Beast of the Seine
Director: Jon Portman
Cast:Hannah McKechnie, Christian Johansen, Henry Schrader, Mary-Alice Farina, Jerome Charvet
Crew:Writer: Jon Portman. Producers: Andrew Ackerman, Doug Rogers, Sandi Todorovic. Music and Sound Design: Tim Goplerud, Ryan Wheeler. Animation: Jon Portman, Matty Kiel, Zack Spakowski, Hanna Fitzgerald, Sydney Price, Sarah Price; Illustration: Charlie Hudson, Kaitlyn Nguyen, Jui Talukder, Jon Portman.
Email:jon@verybigboy.com
Synopsis
When the children of a quaint Parisian village are terrorized by a sinister threat, a remarkable dog emerges as the unlikely hero, until a shocking revelation changes the town forever. Inspired by real events.
About the director
Jon Portman is an award-winning animation filmmaker and director. His films have played internationally at Academy Award and BAFTA-qualifying festivals. In 2019, Jon founded Very Big Boy, a San Francisco based production company specializing in animated content for short films, documentaries, and narrative features.
Filmmaker's note
“Beast of the Seine” is a story of community, redemption, and the incredible—yet often misunderstood—bond we share with our canine companions. It’s rooted in a strange and poignant true story unearthed from a 1908 New York Times article.
For thousands of years, humans have trained and selectively bred dogs—shaping their instincts, reinforcing behaviors, and building relationships rooted in trust. But as dogs adapt to the modern human world, their instincts can clash with our expectations—especially when we project human emotions and intentions onto them.
As a life-long dog lover who spent years in the dog training industry, I’ve seen how their loyalty, drive, and affection can be both awe-inspiring and easily misunderstood. This is the story I wanted to tell. At its core, this film is about a dog simply following her nature—and the children who understand her better than the adults ever could.