‘Dragon Striker’ Creators Break Down Their Magical Vision for the Series

The creators of the new animated series Dragon Striker have shared details about how the show was built, what inspired it, and how long it took to bring it to life.

Sylvain Dos Santos, who is the co-founder and chief creative officer of La Chouette, explained that the team had always been fans of anime. He said this interest shaped the direction of the project from the beginning. He explained, “We have always been fans of anime at La Chouette from the very beginning. Then, the market also began to favor anime, and we happened to be at the right place at the right time.”

The series is produced by French animation studio La Chouette in partnership with Walt Disney EMEA Productions. It follows a young farm boy named Key, who dreams of joining a magical sports academy where players compete in a game called Garatama. As the story develops, Key discovers that he may be the legendary Dragon Striker, a figure tied to the world’s deeper mythology. He joins a group of underdog players as they try to challenge elite teams and face a rising ancient threat.

The creators said the idea for the show began development many years ago. Dos Santos explained that the project took over a decade to fully develop. He said early work began with another studio, but the vision became clearer after Charles Lefebvre joined the team and helped shape the final version of the world and characters.

Lefebvre, who is also the director of the series, said his love for Japanese animation and video games helped shape the creative direction. He explained that the goal was to build a world where the audience could slowly discover the rules and history behind it. He said, “Our main character is the vessel for the story, and we would like the audience to go deeper into this universe and discover the roots and origins of the world.”

The creators also shared their inspirations for the show’s style and storytelling. Dos Santos mentioned classic sports anime such as Captain Tsubasa and Eyeshield 21. He explained that these shows influenced how action and sports could be combined with fantasy elements. He said that in those stories, powerful moves and even mythical effects are treated as normal parts of the game, which inspired the approach for Dragon Striker.

In this new series, sports matches are not just games. They include magical abilities, dragon-like energy, and fantasy-style powers that affect the outcome of each match. The creators said they wanted to make the sport itself feel alive and part of a larger mythology.

Production on Dragon Striker was handled by a large international team of more than 300 people. Work was spread across studios in France, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Japan. According to the creators, La Chouette handled key animation in-house, while partner studios worked on in-between frames and coloring. This approach was inspired by Japanese production methods.

Lefebvre said one of the biggest achievements was keeping more of the creative process in-house. He explained that this allowed the team to maintain a strong visual identity and ensure the final product matched their original vision.

Dos Santos also reflected on the challenges of producing the show over many years. He said the long process required patience and constant improvement. He added that working closely with Disney EMEA helped support the project through development and production.

Both creators expressed optimism about the future of animation in France. They said the industry is challenging but growing, especially as global audiences show more interest in anime-style storytelling. Dos Santos said the success of studios like La Chouette shows that long-term passion can lead to strong results in the industry.

As Lefebvre concluded, the key lesson behind the project is persistence and teamwork. He said success comes from staying committed and working closely with others to bring a shared vision to life.

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