Creative Studio Between Design, Animation, and Visual Culture: H5

24 June 2025 | 25 June 2025 | 2 min |

In this article :

A hybrid and rich trajectory
Specialties
- Studio organization & culture
Rétines

Since 1994, H5 has established itself as one of Paris’s most distinctive studios in graphic design and animation. Founded by Ludovic Houplain and Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, it is renowned for its short films (Oscars, Césars), iconic music videos, and collaborations with legendary brands.

This communication agency operates at the crossroads of worlds: electronic culture, graphic design, advertising, luxury. An approach where each project becomes a visual manifesto, combining creativity, visual storytelling, and aesthetic rigor.

A hybrid and rich trajectory

H5’s early successes come from the French electronic scene: Daft Punk, Röyksopp (Remind Me), Goldfrapp… Award-winning videos blending CGI and animation, where aesthetics meet music. Their short film Logorama (2010) opened the doors to global recognition: Oscar and César in hand.

From the 2000s onwards, H5 expanded its scope: cult ads (Citroën, Volkswagen, Dior), cultural visual identities (Louvre, Hermès, Cartier), installations and animated content for culture (Arte, Fondation Cartier…).

Specialties

H5 is structured around two main pillars:

Branding / Visual Identity: show graphics (Arte Tracks), cultural visuals (museums, festivals), complex graphic identities.
Films / Animation: music videos, short films, advertising content, strong visual narratives. Advanced technical expertise (motion design, animated typography, visual storytelling).

This positioning makes it a sought-after partner for luxury, culture, music, and media brands with high standards for imagery.

Studio organization & culture

Around 11–50 employees, mainly designers, animators, directors, producers
Historic headquarters at 25 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris 9th arrondissement
A collective of hybrid profiles: graphic designers, motion designers, directors, all driven by a creative “French Touch” spirit

Rétines

H5 excels in animated and graphic storytelling, but for campaigns or projects that also include photography, dedicated expertise is required.

That’s where Rétines comes in: we co-create with entities like H5 to deliver high-quality photography:

Portraits & reports complementing animated projects
Packshots & product shots to support film stories or visual identities
Location or event images aligned with H5’s style

Our mission: provide calibrated, technically mastered visuals capable of dialoguing with animation and design to create a complete visual system.

👉 See our photo & studio projects

Écrit par Jérémy Carlo

Jérémy Carlo is the editorial director at Rétines, where he ensures the consistency and clarity of all content produced by the studio. His role goes beyond writing—he shapes the tone, structures the messages, and upholds a precise, demanding editorial line that stays true to the identity of Rétines. With a background in visual communication and solid experience in content strategy, he bridges the technical world of photography with clear, no-frills writing.

Jérémy works closely with photographers, art directors, and the commercial team to make sure every word published serves the image, the message, and the brand. From blog articles and client presentations to social media posts and internal documents—everything is filtered through his attentive eye. His strength lies in making complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying, and in highlighting the studio’s work without relying on unnecessary superlatives.

Through his writing, Jérémy helps Rétines exist beyond the image—by giving context to projects, emphasizing the thinking behind each shoot, and bringing to light the technical and aesthetic choices that drive each photograph.