New Spanish animation projects seek to accelerate their production in Cartoon Movie

Production companies from Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid, the Basque Country and Valencia are behind the selected projects.

Animation production does not stop in Europe with new projects in development and films in production, many of which will be released throughout this year. Part of this new batch will be presented in Cartoon Movie, an event that will celebrate its twenty-third online edition of the March 9 to 11 and which has been organized since 2017 in the French city of Bordeaux. In this professional forum 55 feature film projects from all over Europe will be presented before buyers, distributors, investors and potential new partners with the aim of accelerating its production and distribution.

With 9 projects, the spanish animation It occupies second place on the list of countries with the greatest representation in the event, behind France, which leads the selection with 21 films. Studies from Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid, the Basque Country and Valencia are behind these projects that include new works by directors Salvador Simó (Candy Words), Manuel Sicilia (Moonlit Flamenco, co-directed with José Sánchez), and Adrià Garcia (Barracuda's Treasure).

Three films aimed at adult audiences stand out in the selection - a trend that continues to consolidate in European animation - such as Black is Black II: Ainhoa, a sequel to Fermin Muguruza's directorial debut, produced by Talka Records; Cucumber, the accordionist, a project set in post-war Spain produced by Meh Producciones; and Winnipeg, the ship of hope by Elio Quiroga and Beñat Beitia, with production by Dibulitoon Studio.

Cinema aimed at preschool audiences is represented by two projects: Hanna and the monsters by Lorena Ares and produced by Mr. Miyagi Films, and Valentina, directorial debut of the Galician production company Chelo Loureiro.

Spanish participation in Cartoon Movie is completed with The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil una producción de Able & Baker basada en la novela gráfica del ilustrador inglés Stephen Collins, y con My Grandfather’s Demons, a project by the Portuguese company Sardinha em Lata that is co-produced by the Galician company Caretos Films.

An x-ray of European animation

The selection of this new edition of Cartoon Movie includes 22 projects in concept, another 22 in development and 8 in production. A preview of three films already completed and ready for distribution will also be presented. The projects were selected from 93 applications and, together, they represent 76 hours of animation and have a budget of 297 million euros.

Together with France and Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Romania participate with three projects each. The selection also includes projects from Belgium, Slovakia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic and Sweden.

In terms of production, the projects have an average cost of 5.4 million euros, 22% less than in the last edition. Projects produced in 3D animation have decreased by 40% compared to 2020. With this decrease, 2D animation has become the majority (23 projects) followed by that which combines 2D and 3D.

Projects aimed at family audiences continue to be the majority and make up half of the selection (28) while animation for adults/young adults continues to grow compared to previous editions (15). The selection also includes projects for children, preschoolers and youth audiences.

The stories presented are told from different genres ranging from comedy, adventure films, dramas and horror to science fiction or documentaries. This same diversity is also reflected in the themes they address, as well as in the times and settings in which they take place.