Dominique Pinon was the only choice for director Jean-Baptiste Chuat, who had admired the French actor since childhood. Pinon initially declined saying he was done doing short films, however agreed to play the part of 511 after seeing Jean-Baptiste's previous work, Mimikry (2006).
The film exists in three different versions. The theatrical version presented at festivals runs 14 mins. The director's preferred version runs 12 mins. The television version is 9 mins long, trimming the climax and end credits.
In the early stages of production, CGI imagery played a major role. However the film was shot using practical effects only, including the climax in the chocolate cauldron.