Gilles Vancoillie, a game animator from Kortrijk, inspires the audience in Mons
On the evening of Thursday 19 March 2026, Gilles Vancoillie (MoonMonster Studios, Kortrijk) took to the stage at CLICK Mons. Speaking to an audience of around forty professionals from the gaming, creative and cultural sectors, he shared his story of how animated series and video games are increasingly converging — an intersection where, as a creator, he is a daily pioneer.
The fact that Gilles was able to showcase his expertise in Mons was no mere coincidence: Designregio Kortrijk deliberately invites local creatives to present their work both nationally and internationally. We brought him to this inspirational event on game design, an initiative within the European Creativ’Up project, which encourages cross-pollination between creative disciplines in France, Wallonia and Flanders.
For many attendees, Gilles’ keynote was a revelation. He demonstrated how the production of animated series is increasingly using the same techniques, workflows and engines as the video game industry. From interactive storytelling to real-time rendering: the lines are blurring, and this opens up new opportunities for studios and young creators alike.
“It’s inspiring to see that my work is relevant not only within gaming, but also in broader creative sectors,” Gilles said afterwards. “Thanks to Designregio Kortrijk, I had the opportunity to share this story on an international platform. That opens doors.”
Alongside Gilles, two other speakers took to the stage:
- Corentin De Clercq (Little Big Monkey Studio) explained how physical hardware and digital gaming experiences reinforce one another.
- Artist Jérôme Cortie reflected on how gaming culture inspires new artistic forms within installations and exhibitions.
The event brought together companies, students, researchers and entrepreneurs around a single question: How can gaming technology and thinking fuel innovation beyond the gaming sector itself? During the networking session, initial ideas and potential collaborations were immediately exchanged.
With Gilles’ participation, Designregio Kortrijk underlines its role as a bridge-builder between West Flemish creativity and international innovation ecosystems. By involving local talent in European programmes such as Creativ’Up, they gain visibility, contacts and opportunities to further develop their work.
About Creativ’Up
Creativ’Up is a cross-border initiative involving Hauts-de-France, Wallonia and West Flanders that supports innovation within the cultural and creative sector. The project is supported by nine partners, including the University of Mons, TWIST, Le Fresnoy, Louvre-Lens Vallée, the City of Kortrijk, HOWEST – University of Applied Sciences and Designregio Kortrijk. Creativ’Up forms part of the European Interreg France-Wallonia-Flanders programme.
Stijn Debaillie
Coordinator
