Animation has experienced significant growth in the Canary Islands, with the creation of new productions and studios, specialised training programmes, and a growing presence at international festivals, as well as at local events.
MIFA Annecy, the world’s leading international animation market, welcomed more than 60 animation professionals from the Canary Islands this year. In addition, the islands reached a record level of participation at this edition, with 17 studios. The Canary Islands took another step forward with their own stand under the slogan “Canarias. Create the incredible”. This business mission was organised as part of Canary Islands Animation, the initiative dedicated to animation within Canary Islands Film.
The 9th edition of the Quirino Awards, held in April in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, brought together creators, professionals and key players from the Ibero-American animation industry. The Co-Production and Business Forum was the central element of the Awards’ professional programme, bringing together 166 companies from 24 countries and resulting in nearly 1,400 one-to-one meetings.
In May, the latest edition of Animayo Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands’ leading animation festival, took place. It is the only Spanish animation festival that qualifies films for the Academy Awards and the Annie Awards.
Over the past three years, the number of projects supported by the Government of the Canary Islands has reached four feature films, two short films and four series, with a total of €779,002.24 in funding awarded. In addition, the 2025 edition of the IsLABentura Canarias Screenwriting Lab included two animation projects among the 16 selected. One of them was acquired by a national production company for co-production with a Canarian studio.
Training is another key factor. Among the latest additions is 3Doubles Campus. Led by industry experts, 3Doubles was founded in the Canary Islands to provide a gateway to the professional world for the 3D and 2D animation sector.
Likewise, Canarian production companies produced more than 20 animated productions last year. One of the most recent successes is Winnipeg, el barco de la esperanza, directed by Beñat Beitia and Gran Canaria-born Elio Quiroga, which was selected for the Contrechamp category at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
|