San Diego, California – The Canary Islands are aggressively positioning themselves as a prime location for children’s entertainment production, showcasing the region’s growing audiovisual industry at the Kidscreen Summit, held February 21-25. Eight studios from the archipelago, alongside Javier Pascual, a technical expert from Invertir en Canarias (Proexca), participated in the annual event, widely recognized as the most important global gathering for the kids’ entertainment sector. This push underscores the islands’ ambition to attract investment and foster collaborations with major players in the international animation and content creation landscape.
The Kidscreen Summit serves as a crucial marketplace where content creators, producers, distributors and buyers converge to forge partnerships, explore innovative ideas, and chart the future of entertainment for young audiences. The presence of Canarian studios signals a strategic effort to capitalize on this dynamic environment and highlight the unique advantages the islands offer, including financial incentives, skilled talent, and a supportive ecosystem for audiovisual development. The Canary Islands are increasingly recognized as a competitive alternative to traditional production hubs, offering a compelling blend of cost-effectiveness and creative potential.
Canarian Studios Showcase Diverse Capabilities
Representing the Canary Islands’ burgeoning audiovisual scene, four studios attended the summit under the umbrella of the Clúster Audiovisual de Canarias: 3Doubles Producciones, Amuse Studios, Red Animation Group, and Tomavision Studio. These were joined by Sumendi Uhartea, B Wave Animation, Krakatoa Bridges, and the recently established Morgana Studios. Each studio brings a unique skillset and focus, contributing to the diversity of the Canarian offering. The participation of these companies demonstrates a collective commitment to expanding the islands’ footprint in the global animation market.
Javier Pascual, representing Invertir en Canarias, played a key role in promoting the region’s benefits to potential investors and partners. His participation in institutional tables and presentations, organized in collaboration with the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), facilitated personalized meetings and discussions focused on the advantages of filming and producing in the Canary Islands. According to reports, Pascual’s agenda initially comprised 27 meetings, which expanded to over 40 due to high demand. This demonstrates a significant level of interest in the region’s offerings.
Attracting Investment and Fostering Collaboration
The Kidscreen Summit provided a platform to showcase not only the creative capabilities of Canarian studios but also the broader ecosystem supporting the audiovisual industry. This includes highlighting the islands’ connectivity, the qualifications of its professionals, and the data demonstrating the sector’s rapid growth in recent years. In 2025, the audiovisual sector in Gran Canaria alone surpassed €110 million in investment, with animation accounting for a growing share of that total. Atlanticohoy reports that in Tenerife, animation now represents over 30% of the total economic impact of audiovisual productions.
The Canary Islands currently employs over 1,500 qualified professionals directly in the audiovisual sector. Nationally, the islands rank as the third-largest community in Spain for animation employment, accounting for approximately 8% of the country’s total. This skilled workforce, combined with attractive financial incentives, is proving to be a powerful draw for international productions. The region’s strategic location, offering access to both European and African markets, further enhances its appeal.
Spotlight on International Events
Beyond promoting production opportunities, the Canarian delegation also highlighted the region’s growing calendar of international events dedicated to animation and audiovisual arts. These include the Quirino Awards, Animayo, and Mundos Digitales. These events attract a global audience, with approximately 2,000 delegates from companies like Disney, Canal+, Pinkfong, Mattel, Amazon, and YouTube Kids in attendance at the Kidscreen Summit. As reported by Atlanticohoy, showcasing these events reinforces the Canary Islands’ commitment to becoming a central hub for the animation industry.
Financial Incentives and Growth Potential
The Canary Islands offer a range of financial incentives designed to attract audiovisual productions. These incentives, combined with the islands’ favorable climate and diverse landscapes, produce it an attractive alternative to more established production centers. The region’s government, through Invertir en Canarias, actively promotes these benefits to international companies, aiming to stimulate further investment and job creation. The focus on animation is particularly strategic, given the sector’s high growth potential and increasing demand for quality content.
The success of the Canarian delegation at the Kidscreen Summit underscores the region’s growing confidence and ambition in the global audiovisual market. The increased number of meetings secured by Javier Pascual, exceeding initial expectations, is a testament to the rising interest in the Canary Islands as a production destination. The collaborative efforts of the Clúster Audiovisual de Canarias and individual studios are proving effective in raising the region’s profile and attracting potential partners.
The Canary Islands’ commitment to fostering a thriving audiovisual industry is not only driving economic growth but also creating modern opportunities for local talent and strengthening the region’s cultural identity. The islands are rapidly establishing themselves as a key player in the global animation landscape, poised to capitalize on the increasing demand for high-quality content for children and families.
Looking ahead, the Canary Islands will continue to promote its advantages at international events and work to attract further investment in the audiovisual sector. The next major opportunity to showcase the region’s capabilities will be at the Quirino Awards, a leading celebration of Latin American animation, scheduled to take place in Tenerife in March 2026. Further details about the awards can be found on their official website: https://premiosquirino.com/. We encourage readers to share their thoughts on the Canary Islands’ growing role in the global animation industry in the comments below.
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