The 30th edition of Animac, the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, opens this in Lleida, Spain, with a focus on the evolving landscape of animation and the impact of artificial intelligence. The festival, which runs through , marks a significant milestone for the event, born from a persistent vision to champion auteur animation in the region.
The origins of Animac trace back to the early 1990s, when Carolina López Caballero, now the festival’s director, studied animation in England and recognized a disparity between the vibrant animation scene there and the limited opportunities in Catalonia. Returning to Barcelona, she initially pitched a festival concept to the Generalitat’s film department, a proposal that was, at the time, unsuccessful. The idea resurfaced in 1996 when the Lleida City Council sought proposals for a celebration of cinema’s centenary, leading to the creation of what would become Animac, initially named Cinemàgic.
López Caballero officially took the helm as director in 2001, bringing with her a commitment to international author animation and a desire to explore experimental approaches. A brief period saw Isabel Herguera lead the festival in 2003, but López Caballero returned in 2012 with a renewed focus on strengthening Animac’s connection to the local Lleida community. This involved expanding programming for children and students, creating dedicated spaces like Animacrea, which now offers 10,000 places, and the Animac Campus for aspiring animators.
Over the past three decades, animation technology has undergone a dramatic transformation. López Caballero notes that while the initial rise of 3D animation raised concerns about the future of techniques like stop-motion, both have continued to thrive. She emphasizes that technological advancements have, elevated the quality of animation, with students now graduating with a high level of skill. The festival will explore these changes, and the impact of AI, under the theme “Things Change.”
This year’s festival will honor Nora Twomey, the Irish director creative of Cartoon Saloon, with the Premio Honorífico, recognizing her contributions to animated films like The Breadwinner. The Animation Master award will be presented to German animator Andreas Hykade. Both honorees will offer masterclasses and retrospectives of their work. Animac will also showcase a short animated adaptation of Bea Lema’s award-winning comic, El cuerpo de Cristo, and will pay tribute to Montxo Algora for his contributions to digital culture in Spain.
López Caballero reflects on the changing perception of animation over the years. She recalls a time when it was necessary to explain the artistic merit of animation, a challenge that has largely dissipated with the success of films like Olivia y el terremoto invisible, a Catalan stop-motion film that gained recognition at Annecy and the Gaudí Awards. “Its success has been very important, because it has demonstrated that in Catalunya You can realize a great film with a good script and impeccable animation that has international repercussions,” she stated.
The arrival of artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for the animation industry. López Caballero prefers to speak of “intelligences artificiales in plural,” and while acknowledging the potential of AI to streamline processes like storyboarding, she stresses the importance of human artistry and critical judgment. She anticipates that AI will displace some jobs but also create new ones, and cautions against expecting immediate perfection. “We will likely see years of very ugly things made with AI, like when 3D first emerged,” she predicts.
Throughout her career, López Caballero has had the opportunity to connect with many of her animation heroes, including Isao Takahata, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the Brothers Quay, and Jan Švankmajer. She particularly highlights the masterclasses offered by Michaël Dudok de Wit and Regina Pessoa, praising their ability to articulate the creative process with a poetic sensibility. She observes that successful animators share common traits: a rich inner world, sensitivity, and a collaborative spirit. “They are people with a very large inner world, very sensitive artists who touch many keys, from the scripts to the drawings and the technological part, and very respectful of the work of others,” she says. “I have seen the world of cinema up close, and any third-rate actor comes with demands that have nothing to do with those of an Isao Takahata or a master of art.”
Animac’s 30th anniversary underscores its enduring commitment to creativity, innovation, and artistic freedom within the animation world. The festival continues to serve as a dynamic space for artists, students, and enthusiasts to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of this evolving art form.