Three industry leaders analyze the strengths of Spanish animation and explore new ways to strengthen it. They are Nathalie Martinez, president of the Spanish animation association Diboos, Bea Bartolomé, director of the Quirino Awards, and Verónica Buide, president of MIA, the association of women in the animation industry.
The animation sector is highly complex and dynamic. Therefore, it is important to analyze the market, its needs, and explore collaboration opportunities between Spanish talents and international stakeholders interested in the animation industry.
The most solid assets of Spanish animation
Nathalie Martinez: We have had our noses to the grindstone for many years. We have a very important cultural background that other countries do not have. From literature to graphic arts, all this has been developed over centuries. Today, highly cultivated professionals converge in the artistic area of the sector, and we see how our artists are highly valued abroad. This is something that we have to value, take care of, nurture, and leverage. At Diboos we are aware of this, and we are doing a remarkable job of developing professionals and recruiting talent.
Bea Bartolomé: I think that one of our strengths is that we have been able to co-produce between regions, which has not happened for a long time. We used to co-produce with other countries, of course, and it's still great. But for some years now we have learned to make viable feature films and series with production companies and television channels from our different regions. Another strength is creativity and talent. We have them.
A strategy for the future
Bea Bartolomé: Because of the economic dimension and complexity of animation productions, we need more executive producers with experience and the capacity to take advantage of the different financing channels, which are also ever-changing. This is the area in which Spain and other European countries are faltering.
Nathalie Martinez: Industrially, we need legal guarantees, more and better financing and, above all, that the difference is valued. We continue to fail in funding and its uneven pace. Especially in development, where our processes are much slower than in real life. The start-up of an animation project is very difficult. And development grants are not intended for animation.
The presence of women in the sector
Verónica Buide: According to our data, it has grown significantly in terms of script, music and production. Especially in screenwriting, an area in which women represent 52% in feature films released in 2022. However, in production, where the presence of women has historically been significant (between 20% and 30%), it is now simply stable.
We believe that the incorporation of women in the industry will grow significantly in the near future, at least in junior roles. But for these women to advance to senior roles and make creative and business decisions, we need the support of public institutions, companies in the sector and associations like ours. It is especially important between the ages of 30 and 40, when it is time to become mothers. This is when we clearly see a decline in female participation.