Spain Animation Studio Secures €24.9M Investment

The Spanish government, through the Sociedad Española para la Transformación Tecnológica (SETT), has committed a significant €24.9 million investment into Ánima Kitchent, a prominent Canary Islands-based animation studio. This strategic infusion of capital aims to bolster the nation's audiovisual industry by enhancing international investment, industrial capabilities, and creative talent within the animation sphere.

This public-private partnership is designed to elevate Spain's animation ecosystem by supporting Ánima Kitchent in developing and producing high-caliber original feature films. The initiative seeks to cultivate long-term value through intellectual property creation and foster the growth of a leading Spanish animation entity. Furthermore, it will drive the multi-platform commercialization of its content library, targeting international family audiences.

The deal benefits from the backing of DNEG, a global leader in visual effects and animation, part of the Prime Focus Group. DNEG, renowned for its eight Academy Awards and numerous other accolades, brings extensive international expertise. The collaboration also involves ReDefine Originals, DNEG's animation studio and creative incubator focused on developing, financing, and globally distributing high-quality computer-generated (CG) animated content.

Ánima Kitchent, established in 2014 and operating from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since 2016, has emerged as a key player in the Canary Islands' animation scene. The studio possesses a strong track record in creating, producing, distributing, and marketing children's entertainment, with a notable presence on digital and streaming platforms. It also actively promotes professional development through master's programs in 2D and 3D animation.

This investment is a crucial component of the second phase of the Spain Audiovisual Hub initiative, itself part of the broader Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan funded by the European Union's Next Generation funds. The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function, via the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), is overseeing this strategic push to strengthen the national audiovisual economic and creative fabric.

Beyond the Spain Audiovisual Hub, SETT manages other financial instruments like PERTE Chip for microelectronics and Next Tech for digital transformation sectors, underscoring a comprehensive approach to boosting Spain's technological and creative industries. The anticipated outcome includes the creation of approximately 275 direct and 550 indirect jobs over the next five years, alongside enhancements to Ánima Kitchent's technological resources to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.