The Magic Portal — A Collective Journey into Cut-Out Imagination
In The Magic Portal (Le portail magique, 2024), a group of eighteen Belgian children transports audiences into a forest filled with wishes, wonder, and unexpected consequences. Produced by Camera-etc, the 10-minute cut-out animated short is the result of a collaborative workshop where children between the ages of 6 and 12 took charge of every creative step — from story development and character design to animating their paper puppets frame by frame.
Under the gentle guidance of Delphine Hermans and Simon Medard, the young filmmakers at My-Ferrière Primary School in Belgium created a world that reflects both the boundless imagination and emotional depth that children bring to storytelling. The project was coordinated and edited by Medard, with original music by Ketsa (“Birds”), and production support by Bastien Martin of Camera-etc.
The story unfolds in a tranquil forest where a mysterious portal suddenly appears, granting every wish of Jacassine and her family. But as desires begin to come true, harmony gives way to chaos. What starts as a dream come true turns into a moral parable about balance, community, and the limits of personal desire — all told through charmingly hand-cut figures that move with life and humor.
Since its release, The Magic Portal has made an impression on the international festival circuit. The film won the Rising Kiddo Award for Best Film in the Young Filmmakers Category at the Drama International Short Film Festival in Greece, as well as the Prix du film pour enfant at La ReA Short Film Festival in Belgium. It also received recognition at the Animaevka International Animated Film Festival in Belarus and screened at the Varna World Festival of Animated Film 2025.
The Magic Portal exemplifies Camera-etc’s ongoing commitment to animation as an educational and expressive art form. For over forty years, the Liège-based studio has specialized in collective filmmaking projects, teaching animation techniques to children and adults alike. Each workshop empowers participants to tell their own stories through stop motion, cut-out, or drawn animation — reinforcing the belief that animation is not just an art form, but a tool for creativity, cooperation, and discovery.
This enchanting short film stands as proof that when young minds are given the tools to animate their ideas, the result can be as magical as the portals they imagine.
Behind the Scenes: Bringing the Portal to Life
Alongside the completed short, Camera-etc released a special making-of video that captures the joy and teamwork behind The Magic Portal. Viewers can watch the young animators at My-Ferrière Primary School designing their characters, animating on multi-plane setups, and discovering the magic of cut-out animation frame by frame.
The behind-the-scenes footage reveals how the children worked together under the mentorship of Delphine Hermans and Simon Medard, developing every part of the film—from story concept to final edit. It’s a delightful look into how collective creativity can turn imagination into moving art.
🎬 Watch the Making-Of Video: https://vimeo.com/937624573/c54670c00c
(Images courtesy of Camera-etc.)
Film Details
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Title: The Magic Portal (Le portail magique)
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Country: Belgium
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Year: 2024
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Runtime: 10 min 05 sec
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Technique: Cut-out animation
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Created by: Collective of 18 children, My-Ferrière Primary School
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Supervision: Delphine Hermans, Simon Medard
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Music: Ketsa – “Birds”
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Producer: Bastien Martin
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Studio: Camera-etc
