Spanish Animation Woos North American Martket at OIAF

Animation from Spain is attending the Ottawa International Animation Festival‘s TAC (The Animation Conference) for the first time this year and has brought with it three of Spain’s hottest up-and-coming animation producers for a roundtable to discuss the current state of Iberian animation and pitch their pipelines to the international and North American markets.

A Spanish government-backed presence at North America’s most important animation festival and the leading indie-dedicated animation event on the global calendar indicates a desire to become a bigger player in Canada and the U.S. while bolstering the country’s global reputation.

International ambitions are being fueled by increased activity in Spain. According to ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Spanish government body that spearheads this year’s Ottawa involvement, in 2023, Spanish companies produced six animated features, 25 short films and 68 seasons of animated TV series.

Commercial and critically, Spanish animation is also reaching new heights. Last year, 4 Cats Pictures’ “Mummies” made $54 million at the global box office, the second-highest gross for a Spanish feature outside of Spain. Arcadia’s “Robot Dreams” received an animated feature Oscar nomination, joining “Chico y Rita” and “Klaus” as the only Spanish films to receive the honor.

In Ottawa, ICEX curator Carolina López Caballero will moderate a roundtable on Thursday afternoon at 11:15 featuring Morgana Studios founder and Chief Creative Director Claudio Lluberes, Hampa Studio executive producer Álvaro García Gnzález – one of Variety’s 2024 emerging Spanish producers to watch, and Abano Producións‘ CEO Chelo Louriero.

Ahead of their Ottawa discussion, we asked the speakers why they think it’s important for Spanish companies to be not only present but promoted at international events like the OIAF.

“Spain’s animation sector is growing rapidly, and participating in international events like OIAF is crucial for expanding its global presence,” explained Lluberes. “These events offer Spanish creators and studios a platform to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders, and attract collaborators and investors.”

For García, Ottawa represents an ideal gateway for European indies to enter the North American marketplace. “To me, it’s key for the high-quality European animation to cross the Ocean and reach the Canadian and American markets. Historically, these markets have been closed to Europe, but the current situation is opening them up to us. We have to seize this moment and build bridges between us.”

In addition to participating in the roundtable, each company has brought projects to introduce to TAC.

One of Spain’s largest and most successful indie animation producers, Galicia-based Abano has backed award-winning fare, including Annecy Contrechamp winner “Sultana’s Dream” and Spanish Academy Goya Award winners “Unicorn Wars” and “To Bird or Not to Bird.” This year, the company is showing off two features in Ottawa. “Decorado” is the next from indie auteur Alberto Vázquez (“Unicorn Wars”), co-produced with Uniko, Glow and Sardinha em Lata. “Mu-Ki-Ra” is directed by multihyphenate actor-filmmaker Estefania Piñeres and co-produced with Colombia’s Letrario.

Abano also has several shorts in pre-production and production it’s taking to Ottawa, including Bea Lema’s adaptation of her National Comic Award-winning graphic novel “El cuerpo de Cristo,” Carla Pereira’s stop-motion short “Something in the House” and Alicia Núñez’s “One Way Cycle.”

Valencia-based Hampa, whose credits include prestige arthouse fare such as “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles” and “Black is Beltza” as well as a massive slate of shiny CG kids and family series, will show of two upcoming features in Ottawa, Roc Espinet’s buzzy graphic novel-based “Girl and Wolf” and “The Treasure of Barracuda,” one of the big Spanish pickups at this years Marché du Film when it was acquired by Filmax.

Madrid’s Morgana Studio, an animation and VFX service company that is increasingly involved in original production, is in Ottawa with its flagship project “Diamante,” currently in development. Directed by Mathieu Ratthé from a screenplay by Ratthé and Leticia Tonos Paniagua, the Dominican-set feature is being produced with Reachstar Entertainment and DNEG company ReDefine.