Tony Bancroft, Disney icon, protagonist of Animayo 2026

The 21st edition of Animayo Gran Canaria (May 6-9) will feature the presence of American director, producer and animator Tony Bancroft, a Disney key name who will attend a festival in Spain for the first time to offer an in-person workshop on visual storytelling and a master class on animation.

In his day trained in one of the most prestigious centers in the field of animation such as the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Bancroft He is considered one of the architects of the Renaissance of Walt Disney Feature Animation in the nineties. His role in the development of the animation and visual style of emblematic titles of the time is widely recognized and awarded.

In addition to being the award-winning co-director of Mulan, next to Barry Cook, as animation supervisor and animator, is the creator of iconic characters such as Pumbaa from The Lion King, Iago de Aladdin, Din Don / Cogsworth de Beauty and the beast, the Gargoyles of The Hunchback of Notre Dame the Cronk of The emperor and his follies", among others. His experience extends beyond his twelve years in Disney: He was executive producer of the Oscar-nominated Mosley (Huhu Studios/China Film Animation); animation supervisor at Stuart Little 2, from Sony Pictures Imageworks, and 2D animator and lead animator on Space Jam: A New Legacy, from Warner Bros. Pictures, collaborating on the motion design and performance of characters such as Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian.

With a consolidated career linked to visual creation, direction and storytelling, Tony Bancroft is co-founder of The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast, along with his brother Tom Bancroft, as well as co-founder of the Toonacious Family Entertainment studio, focused on the production of family content.

Tony Bancroft at Animayo Gran Canaria 2026

On Wednesday the 6th at 6:00 p.m., Bancroft will present the short film in Animayo Gran Canaria The Piano, by Avery Kroll, of which it is executive producer. With free admission until capacity is reached, this special screening will take place during the “Live Star Guest Presentation Gala” that will take place at the CICCA Space.

On Friday the 8th (4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.), he will give the workshop Visual Storytelling: Think Like an Artist, Tell Like a Director (Visual narrative: think like an artist, narrate like a director), while on Saturday the 9th (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) it is the turn of his master class Animation with a Legacy: Mulan, The Lion King, Aladdin and Other Unforgettable Films (Animation with a legacy: Mulan, The Lion King, Aladdin and other unforgettable films). At the end of each activity, autograph signing will take place in the same locations.

Animayo 2026 has a program with more than 40 guests and star speakers, coming from Europe, the United States or Canada, linked to studies such as Pixar, Disney, Warner Bros, DreamWorks, Skydance Animation, Framestore, Blur Studio, Gigglebug Entertainment, Heebo Entertainment o Platige Image. All of them make up a program made up of 13 master classes, 12 training presentations, 6 workshops, 6 international sections in competition and the world premiere of The visual World of Alan Bodner, In addition to premieres and exclusive content, around twenty stands from artists, schools and universities; more than 20 hours of recruitments, portfolio and firm reviews, panels and talks.