Catalonia's Animation Surge Lands 11 Titles at Annecy
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- Catalonia's animated feature output surged from one theatrical release in 2017 to six in 2025, with 11 titles selected for Annecy 2026 led by Contrechamp contender "Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope."
- "The Triplets" reboot by Peekaboo Animation and B Animation premieres on Catalan network 3Cat in December 2026; the original IP sold to 158 territories and Peekaboo is closing its first three licensing deals, two for Spain and one multi-territory accord.
- "Tad Jones and the Magic Lamp" — the fourth "Tad the Lost Explorer" feature — builds on a franchise that has grossed $118 million worldwide across its first three films, per Filmax's Ivan Díaz.
- Catalonia's animation industry grew 27% to 717 companies between 2018 and 2023, while ICEC animation funding rose from €1.45 million ($1.7 million) in 2017 to over €5 million ($5.8 million) in 2025, part of a record €60 million ($70 million) audiovisual allocation.
- Spain's 25%-30% tax credits requiring €1 million in local spend now enable animated features to be produced for €2-4 million ($2.3-4.6 million), according to Mr Miyagi Films' David Matamoros, who called the economics a fertile future for Catalan auteur animation.
- All 11 Catalan titles screening at Annecy are international co-productions, with partners spanning Chile, Argentina, Austria, Germany, Portugal, France, Slovakia, and Colombia — and 70% of Spain's animation revenues already came from exports by 2023.
- YouTube is emerging as a talent pipeline: Bruno Simões' 2018 short "Pip" scored 540 million views before being adapted into Sola Media's "Gus the Guide Dog," presented at Cannes.
Why it matters: The "Triplets" reboot, the "Tad" franchise's $118 million gross, and 717 active studios position Catalonia as a rival to Belgium, Ireland, and the Canary Islands for international co-production work. With 70% of Spain's animation revenue already from exports and features producible at €2-4 million through tax credits, Catalonia's combination of IP pipelines, tripled public funding, and fiscal incentives now competes directly with traditional TV-financed animation hubs.
