From the beginning, Humanoids has embodied creative innovation, a fiercely independent spirit, and a drive to break new ground. Humanoids began under the name Les Humanoïdes Associés in the turbulent early 1970s in Paris, which—like San Francisco and New York—was alive with the spirit of artistic revolution. As young people were debating ideas in unprecedented ways, graphic novel artists Jean Giraud (known as Mœbius) and Philippe Druillet, along with writer Jean-Pierre Dionnet were determined to push the limits of their art and of the medium as a whole. They joined forces to create a comics magazine like none before: Métal Hurlant (French for "Screaming Metal"). Since its first issue in January 1975, Métal Hurlant has shown how comics can be created and presented in cutting-edge ways. The combined magazine with Les Humanoïdes Associés, its editorial counterpart, quickly achieved a reputation as a company run by creative people for the sake of creating and exploring storytelling and art. Soon the Humanichs attracted the attention of creators outside the comic book world, such as Ridley Scott who later hired Mœbius to create concept art for his film Alien-like James Cameron would do for his film The Abyss, and others. In 1981, Columbia Pictures released the animated film Heavy Metal, adapted by the magazine. Subsequently, with Swiss entrepreneur Fabrice Giger taking over the company from media giant Hachette, Humanoids became completely international in its thinking and creative process, with artists and writers from multiple countries working together to create art and stories with global appeal. In 1998, Humanoids opened a branch in Los Angeles to present its creators and titles to the American public and work with local talent. So far, he is the only comic book publisher of European origin to have achieved a successful presence in the English-speaking markets, where his catalogue is exploited under the Humanoids brand and various prints. Humanoids is now positioning itself as a major content provider for the growing worldwide entertainment industry.