Basque Animation Is Booming Thanks To A Diverse And Eye-Catching Slate Of Film And TV Projects

Basque animation has enjoyed significant growth in recent years. With its unique combination of talent and innovation, the animation sector in the Basque Country has also reached some exciting new milestones in the last few months, from outstanding contributions to international markets to prestigious awards and prizes.

Market Participation

Basque animation continues to gain ground in key international markets. An example of this is the film Robotia, directed by Diego Cagide and Diego Lucero and produced by Dibulitoon Studio, Malabar, Paycom Multimedia, and Kantauri Filma AIE. The feature will be screened May 14-22 during the Marché du Film by leading Spanish sales agent Filmax International. Based on the television series of the same name, Robotia unspools in a world inhabited by androids where a girl dreams of playing football, despite her family’s ban. Her friends will come to her aid to help her fulfill her wish, and to show everyone what they are capable of doing, on and off the football field.

The animated series Titan Tofu, created and directed by María Luquero and produced by Unicorn Wars producers Chelo Loureiro and Iván Miñambres, is one of the projects selected for backing to create a pilot episode by Ibermedia Next. The program aims to promote talent and professionalization in the Ibero-American animation industry, making it easier for selected projects to reach a global audience.

International Co-Production

The sector has also strengthened its global presence by participating in several international co-productions, demonstrating an ability to transcend borders and enhance the audiovisual landscape. The aforementioned Titan Tofu is part of the first official co-production agreement between the Basque Country and Ecuador, Robotia is a Spain-Argentina co-production, and Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope is a Spain-Argentina-Chile co-production.

Awards and Nominations

Basque animation continues to have a significant impact on the global stage, winning multiple nominations and awards from some of the most prestigious organizations in the film and tv industries. On February 10, 2024, To Bird Or Not To Bird, directed by Martín Romero and produced by Uniko, won the Spanish Academy Goya Award for best animated short film. Sultana’s Dream, from San Sebastián native Isabel Herguera, was nominated for best animated feature in a category that included the Oscar-nominated film Robot Dreams and former Oscar nominees Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s They Shot the Piano Player.

The Quirino Ibero-American Animation Awards recently announced their nominees for the upcoming seventh edition of the event, which included Conej Steps Out and To Bird Or Not To Bird in the animated short category, and Sultana’s Dream in the animated feature category. Herguera was also nominated for European director of the year at the Cartoon Tributes.

Lastly, the 2024 Euroregional Animation Award aims to promote the audiovisual sector of the New Aquitaine, Euskadi, and Navarre Euroregion, valuing the industry, talent, locations, language, history, and other riches of the region. It is aimed at miniseries, series, short films, and feature films based in one of these three territories. Between three and six selected projects will be invited to present their work during a pitching session that will take place on March 5 at Cartoon Movie, the European co-production forum for animated feature films held in Bordeaux, France, from March 5-7.