Business Animation Network 2026: Canary Islands, hub of animation

62 professionals representing 37 organizations in the audiovisual ecosystem are part of the 3rd edition of the Business Animation Network, an initiative included in the 21st Animayo International Festival which seeks to consolidate Gran Canaria as a “European audiovisual hub” thanks to variables such as competitive advantages, advanced infrastructure and a “privileged geographical position.

Held at the Real de Triana facilities in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the meeting promoted by Damián Perea Productions responds to the need for a permanent platform that connects local industry with international markets; a commercial and creative bridge that links production companies and animation studios in the Canary Islands with streaming, distributors, investors and international producers.

The call brought together 62 accredited professionals representing 37 organizations in the audiovisual ecosystem who accumulated a total of 600 B2B meetings. Among them, 19 leading international companies with participants from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Poland and different parts of Spain, such as Madrid, Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Seville: Skydance Animation Studios, Blur Studio, Framestore Pictures, Platige Image, Fortiche Production, Gigglebug Entertainment, Heeboo Entertainment, Pascal Blais Studio, Wacom Europe, The Game Kitchen, Animation Magazine, Cartoon Brew, ASIFA-Hollywood, 3 Doubles Producciones, Rising Pixel, Shoji Films, Illusorium Animation Studios, B-Water Animation Studios y Amuse Animation.

The companies were represented by CEOs, studio directors, executive producers, development executives, animation and VFX supervisors, art directors, recruiters international organizations and representatives of specialized media, who analyzed opportunities for co-production, business implementation, international recruitment and development of audiovisual projects. In addition, the participants promoted new avenues of collaboration between companies, institutions and international studies, focusing on the competitive advantages that the Canary Islands offer as hub for the audiovisual industry.

Likewise, the assistance of 3 Doubles Producciones, 3 Doubles Campus, kanakanmani (University of Design, Innovation and Technology), BIND (International University of La Rioja) and U-tad University Center for Technology and Digital Art, highlighted the commitment of the Business Animation Network to strengthening the connection between companies, universities and specialized training, favoring the development of talent, innovation, employability and the transfer of knowledge to respond to the present and future needs of the international animation, visual effects and video game industry.

Damian Perea, director and founder of Animayo, summarizes the main keys of the event: "Our objective is that these meetings translate into real projects, investment and new international alliances. After three editions, the Business Animation Network is consolidated as one of the main professional platforms dedicated to animation and visual effects in southern Europe, reinforcing the international positioning of Gran Canaria as a destination for investment, co-production and the development of audiovisual projects."