Alberto Vázquez Skewers Unchecked Consumerism In First Trailer For ‘Decorado’

Leading Spanish indie studio Uniko has released the first trailer for Decorado, the new animated feature from acclaimed filmmaker Alberto Vázquez, ahead of its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin (September 18–25).

Vázquez, best known for his features Birdboy: The Forgotten Children and Unicorn Wars as well as several multiple-award-winning shorts, has long pushed the boundaries of adult animation in Europe with his surreal, allegorical storytelling. Decorado expands on his award-winning 2016 short of the same name, turning it into a full-length feature that blends satire, fable, and striking engraving-inspired visuals. The film’s art direction is led by José Luis Ágreda, with animation supervised by Pamela Poltronieri.

The story centers on Arnold, a middle-aged mouse facing a cascade of crises: personal, romantic, and existential. As paranoia takes its grip, Arnold begins to suspect that his entire world is an elaborate construct orchestrated by ALMA, a sinister megacorporation. Through this premise, as relevant now as it was nearly a decade ago when the Decorado short impressed at Cannes and Annecy, Vázquez delivers a biting critique of consumerism, conformity, and the erosion of authentic connection.

“Metaphor and fable allow us to tell stories from a different place, offering new perspectives on reality,” Vázquez says. His choice of animal characters remains central to that vision: “Animals are universally understood, deeply rooted in our collective imagination — and more beautiful than humans.”

Produced by Abano Producións, Uniko, The Glow, María y Arnold AIE, and Sardinha Em Lata, Decorado will debut at Fantastic Fest before heading to the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in early October for its domestic premiere. Spanish distributor Barton Films will release the feature domestically on October 24, with Le Pacte handling international sales.