Animation was celebrated less than a month ago at Berlin’s EFM, but today it has arrived in yet another market with the unveiling of a wide range of upcoming Spanish animation productions at a screening session in the Málaga Mafis Industrial Zone.
From stop-motion projects for families to coming-of-age stories for young people, the medium of animation is once again proving to be an extremely rich playground for directors and screenwriters.
This year, at least 13 animated films will be screened, 10 of which will be screened at the Animation Trends Showcase, part of the Mafis industry event within the framework of the 29th Malaga Film Festival, to be held on March 10 in southern Spain. The pitch event will be held at Screen 7’s Multicines Rosaleda. Some of these projects are still in production, looking for co-producers, investors and general partners, while others are nearing completion and are primarily looking for sales, broadcasters and distribution companies. But each one has a unique, unique voice and the potential to reach a wide audience around the world. Here’s a glimpse of what’s been happening in Spain’s animation pipeline lately.
girl and wolf
From Goya-nominated Hampa Studio (“The Barracuda,” “Paradise Buffet”) comes “The Girl and the Wolf” (“Chica y Robo”), a new animated feature for young adults. Directed by Roque Espinet, who adapted his own graphic novel of the same name, the film depicts how Paula’s simple and innocent life in a medieval village explodes after a bloody attack by wolves. A dark childhood trauma comes back to haunt her and takes its toll, leaving Paula surrounded by soulless hunters, magical wild spirits, and a pack of wolves older than humans.
“The decision to support this film was easy,” said Alvaro García.
Hampa’s Chief Business Officer. “This is a project that matches a unique story with great visuals and world-building. Rock has been in the animation industry for a long time, and we’re thrilled to bring his first comic book to the big screen.”
Determined to honor the original art of the graphic novel, the team confessed that this journey had its challenges, but by working with this extremely talented artist they were able to achieve what looks like a very promising feature. In Malaga, Hampa is seeking international sales. This film is still in production.
Amalur’s prophecy
The 2025 Cartoon Movie “Prophecy of Amalur” (“Prophesia of Amalur”) tells the story of Egutski, a teenage girl imprisoned in a juvenile detention center with uncontrollable magical powers, as she discovers her destiny to save Amalur, a parallel world inhabited by creatures from ancient Basque mythology. Joined by Cali, an imaginative gamer who is braver than reality on the other side of the screen, she enters a dangerous realm of magic, confronts the Dark Lord, and fights for what she has always been denied: a place to belong and a family she never knew.
Brought to the screen by producer and director Miriam Ballesteros (MB Producciones), “Amalur Prophecy” is an ambitious stylized 3D feature rooted in strong 2D artistic DNA. “This is a spectacular fantasy film, and the goal is to create a visually distinctive fantasy world inspired by Basque iconography, combining epic scale with a hand-crafted poetic sensibility,” Ballesteros added. “A story driven by intimacy, vulnerability, and two girls searching for their place in the world.” Wanting to tell an epic adventure where emotional courage is as powerful as magic, the director crafted this story about identity, sisterhood, and belonging, with a strong female protagonist and targeted at a family audience with strong crossover appeal for epic fantasy audiences.
The film is in advanced stages of development, with a completed script and 3D animation teaser and ready to go into production. Pre-sales to RTVE and EITB media have already taken place, and the project received a production grant from the Basque government.
In Malaga, MB producciones is looking for financing partners, additional co-producers and international distribution partners.
The day Ewan McGregor introduced me to his parents
After a trip from Cartoon Movies to Annecy and its MIFA market, multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Llona (Marta Puig) arrives at Maffy’s with “The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to My Parents.” This hand-drawn 2D animation combines Ryona’s signature minimalist illustration style with a cinematic visual language that allows for a playful and expressive exploration of the protagonist’s emotions and inner world. The film follows Marta, a woman who has just turned 40 and suddenly finds herself reflecting on her life, including her relationships, heartbreak, and her expectations as a woman.
As she navigates love, sexuality, and her desire to become a mother, she must face one important question. Does she really want to be a mother, or has she simply inherited society’s expectations? According to the filmmaking team, the feature was born out of a “very personal need to honestly talk with humor and tenderness about desire, the body, motherhood, and the contradictions of growing up as a woman today. Through animation,” they added, “we want to transform an intimate experience into a universal story about identity, love, and the courage to redefine your life.”
Music also plays an important role in the film, which is rooted in Ryona’s background as a music video director. “The film incorporates songs and musical moments that reflect the emotional journey of the protagonist, creating a sensory experience that blends humor, tenderness, and contemporary indie music.
Mr. Miyagi Films, which is already in production, hopes to release the film in spring 2027 and is currently seeking connections with international sales agents and distributors interested in supporting the next stage of the project’s development and international distribution.
flamingo flamenco
flamingo flamenco
Created by 3Doubles Producciones, Studio 100, Sumendi Uhartea, Capitán Araña and Telegael, “Flamingo Flamenco” is an ambitious Spanish-German-Irish animated adventure that blends music, comedy and style with feathery joy. This 3D CGI adventure comedy tells the story of Rosie, a young flamingo who must overcome personal loss to regain her confidence and use the power of dance to save her herd. “As 3Doubles celebrates its ninth year in the industry, we are excited to bring you ‘Flamingo Flamenco,’” said producer and CEO Dario Sanchez. “This is a family film that invites the audience to travel through the vibrant landscapes of Andalusia and immerse themselves in a universal story of self-discovery and love of art. We hope that this story will make many people reconnect with their dreams and feel the pulse of life to the beat of flamenco.”
Co-directed by animation veterans Raul Garcia (Who Created Roger Rabbit, The Lion King, Aladdin) and Rob Sprakling (Gnomeo and Juliet, The Queen’s Corgi), the film has already been sold in more than 100 countries with the help of Studio 100 as international distributor. It is currently in production with 3Doubles and its partner studio Sumendi Uhaertea. Sumendi Uhaertea is one of the latest Basque animation studios to emerge in this vibrant country’s ecosystem, and “Flamingo Flamenco” is scheduled for delivery by the first quarter of 2027. With a target audience of 6 to 11 year olds, 3Doubles will also be unveiling another animated feature, “Gungo,” at today’s event.
a la fresca
Lola is an elderly woman who lives completely alone in Casares de las Fuldes, as her friends have long since died. So Laura can call them once a month on a full moon day and spend time with them. As the past is slowly erased by newcomers living in the present, Laura and her friends decide to stand up and protect their village. But are these people as bad as they think?
The project “A la Fresca” (translated as “Chill Out”), proposed by rural natives Victoria Plata Ramos and Sandra Moran Rodríguez, began as a collaborative project between artists who wanted to create together. “But the film quickly became something deeper. It is a tribute to the many grandmothers who continue to live alone in these places, holding on to memories, traditions and a sense of home. As creators from the countryside, we are deeply grateful for the memories, traditions and sense of homeland that continue to live in solitude. “We felt a deep need to tell a story about the beautiful villages that are becoming. Rural depopulation is often talked about in terms of loss, but we wanted to explore a different perspective: the quiet resilience of the people who lived there.” It is a reality that we know firsthand and that I believe many of us emotionally recognize. ”
Through the medium of 2D animation, in which the two artists have been training and collaborating for many years, they hope to transform that solitude into something poetic, intimate, and human. “Although this film is aimed at all audiences, its thematic and emotional depth make it especially meaningful for adult audiences. It tackles loneliness, generational change, and a sense of belonging with humor and tenderness, creating a dialogue about what we can learn from our elders and our younger ones.” At Maffiz, the team for ‘A la Fresca’ is currently seeking production partners, financing opportunities and international sales agents to support the next stage of development and distribution.
almond eye
Based on a short story written by Ana Gutiérrez Rubio as a teenager, Almond Eye (Ojos de Almendra) is a story about how romantic love turns against those who experience it, and how love turns everyone into a victim. Dana and Mara, two inseparable sisters, are enjoying early summer in Malaga. But when they meet a group of boys and girls their age from Madrid, their bond begins to fray. Dana calls them “kids from the capital.” Dana falls in love with Gael, a boy with almond-shaped eyes, and the two begin dating. The couple slowly forgets everything around them, and their idyllic romance ends in emotional instability that neither Dana nor Gael can control, the consequences of which will leave Dana and Mara’s lives forever.
“This idea that love turns us into victims is a sensitive topic, and we want to approach it with great care, especially from an emotional standpoint,” Rubio added. “The language of animation allows us to work with abstract elements (e.g. emotions) in a figurative way. Symbolism, dreaminess, and rhetoric are themes that interest me, and I believe they reach their fullest potential in the medium of animation.” Rubio’s connection to the animation medium goes beyond symbolism, and she confesses that she is also drawn to 2D animation and the craftsmanship involved in this particular technique. “This is a piece of work that we really care about, a piece that speaks to the human experience, so we aim for the most artisanal approach possible.”
“Almond Eyes” is aimed at adults and young adults, with a particular focus on older teenagers. The Maffiz team is looking for co-producers, distributors and sales agents to help move this developing project forward.
Run, Kururu, run!
“Run, Kururu, Ran”
This work is based on the popular children’s book series of the same name, “Kore, Kuru, Kore!” (“Run, Kura, Run”) is Dibulitoon’s latest project. Founded in 1991, the studio has produced more than 10 feature films and hundreds of hours of television animation, winning numerous awards, including 34 Goya Award nominations. Director Agruzane Inciaulaga “Run, Cru, Run! The film is a 3D animated feature film that follows the adventures of 12-year-old Nora, who is admitted to the Basque Bidasoa Hospital. While waiting for her badge, she spotted 12-year-old Ethiopian boy Kulu. The boy plans to tell her the story of Ketsine, a giraffe that crossed the Mediterranean some 200 years ago, just as he did.
The 75-minute feature, aimed at family viewers, is expected to be completed in September. Dibritoon comes to Malaga in search of an overseas distributor.
Beyond these seven projects and other pitches presented at Mafiz this year, animation will receive a strong spotlight throughout the event. On March 10th, Mafiz will host a roundtable discussion focused on bringing Spanish animation to the global market. Tomorrow, workshops with Jordi B. Oliva (Imagic TV), Sérgio Jimenez (Pinkman.TV), Manuel Sicilia (Rokyn Animation), and Raul Rocha (Illusorium Studios) will delve deeper into practical case studies, while animation fans and professionals alike will be treated to a golden talk from Pixar alumnus and Trollhunters director Rodrigo Blaas.
Click here for the complete program
