Disney’s Dragon Striker has quickly established itself as one of the studio’s most ambitious animated series, blending fantasy, sports, and anime-inspired storytelling into a unique adventure. During a special panel at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the show’s creators offered fans an inside look at how the series evolved over nearly a decade of development. The discussion covered everything from its original concept as a magical rugby series to the visual language that defines the world of Kal Asterock.
The session was moderated by Orion Ross, Vice President of Animation at Disney Kids & Family, and featured co-creators Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre alongside concept artist Claire Sun. While Lefebvre and Sun entertained the audience with live character sketches, the panel also revealed several behind-the-scenes stories that had never been shared before. The biggest surprise was that Dragon Striker almost centered on an entirely different sport.
Dragon Striker was first imagined as a magical rugby series
According to co-creator and creative director Sylvain Dos Santos, Dragon Striker has been in development for roughly ten years. In its earliest form, the project revolved around magical rugby rather than football, reflecting Dos Santos’ upbringing in southern France where rugby has long been one of the region’s most popular sports.
“I come from a place in the south of France where rugby is quite huge,”
Dos Santos told the audience.
“That was my goal.”
As development continued, Disney suggested changing the sport from rugby to football. While that meant reworking the original concept, Dos Santos admitted the decision ultimately benefited the series by giving it broader international appeal. Football’s global popularity made it a natural fit for Disney’s worldwide audience while preserving the fantasy elements that formed the foundation of the story.
The comments came during Disney’s presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where the team reflected on the lengthy creative process that transformed the original pitch into the finished series now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
A visual identity built around shapes and evolving costumes
Beyond its fantasy football premise, Dragon Striker also stands out for its distinctive art direction. Director Charles Lefebvre explained that nearly every aspect of Kal Asterock follows a simple design philosophy built around two geometric shapes: circles and diamonds. These recurring forms appear throughout architecture, environments, costumes, and even character silhouettes, giving the world a cohesive visual identity.
The costume designs intentionally combine medieval fantasy influences with modern streetwear. What started as a straightforward wardrobe concept eventually became much larger than expected. During the discussion, Orion Ross noted that the production expanded to include winter outfits, summer clothing, armor, uniforms, and training gear as the story grew to depict different seasons throughout the characters’ journey.
Concept artist Claire Sun also discussed adapting her naturally soft illustration style to match Lefebvre’s more angular character designs. She described the collaboration as a valuable learning experience and emphasized the importance of teamwork throughout production.
“It’s teamwork,”
Sun said.
“If you’re not great at something, it’s not a bad thing—a teammate can cover for you.”
Lefebvre echoed those thoughts, explaining that he deliberately assembles creative teams with artists whose strengths complement one another rather than expecting everyone to draw in exactly the same style.
Why the heroes start with simpler designs
The Annecy panel also offered insight into the philosophy behind the series’ character designs. Lefebvre explained that he intentionally keeps the main protagonists visually simple during the beginning of the story, allowing them to grow alongside the narrative.
“I love the main characters to be kind of vanilla,”
he said,
“because I like them to evolve through the series.”
Secondary characters, however, receive bolder and more elaborate designs because they often have less screen time and need to make a memorable first impression. This contrast helps the central cast develop naturally while ensuring supporting characters stand out whenever they appear.
Audience questions later shifted toward the animation process, career advice, and the production pipeline behind the series. Dos Santos revealed that Dragon Striker uses a hybrid workflow inspired by Japanese anime production while incorporating Disney Television Animation’s own methods. When asked which magical tama they would personally choose, Lefebvre joked that he would want a time tama because there was never enough time during production.
The panel concluded with Orion Ross encouraging audiences to continue supporting the series and recommending that fans watch it again to discover many of the visual details hidden throughout Kal Asterock. Dragon Striker is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
