The film, which draws substantially on Sfar's abilities as a comic book artist through its extensive use of fantasy artwork, animation and puppetry, was released in 2010 to general critical acclaim. His main influences are Fred and André Franquin as well as Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Will Eisner, Hugo Pratt and John Buscema.įrom 2009 to 2010, Sfar wrote and directed 'Serge Gainsbourgh: Une Vie Heroique', a biopic of the notorious French songwriter, of whom Sfar is a self-confessed fanatic. Like Le chat du rabbin, the series contains a lot of historical and theological information.

Les olives noires is a series about a Jewish child in Israel at the time of Jesus. He himself says that there is Ashkenazi humor in his Professeur Bell series (loosely based on Joseph Bell), whereas Le chat du rabbin is clearly inspired by his Sephardic side. Some of his comics are inspired by his Jewish heritage as the son of Jewish parents (an Ashkenazi mother and a Sephardic father).

The Donjon series which he created with Trondheim has a cult following in many countries. He also worked together with many of the new movement's main artists, e.g. Many of his comics were published by L'Association which was founded in 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu and six other artists. Sfar is considered one of the most important artists of the new wave of Franco-Belgian comics.

Joann Sfar (born Augin Nice) is a French comics artist, comic book creator, and film director.

Tales of the Wild East by Joann Sfar