The models have been created by French wide-format and digital print company MÉTROPOLE using a Massivit 3D printer.
Due to a printing speed of up to 35cm/h and two printheads, the Massivit 1800 was chosen to meet extremely tight deadlines set by festival organisers.
Commenting on the project, Denise Zanet, associate director at MÉTROPOLE says: “It took less than four weeks’ work – eighty hours of printing plus 200 hours of assembly, sculpting and painting – to create the five comics characters displayed at Angoulême station.”
The Angoulême station was a fitting choice for the statue as the world’s comic book capital. Franck Bondoux explains: “These life-size characters at the train station create a real sense of complicity for travellers.
Only the Massivit 3D printer, deployed by MÉTROPOLE could have pulled off this feat in terms of turnaround time”
“The statues have an ultra-realistic finish, totally bringing them to life. Comic fans find themselves immersed in a playful, joyous and comforting world. No doubt lots of selfies with our statues will show up on social media.”
Reflecting on the efficiency of the Massivit 3D printer, Bondoux adds: “Only the Massivit 3D printer, deployed by MÉTROPOLE could have pulled off this feat in terms of turnaround time. “Our life-size statues were ready onsite on the opening day of the festival, creating just the wow effect we’ve been aiming for.”
The Angoulême International Comics Festival is the second largest comics festival in Europe after the Lucca Comics & Games in Italy.
Founded in 1974, more than 200,000 visitors now attend the four-day fair each year.
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