Cartoon Forum Introduces Sustainability Prize As It Unveils 2026 Tribute Nominees

Cartoon Forum has unveiled the nominees for its 2026 Tributes, which recognize companies that have made significant contributions to the European animation industry over the past year.

Ten companies from seven countries will compete across the event’s three categories: Producer, Investor/Distributor, and Broadcaster of the Year. A fourth prize, the Ecoprod-Cartoon Tribute, has been introduced to recognize a European animation company or initiative working to improve sustainability in the sector.

The winners will be announced during Cartoon Forum, which runs September 14-17 in Toulouse, France. Attendees will vote for the recipients in the three main categories, while environmental nonprofit Ecoprod will select the winner of the sustainability award.

The Producer of the Year nominees are Czech film and television outfit Bionaut, French adult animation specialist Bobby Prod, Barcelona’s Mago Production and Luxembourg-based Melusine Studio.

All four have previously presented projects at Cartoon Forum. Bionaut returns this year as a co-producer of the Norwegian series Scope of the Universe, while Mago will present Lily & Kyle. Melusine is attached to two projects in this year’s lineup, Mebh and the Wolf Pups and The Otherness.

Bobby Prod’s recent work includes The Broos, which began on TikTok and Instagram before being developed into a series with Arte France. The project participated in Cartoon Forum’s Coaching Program in 2021 and was pitched at the main event in 2024.

France’s legendary studio Folivari International and Mediawan Kids & Family are nominated for Investor/Distributor of the Year alongside Germany’s Studio 100 International. Their respective catalogs include European and international properties such as Samuel, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Maya the Bee and Mia and Me.

The Broadcaster of the Year category is made up entirely of public-service broadcasters: the U.K.’s BBC, Sweden’s Sveriges Television and Germany’s Südwestrundfunk. All three commission, co-produce and acquire European children’s animation, including projects first presented at Cartoon Forum.

For the inaugural Ecoprod-Cartoon Tribute, Ecoprod has nominated France’s Gao Shan Pictures and La Cabane Productions and Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon.

Each sustainability nominee also has a project at this year’s forum. Gao Shan Pictures will present The Roots of My Hair, Cartoon Saloon is bringing Mebh and the Wolf Pups, and La Cabane will pitch Emma Makes Waves, a co-production with Belgium’s Thuristar.

Founded in 1990 to encourage the co-production and distribution of European animated series, Cartoon Forum says it has helped 1,053 projects secure more than €3.83 billion ($4.46 billion) in financing.