Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for My Life as a Zucchini?

Directed by Claude Barras, with Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, Paulin Jaccoud leading the cast, My Life as a Zucchini was produced by Gébéka Films with a confirmed budget of $8,000,000, placing it in the micro-budget category for animation films.

At $8,000,000, My Life as a Zucchini was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $20,000,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Mutant Chronicles (2008): Budget $8,000,000 | Gross $2,131,057 → ROI: -73% • I'm Still Here (2024): Budget $8,000,000 | Gross $36,361,572 → ROI: 355% • Pulp Fiction (1994): Budget $8,000,000 | Gross $213,928,762 → ROI: 2574% • Little Miss Sunshine (2006): Budget $8,000,000 | Gross $100,523,351 → ROI: 1157% • Stand by Me (1986): Budget $8,000,000 | Gross $52,289,686 → ROI: 554%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Animation Production Pipeline The bulk of an animated film's budget funds the multi-year production pipeline: storyboarding, character modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing. Major studio animated features employ 300–600 artists over 3–5 years.

▸ Voice Talent Celebrity voice casting has become standard for studio animation, with A-list actors earning $5–15 million for voice roles.

▸ Music, Songs & Sound Design Original songs and orchestral scores are central to animated storytelling. Sound design for animated worlds must be created entirely from scratch.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, Paulin Jaccoud, Michel Vuillermoz, Raul Ribera Key roles: Gaspard Schlatter as Courgette (voice); Sixtine Murat as Camille (voice); Paulin Jaccoud as Simon (voice); Michel Vuillermoz as Raymond (voice)

DIRECTOR: Claude Barras CINEMATOGRAPHY: David Toutevoix MUSIC: Sophie Hunger EDITING: Valentin Rotelli PRODUCTION: Gébéka Films, Rita Productions, Blue Spirit, KNM, RTS, SRG SSR, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, France 3 Cinéma, Hélium Films FILMED IN: France, Switzerland

Box Office Performance

My Life as a Zucchini earned $309,766 domestically and $5,563,490 internationally, for a worldwide total of $5,873,256. International markets drove the majority of revenue (95%), indicating strong global appeal.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), My Life as a Zucchini needed approximately $20,000,000 to break even. The film fell $14,126,744 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $5,873,256 Budget: $8,000,000 Net: $-2,126,744 ROI: -26.6%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Unprofitable (Theatrical)

My Life as a Zucchini earned $5,873,256 against a $8,000,000 budget (-27% ROI), falling short of theatrical profitability. Ancillary revenue may have reduced the deficit.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

The underperformance may have increased risk aversion around micro-budget animation productions.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 25 wins & 22 nominations total

Awards Won: ★ Q122947136 ★ European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film — Céline Sciamma (29th European Film Awards) ★ European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film — Claude Barras (29th European Film Awards) ★ European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film — Max Karli (29th European Film Awards) ★ Annecy Cristal for a Feature Film ★ Lumière Award for Best Animated Film

Nominations: ○ Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (89th Academy Awards) ○ European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film (29th European Film Awards) ○ International Submission to the Academy Awards ○ European Film Academy Young Audience Award (30th European Film Awards) ○ Lux Prize

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