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Experts call for better financing, protection, and scaling of intellectual property to drive growth and success worldwide effectively
Spain's animation industry made a strong case for itself at the Málaga Festival highlighting its talent, export reach and global appetite but also emphasizing the need for better financing, protection and scaling of its intellectual property. The country's animation and visual effects sector generated 604 million Euros in 2023 with 70 percent of the turnover coming from exports.
The panel discussion "Global Animation From Spain" brought together industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Raúl Rocha of Illusorium Studios argued that animation is not just a genre or subcategory but a medium capable of telling any kind of story and generating significant employment. He emphasized that Spain needs to decide what kind of animation power it wants to be and build a policy and business framework to match.
The panelists stressed the importance of controlling the value chain and generating IP in Spain. Jordi B. Oliva of Imagic TV argued that Spanish companies should aim to lead international productions rather than just participate in them. Daisy Cruz, president of MIA, Spain's Women in Animation association, highlighted the need for financing tools to industrialize local ideas and retain control of rights. Without this, Spain risks becoming an "exporter of artists" rather than a place where artists can build stable careers around locally owned creations.
The industry experts also discussed the need for Spain to compete on a global scale and develop a clear "mental map" for international buyers. With over 300 companies and a growing body of work including 33 features, 62 TV seasons and over 240 shorts produced between 2020 to 2024, Spain's animation industry has the potential to become a major player in the global market.
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