' are done. | ||
Ancel announced he was leaving the games industry in September 2020 to spend time on a wildlife sanctuary. He stated that his two current projects, ''Beyond Good & Evil 2'' and ''Wild'', were in capable hands with his departure. | |||
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
| Line 60: | Line 54: | ||
*''The Adventures of Valdo & Marie'' (1997) – Special credits for game design | *''The Adventures of Valdo & Marie'' (1997) – Special credits for game design | ||
*''[[Tonic Trouble]]'' (1999) – Original Concept | *''[[Tonic Trouble]]'' (1999) – Original Concept | ||
*''[[Rayman 2: The Great Escape]]'' (1999) – Original Concept, Artistic Director, Based on a story by | *''[[Rayman 2|Rayman 2: The Great Escape]]'' (1999) – Original Concept, Artistic Director, Based on a story by | ||
*''[[Rayman M]]''/''[[Rayman Arena|Arena]]'' (2001) – Concept | *''[[Rayman M]]''/''[[Rayman Arena|Arena]]'' (2001) – Concept | ||
*''[[Rayman Rush]]'' (2002) – Concept | *''[[Rayman Rush]]'' (2002) – Concept | ||
*''[[Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]'' – Rayman Created By & Special Thanks To | *''[[Rayman 3|Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]'' – Rayman Created By & Special Thanks To | ||
*''[[ | *''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' (2003) – Directed By, Story, Design, Additional Character Design | ||
*''Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie'' (2005) – Creative Director, Game Design | *''Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie'' (2005) – Creative Director, Game Design | ||
*''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'' (2006) – Based on an original world by | *''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'' (2006) – Based on an original world by | ||
*''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids 2]]'' (2007) – Character Design | *''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids 2]]'' (2007) – Character Design | ||
*''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party]]'' (2008) – Character Design | *''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party]]'' (2008) – Character Design | ||
*''[[Rayman Origins]]'' (2011) – A game created and directed by & based on the original creation by | *''[[Rayman Origins]]'' (2011) – A game created and directed by & based on the original creation by | ||
*''[[Rayman Jungle Run]]'' (2012) - Concept, Design | *''[[Rayman Jungle Run]]'' (2012) - Concept, Design | ||
*''[[Rayman Legends]]'' (2013) - Concept, Design | *''[[Rayman Legends]]'' (2013) - Concept, Design | ||
*''[[Rayman Adventures]]'' (2015) | *''Wild'' (2014 - unreleased) - Director | ||
*'' | *''[[Rayman Adventures]]'' (2015) - Rayman Created By & Special Thanks To | ||
*''Beyond Good & Evil 2'' (TBA) | *''[[Rayman Legends Retold]]'' (2026) - Consultant | ||
*''Beyond Good & Evil 2'' (TBA) - Director | |||
==Recognition== | |||
On March 13, 2006, Ancel, along with ''Mario'' creator Shigeru Miyamoto and ''Alone in the Dark'' and ''Little Big Adventure'' creator Frédérick Raynal, was knighted by the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, as a knight of arts and literature. It was the first time that video game developers were honored with this distinction. | |||
Ancel is also recognized as one of the best game designers in IGN's Top 100 Game Creators, ranking 24th out of 100. | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*In an interview of ABC from the GoodGame rubric, Ancel revealed that [[Big Mama]], which appears in the E3 2010 trailer of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' was voiced by himself. | *In an interview of ABC from the GoodGame rubric, Ancel revealed that [[Big Mama]], which appears in the E3 2010 trailer of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' was voiced by himself. | ||
*Ancel rejects the often held belief that video games of French origin are more original, claiming the problem lies not in the development process, but in risk-averseness at US publishers. | *Ancel rejects the often held belief that video games of French origin are more original, claiming the problem lies not in the development process, but in risk-averseness at US publishers. | ||
*Ancel worked on, but did not design, ''[[Tonic Trouble]]'' (1999), which features limbless characters in the same mould as [[Rayman]]. He shares credit on his [[Rayman (series)|Rayman games]] with [[Frédéric Houde]], while Jacques Exertier contributed many of the cinematic and story elements of ''[[ | *Ancel worked on, but did not design, ''[[Tonic Trouble]]'' (1999), which features limbless characters in the same mould as [[Rayman]]. He shares credit on his [[Rayman (series)|Rayman games]] with [[Frédéric Houde]], while Jacques Exertier contributed many of the cinematic and story elements of ''[[Beyond Good & Evil]]'' and ''King Kong''. He is also credited in [[Rayman (series)|Rayman games]] not designed by him because he was responsible for the creation of the character. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Michel Ancel Rayman.png | |||
Ancel 01.jpg | |||
Ancel 02.jpg | |||
Ancel 03.jpg | |||
Ancel 04.jpg | |||
Ancel 05.jpg | |||
Ancel 06.jpg | |||
Ancel 07.jpg | |||
Ancel 08.jpg | |||
Ancel 09.jpg | |||
Ancel 10.jpg | |||
Ancel 11.jpg | |||
Ancel 12.jpg | |||
Ancel 13.jpg | |||
Ancel 14.jpg | |||
Ancel 15.jpg | |||
Ancel 16.jpg | |||
Ancel 17.jpg | |||
Ancel 18.jpg | |||
Ancel 19.jpg | |||
Ancel 20.jpg | |||
Ancel 21.jpg | |||
Ancel 22.jpg | |||
Ancel 23.jpg | |||
Ancel 24.jpg | |||
Ancel 25.jpg | |||
Ancel 26.jpg | |||
Ancel 27.jpg | |||
Ancel 28.jpg | |||
Ancel 29.jpg | |||
Ancel 30.jpg | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 128: | Line 128: | ||
[[pl:Michel Ancel]] | [[pl:Michel Ancel]] | ||
[[ru:Мишель Ансель]] | [[ru:Мишель Ансель]] | ||
[[zh:米歇尔·安塞尔]] | |||
[[Category:People]] | [[Category:People]] | ||