2021 was quite remarkable for Spanish animation as “Robot Dreams” earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, “Sultana’s Dream” claimed victory in the Annecy Festival’s main off-competition section (Contrechamp), and “Buffalo Kids” ranked as the third highest-grossing domestic film in Spain with earnings of €5.2 million ($5.4 million) while also achieving significant success overseas.
Robot Dreams” and “Buffalo Kids”, two of their productions, originated from Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. Contrastingly, two out of the five producers for “Sultana’s Dream” are based in the Basque Country. These include Sultana Films, the production house of director Isabel Herguera located in San Sebastian, and UniKo, responsible for “Unicorn Wars”, a pickup by Gkids U.S., and “Homeless Home”, which won Best Short at Annecy.
In 2025, it appears that the Basque cinema will shine brighter on the global stage as it solidifies its position as a significant player in the realm of animation. The factors driving this growth offer compelling reasons to believe that animation could be one of the most enthralling directions for international filmmaking in the future.
Recently, it has been announced that ‘Sultana’s Dream’ is now among the 31 possible contenders for the Animated Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, which will take place on November 21st.
Excitedly, I find myself eagerly anticipating Vazquez’s upcoming animated masterpiece, “Decorado,” as it garners growing acclaim as a potential A-Fest contender. Currently, in its final stages of production at UniKo’s Bilbao headquarters, this cinematic gem is slated for its world premiere in 2025. Producer Iván Miñambres from UniKo has announced this exciting news, also sharing that this year will see the release of “Cuerpo de Cristo,” a captivating 2D short film by Bea Lema, who is renowned for her work on the same-titled short.
The Chilean acting trio, Paulina García (“Gloria”), Alfredo Castro (“El Conde”), and Luis Gnecco (“No”), who are regarded as Chile’s top bankable stars by EbMaster, have been enlisted for voice roles in the upcoming animated film “Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope.” This production is being created by Dibulitoon Studio from the Basque Country. The project was presented at Ventana Sur’s Animation! and Rizco Content Sales has come on board as the sales agent for international streaming rights. Directors Beñat Beitia, famously known for “Yoko,” and Elio Quiroga (“Fotos,” “Home Delivery”) are currently working on the animation. Diego Navarro (“Black Butterflies”) is responsible for composing the music, with a planned release date in October 2025.
‘Sultana’s Dream’
Despite directing animation shorts as early as 1988’s “Sultana’s Dream”, Herguera highlights one key factor behind the growing interest among young creators in the Basque Country and beyond: the flexible techniques of animation that offer a great scope for unique creativity without demanding substantial initial budgets. This flexibility enables filmmakers to address social issues, a tradition seen in Spanish cinema since the country’s transition to democracy in 1975-82, which continues to be relevant today.
Inés, a wandering animation director from San Sebastián, travels to Ahmedabad to end things with her self-absorbed Indian boyfriend. While browsing through a bookstore, she discovers a copy of “Sultana’s Dream,” a captivating story written by the young feminist visionary Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880-1932). Combining the wit of Jonathan Swift and the futuristic imagination of H.G. Wells, this tale presents an ideal world called Ladyland. In Ladyland, roles are reversed as women govern and engage in scientific studies while men reside in isolation.
After that point, Herguera combines Inés’ narrative, beautifully depicted through ink and watercolor 2D artwork featuring intricate trees, leaves, and swift rain clouds, with a shadow puppetry presentation of Hossain’s personal life story, originally performed at her birthplace in Bangladesh, which is now a park with a statue of her. Additionally, fragments from “Ladyland” are incorporated using traditional South Asian Mehndi techniques for henna paste body art.
Through experiences similar to those of Herguera, Ines embarks on a journey to uncover Hossain’s life and potential impact, which includes visiting her tomb at Panihati Girls’ High School in Sodepur. As her hidden feminist sensibilities surface, Ines forms a close bond with a female Indian teacher. Guided by Hossain’s influence, and mirroring Herguera’s personal journey, Ines finds a place where she feels secure and liberated for the first time, allowing her to dream freely.
‘Decorado’
In the meantime, Miñambres shared that “2025 holds significant importance for UniKo as we finalize two of our most exciting projects, demonstrating our dedication to producing top-notch animation and groundbreaking narratives,” with EbMaster.
Revisiting the Annecy award-winning short film “Decorado”, this fresh interpretation is geared towards mature viewers, appearing poised to unfold as a darkly comedic exploration of midlife crises experienced by Arnold, an anthropomorphic mouse character. As doubts creep in about his surroundings being genuine and the world being a theatrical backdrop instead, Arnold’s suspicions might not be entirely unfounded.
The story titled ‘Decorado’ delves into the themes of life’s purpose and existential dilemmas, blending witty humor with profound introspection. Notably, its art director, José Luis Ágreda, is renowned for his exceptional work on ‘Robot Dreams.’
Mimambres commented that this project, similar to other creations by UniKo, showcases the creativity of the region and its ability to generate distinct and impactful animated content.”
“According to Mimambres, this project, much like other productions from UniKo, emphasizes the creative prowess of the area and demonstrates its capacity to create original and significant animated material.
Similarly, the National Comic Prize winner from Spain, titled “El Cuerpo de Cristo,” revolves around Adela, who experiences a psychiatric crisis triggered by past abuse that she fails to acknowledge as such. Instead, she perceives these attacks as demonic and seeks solace in her faith for relief.
In “Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope,” at the age of 86, Julia reflects on her past, specifically her childhood when she was just 7 and had to escape Barcelona with her father as it succumbed to Franco’s forces in 1939. They were subsequently detained in a concentration camp in France. However, they learned about Winnipeg, a ship hired by Pablo Neruda and his wife Delia del Carril, which could transport approximately 2,400 refugees of the Civil War to Valparaíso, Chile. This news brought them hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The animated film “Winnipeg” is vibrantly colored with a depth and breadth that spans the entire frame, offering rich visual detail. Unlike the dark satire of “Decorado” or the narrative quest of “Sultana’s Dream,” it presents a story seen through the eyes of a child. This unique animation style sets it apart from its peers, making it appealing not only to adults but also to family audiences.
Basque Animation Drivers and Challenges
In other words, these three job titles have many similarities, which highlights key factors fueling growth in our local business sector.
For younger individuals, animation has become a substantial job provider. Nowadays, they can earn a livelihood by managing tasks for Hollywood studios and international streaming platforms, even without relocating to the United States. They can create national productions and short-format projects on their own.
The amount of output is increasing. For instance, Dibulitoon currently has a production underway for one show titled “Run, Kuru, Run!”, fully funded by Dibulitoon Studio and Dibulitoon Factory AIE, and another project in the pipeline, “Surmarina,” which is being co-produced with Brazil and Argentina.
The three titles are collaborative productions with companies located beyond the Basque Country, some within Spain and others internationally. “Sultana’s Dream” is a joint production between UniKo and Sultana Films, alongside Chelo Loureiro’s Abano Producciones in Galicia, which has also been involved in Vázquez’s “Decorado” and “Unicorn Wars”, as well as El Gatoverde Producciones and Germany’s Fabian & Fred.
Collaborating with UniKo and Abano, the animated series “Decorado” was created by Jose Maria Fernandez de la Vega from The Glow Animation Studio and Nuno Beato of Sardinha em Lata. In 2023, it was picked up by Le Pacte, a renowned French studio, who obtained the French distribution and international sales rights for this production. On the other hand, “Winnipeg” is being produced in Spain by Dibulitoon Studio and La Ballesta (known for “Wrikles,” “Josep”), with El Otro Film from Chile (“The Prince”) and Malabar from Argentina (responsible for “Guardian Monsters”) also contributing to the project.
Mimabres emphasized that collaborative productions, on both a national and international scale, are essential for achieving grand endeavors, as he stated.
As a fan, I can relate to Jone Landaluze’s perspective when he says, “Not every project we work on is a joint international production, but it’s a powerful strategy for pooling resources for financing and also for ensuring a wider distribution and market exposure.
Decorado,” “Sultana’s Dream,” and “Winnipeg” are all art movies that prosper in an environment with substantial funding support. Transforming them into larger, more commercially viable projects presents a greater hurdle.
Starting in 2023 and 2024, the provinces of Bizkaia and Álava are boosting the Basque animation industry by offering tax incentives. These incentives will cover up to 70% of the production costs for projects made within their provinces.
In contrast to many Spanish cartoon productions, Basque-animated images often struggle in domestic box office sales. For instance, “Unicorn Wars,” which made a significant splash at Annecy, only earned €24,461 ($25,439) in Spain. It has been noted that there is a lack of knowledge on how to foster such films within this market.
Basque animation producers look to the future with optimism.
According to Diego Herguera Acosta of Sultana Films, the Basque Country is producing high-quality work for multiple reasons, such as Basque tax incentives and backing from institutions.
In the wake of the pandemic, I’ve noticed a surge in talented individuals flocking to the Basque Country. Not only that, but our creations are earning increasingly significant acclaim for their skill and creativity.
According to Landaluze, “the Basque Country boasts promising financing options, enticing employment prospects, and a wealth of talented artists. This makes it a region with immense potential in the realm of animation right now.
Miñambres notes that the expansion of animation within the Basque Country can be seen by examining several significant factors: Firstly, there’s been a surge in locally produced animations. Secondly, the region has fostered a stronger production environment, thanks to enhanced financial incentives that attract more complex projects. Lastly, international collaboration for co-productions is on the rise, enhancing the Basque Country’s influence globally.
As its animation ecosystem matures, the Basque Country is becoming a major player in Europe’s animation industry,” he summarizes.
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2025-01-06 17:19