Animation from Spain attends the Ottawa Worldwide Animation Pageant’s TAC (The Animation Convention) for the first time this year and has introduced three of the hottest animation producers in Spain for a round table to debate the current situation of Iberian animation and pitch pipelines to the world market and North America .
The presence supported by the Spanish government in the most important animation contests in North America and indie-specific animation events in the world calendar shows the desire to develop into a larger participant in Canada and the USA, and to increase its popularity worldwide.
Ambitions around the world are fueled by higher sports in Spain. According to ICEX Spain Commerce and Funding, the Spanish authority that led Ottawa’s involvement this year, in 2023, Spanish companies produce six animated options, 25 short films and 68 seasons of animated TV sequences.
Business and critical, Spanish animation can reach new heights. Last year, 4 Cats Footage’ “Mummies” generated $54 million in worldwide employment, the second highest for a Spanish feature exterior in Spain. Arcadia’s “Robot’s Desire” received an Oscar nomination for animated feature, being a member of “Chico y Rita” and “Klaus” as a Spanish film that received consideration.
In Ottawa, ICEX curator Carolina López Caballero will average a round table on Thursday evening at 11:15 that includes the founder of Morgana Studios and Chief Artistic Director Claudio Lluberes, government producer Hampa Studio Álvaro García Gnzález – considered one of the Choice 2024 rise of Spanish producers to observe, and the CEO of Abano Producións Chelo Louriero.
Moving on from the Ottawa dialogue, we asked the audio system why they consider it important for Spanish companies not only now, but to be promoted at events around the world like OIAF.
“The Spanish animation sector is growing rapidly, and taking part in world events like OIAF is important to increase its global presence,” defined Lluberes. “This event provides Spanish creators and studios with a platform to present their work, join business leaders, and attract collaborators and buyers.”
For García, Ottawa is a great gateway for European indies to enter the North American market. “For me, it is important for high-quality European animation to cross the Ocean and get the Canadian and American markets. Usually, these markets are closed in Europe, but the situation is now open like ours. We have to take this second and build a bridge between us.
Along with participating in the round table, each company has introduced an initiative to introduce TAC.
One of Spain’s biggest and most profitable indie animation producers, Galicia-based Abano has backed award-winning fare, along with Annecy Contrechamp winner “Sultan’s Dream” and Spain’s Goya Academy Award winners “War of the Unicorn” and “For Hen or No Hen.” This year, the company presents two selections in Ottawa. “Decorado” is the next one from the indie auteur Alberto Vázquez, co-produced with Uniko, Glow and Sardinha em Lata ” directed by multihyphenate actor-filmmaker Estefania Piñeres and co-produced with Colombia Letrario.
Abano also has several shorts in pre-production and production brought to Ottawa, along with Bea Lema’s adaptation of the Nationwide Comedian Award-winning graphic novel “El cuerpo de Cristo,” Carla Pereira’s stop-motion summary “One thing within the Home” and Alicia Núñez’s “One Means Cycle.”
‘Mu-Ki-Ra’
Credit score: Abano Producións
Valencia-based Hampa, whose credits include status-worthy arthouse fare like “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles” and “Black is Beltza” in addition to plenty of shiny CG kids and household sequences, will present two options coming to Ottawa , Roc Espinet’s buzzy graphic novel-based “Lady and Wolf” and “The Treasure of Barracuda,” one of the many huge Spanish pickups in Marché du Movie when it was acquired by Filmax.
‘Lady and the Wolf’
Credit score: Hampa Studio
Morgana Studio in Madrid, an animation and VFX service company that is more concerned with unique manufacturing, is in Ottawa with its flagship company “Diamante,” currently growing. Directed by Mathieu Ratthé from a screenplay by Ratthé and Leticia Tonos Paniagua, the Dominican set feature is produced with Reachstar Leisure and DNEG ReDefine company.
