2017 might not be a great year for mainstream studio releases, but in terms of independent films there are many that leave a lasting impact. These three films, all from Europe, have distinct aesthetic and different art styles, yet I can’t imagine they are in any form other than animation. They all played during the Annecy Film Festival (though Big Bad Fox and Mutafukaz weren’t in the main competition, and Cinderella the Cat played a year later), which still remains one of the leading animation festivals. Let’s unpack them below.