Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó on The Wild and the Tame

In this interview for Hunimation, Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó talk about The Wild and the Tame, their newly selected animated feature project at Cartoon Movie 2026. Following the international success of White Plastic Sky, the director duo discusses the origins of the film, its radical visual and thematic approach, and what they aim to share with potential partners at Europe’s leading animation pitching forum.

Synopsis

Teó, a 38-year-old painter from Budapest, returns to her village for her mother’s funeral. There, she encounters Misi, a former priest who lost an arm in an accident and was removed from his duties following a campaign led by Teó’s mother. Seeking revenge, Misi plans to exploit the villagers’ nightmares. Teó, struggling with an artistic block, agrees to paint the church at Misi’s request. Inspired by Doom Paintings depicting the Last Judgment, she begins collecting the villagers’ nightmares to transform them into murals. Haunted by visions of her mother and her own fears, Teó grapples with faith, art, and memory. She ultimately turns the church into her masterpiece — blending horror, healing, and reckoning — while confronting both Misi and herself.

Where did the original idea for the film come from, and how long have you been developing The Wild and the Tame?
It rose from the shadowed abyss of ideas into which we usually dare to descend only after the midnight mass.

Your previous feature, White Plastic Sky, also presents a form of apocalyptic reality. How is the world of The Wild and the Tame different in tone, themes, or perspective?
It will differ in all forms.

Could you tell us more about the animation technique? Will this film also use rotoscoping, as White Plastic Sky did, or are you exploring a different visual approach?
Technique is ultimately a question of budget. The Wild and the Tame is envisioned as an independent animated feature, created without public funding — at least, no Hungarian funds are planned. As a result, the choice of animation technique will evolve alongside the opportunities — and challenges — the future brings.

What makes the visual world of The Wild and the Tame stand out within the current European animated feature landscape?
It is a niche, unhinged arthouse, unmarketable project, appealing to only a handful of viewers — but it is the story that matters most to us.

Teó’s personal artistic block intersects with a community’s shared fears. How do you balance this intimate, psychological journey with a broader, universally relatable story that can resonate with an international adult audience?
An international adult audience for animation barely exists, so our focus is simply on creating something that resonates with our own needs and expectations.

How are you preparing for the Cartoon Movie pitching forum, and what are you most looking forward to sharing with potential partners in Bordeaux?
First and foremost, we want to introduce the project and present an alternative way of bringing an animated film like The Wild and the Tame to life. Above all, everything we prepare is aimed at making people fall in love with the story and its world.