Celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary, Animayo Gran Canaria has firmly established itself as a global center in animation, visual effects, and video games. Founded by filmmaker Damián Perea, the festival has become a cultural cornerstone in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital city of Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s Canary Islands located off the coast of northwestern Africa.

The in-person festival ran May 7-10; the online portion extends until October.

With over 380,000 residents and a rich blend of natural beauty and Spanish heritage, Gran Canaria offers a stunning backdrop for this international festival. For Perea, who was born and raised on the island, this year’s milestone holds special meaning. “This latest edition was designed to inspire, motivate, educate, and nurture the incredible talent of the island where I was born and raised — la isla de mi vida, here in Gran Canaria,” he says.

To commemorate its two-decade journey, Animayo Gran Canaria featured the world exclusive of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ exhibition “Whimsy & Wonder.” The showcase celebrated the artistic contributions of seven women whose creative work has shaped Disney’s storytelling legacy. Among them: Mary Blair, a famed figure in animation history, alongside contemporary talents Lorelay Bové, Lisa Keene, Brittney Lee, Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay, Josie Trinidad, and Fawn Veerasunthorn. “This exhibition was one of the most inspiring highlights of our in-person phase anniversary edition,” Perea adds.  

Over the past 20 years, Animayo’s competition has seen remarkable growth. “This year, we received over 2,000 short films from 84 countries. Fifty-four unique works from 19 nationalities competed in the Official Section,” says Perea. “Two of our awards — International Jury Animated Short Film Category and International Jury Spanish-Language Animated Short Film Category —  “Animación con Ñ” — are Oscar-qualifying categories.”

Featured animation techniques included 3D, 2D, stop-motion, rotoscopy, VFX, and hand-crafted methods. Schools and studios such as Gobelins, CalArts, Filmakademie, SVA, Ringling, and U-TAD were among the 153 institutions represented, solidifying Animayo as a global platform for emerging talent.

Perea, who left a successful advertising career to pursue his passion for animation, has become synonymous with the festival. As a filmmaker, he was nominated for a Goya Award for Podría Ser Peor (It Could Be Worse), the first stop-motion short film produced in the Canary Islands. His most recent co-production, Cafuné, earned the Goya Award for best animated short film this year.

Perea told the Golden Globes, “Gran Canaria and the broader Canary Islands are gaining international recognition as a creative epicenter for animation, visual effects, and digital storytelling,” he notes, citing the region’s growing support for the audiovisual sector.

Reflecting this cultural renaissance, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has officially submitted its candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2031, under the banner of “Rebellion of Geography.”

Education and talent development have always been at the heart of Animayo’s mission. “From the beginning, we’ve focused on nurturing young talent,” Perea explains. “We teach children to develop multiple skills through audiovisual arts, giving them a foundation for future success.”

Many of these young creatives go on to earn scholarships. This year alone, the Animayo Talent Scholarship program grants over €600,000 in scholarships to Spanish and international universities like the SVA in New York — and the creatives are often recruited by studios attending the festival in search of emerging talent.

Looking back on the last two decades, Perea says, “We began with a single guest — our godfather, indie animation icon Bill Plympton — and today we host more than 50 international professionals who lead workshops, masterclasses, panels, and talent recruitment sessions.”

Everything Perea has accomplished has helped transform Animayo Gran Canaria into a success story — one that continues to inspire, educate, and elevate voices in animation across the globe.