Animation, after being celebrated at Berlin’s EFM less than a month ago, hits yet another market today as Málaga Mafiz industry zone unveils a broad lineup of upcoming Spanish animated features in its screening sessions.
From family-friendly stop motion projects to coming-of-age stories aimed at young adults, the animated medium proves once again a very rich playground for directors and screenwriters alike.
At least 13 animated features are being presented this year, 10 of them on March 10 at the Animation Trends Showcase, part of the Mafiz Industry events within the framework of the 29th Málaga Film Festival in Southern Spain. The pitching event is held in Multicines Rosaleda, Screen 7. Some of these projects are still in production, looking for co-producers, investors and partners in general while others nearing their completion and are mostly looking for sales, broadcasters and distributors. But all have the potential to reach wide audiences across the globe, each with a unique, singular voice. Here’s a glimpse of what has been cooking in the Spanish animation pipelines recently.
Girl and Wolf
From the Goya-nominated Hampa Studio (“The Treasure of Barracuda”, “Paradise Buffet”) comes a new animated feature for young adults, “Girl and Wolf” (“Chica y lobo”). Directed by Roc Espinet, who’s adapted his own graphic novel of the same name to the screen, the film tells how Paula’s simple, innocent life in a medieval village explodes after a bloody attack by wolves. Dark childhood traumas come fiercely back to take their toll and Paula is surrounded by soulless hunters, magical wild spirits and a pack of wolves older than mankind.
“It was an easy decision to support the film”, shared Álvaro García, chief business officer at Hampa. “It’s a project that matches a unique story with great visuals and universe. Roc has been in the animation industry for a very long time, and we are very happy to be able to adapt his first comic book to the big screen.”
The teams, who have decided to respect the original art of the graphic novel, confessed that this journey had its challenges, but working with this very talented artist helped them achieve what looks like a very promising feature. At Málaga, Hampa is looking for international sales. The film is currently still in production.
The Amalur Prophecy
Presented in 2025 at Cartoon Movie, “The Amalur Prophecy” (“Amaluz Profezia”) follows Eguzki, a teenage girl with uncontrollable magical powers confined to a juvenile center, as she discovers her destiny: to save Amalur, a parallel world inhabited by creatures from ancient Basque mythology. Joined by Kari, an imaginative gamer braver behind a screen than in real life, she enters a dangerous magical realm to confront the Lord of Darkness and fight for what she has always been denied: a place to belong and the family she never knew.
Brought to the screen by producer-director Myriam Ballesteros (MB Producciones), “Amalur Prophecy” is an ambitious, stylized 3D feature rooted in a strong 2D artistic DNA. “It’s a fantasy film with spectacle and the goal is to create a visually distinctive fantasy universe inspired by Basque iconography, merging epic scale with handcrafted poetic sensibility”, added Ballesteros. “A story driven by intimacy, vulnerability and two girls searching for their place in the world.” The director, who wanted to tell an epic adventure where emotional courage was as powerful as magic, crafted this tale about identity, sisterhood and belonging, aimed at family audiences with strong crossover appeal for epic fantasy audiences, with strong female leads.
The film is in advanced stages of development, with a completed script and a 3D animatic teaser, ready to move into production. Pre-sales have already been made to RTVE, EITB Media and the project received a Production Grant from the Basque Government.
At Málaga, MB producciones is looking for financing partners, additional co-producers and international distribution partners.
The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents
After traveling from Cartoon Movie to Annecy and its MIFA Market, multidisciplinary artist and director Lyona (Marta Puig) comes to Mafiz with “The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents”, a hand-drawn 2D animation feature combining Lyona’s recognizable minimalist illustration style with a cinematic visual language that allows the emotions and inner life of the protagonist to unfold in a playful and expressive way. The film follows Marta, a woman who has just turned 40 and suddenly finds herself looking back at her life: her relationships, heartbreaks and the expectations placed upon her as a woman.
As she navigates love, sexuality and the desire to become a mother, she must confront one essential question: does she truly want motherhood, or has she simply inherited society’s expectations? Per the film’s team, this feature was “born from a deeply personal need: to talk honestly, with humor and tenderness, about desire, the body, motherhood, and the contradictions of growing up as a woman today. Through animation,” they added, “we want to transform intimate experiences into a universal story about identity, love, and the courage to redefine one’s own life.”
Music also plays a key role in the film, rooted in Lyona’s background as a music video director. “The film integrates songs and musical moments that reflect the emotional journey of the protagonist, creating a sensory experience that blends humor, tenderness and contemporary indie music.
Already in production, Mister Miyagi Films hopes to deliver the film in Spring 2027, and are currently looking to connect with international sales agents and distributors interested in supporting the next stage of the project’s development and international circulation.
Flamingo Flamenco
Powered by 3Doubles Producciones, Studio 100, Sumendi Uhartea, Capitán Araña and Telegael, “Flamingo Flamenco” is an ambitious Spanish-German-Irish animated adventure blending music, comedy and style, with feathery delight. This 3D CGI adventure-comedy tells the story of Rosie, a young flamingo who must overcome personal loss to regain her confidence and save her flock through the power of dance. “We are thrilled to present ‘Flamingo Flamenco’ as 3Doubles celebrates nine years in the industry,” says Dario Sánchez, producer and CEO. “This is a family film that invites audiences to travel through the vibrant landscapes of Andalusia and immerse themselves in a universal story of self-discovery and love for art. We hope this story inspires many to reconnect with their dreams and feel the heartbeat of life… to the beat of flamenco.”
Co-directed by animation veterans Raúl García (“Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “The Lion King”, “Aladdin”) and Rob Sprackling (“Gnomeo and Juliet”, “The Queen’s Corgi”), the feature has already been sold to over 100 countries, with the help of Studio 100 as international sales agent. Currently in production at 3Doubles and its partner studio Sumendi Uhaertea, one of the latest Basque animation studios to rise in this vibrant’s country ecosystem, “Flamingo Flamenco” should be delivered by Q1 2027. The target audience is ages 6-11, and 3Doubles is also presenting another animated feature at today’s event, “Gungo”,
To Chill Out
Lola is an elderly woman who lives in complete solitude in Casares de las Hurdes, as her friends passed away long ago. That’s why Lola summons them once a month on a full moon, so they can spend time with her. As the past gets slowly erased by newcomers living in the present, Lola and her friends decide to stand up, and protect their village. But are these people as bad as they think?
A project pitched by Victoria Plata Ramos and Sandra Morán Rodriguez, who both come from rural backgrounds, “A la Fresca” (translated as “To Chill Out”) began as a collaborative project between artists who wanted to create together. “But the film soon became something deeper,” shared the artists, “a tribute to the many grandmothers who continue to live alone in these places, holding on to memories, traditions, and a sense of home. As creators who both come from rural backgrounds, we felt a deep need to tell a story about those beautiful villages that have gradually been emptied over the years. Rural depopulation is often spoken about in terms of loss, but we wanted to explore another perspective; the quiet resilience of the people who remain. It’s a reality we know firsthand, and one we believe many people will recognize emotionally.”
Through 2D animation, a medium in which both artists trained and have worked with for many years, they hope to transform that solitude into something poetic, intimate, and full of humanity. “The film is intended for all audiences, although its themes and emotional depth make it particularly meaningful for adult viewers.With humour and tenderness, it addresses loneliness, generational change and belonging, creating a dialogue about what we can learn from our elders and from younger people.” At Mafiz, “A la Fresca”s team is currently looking for a production partner, financing opportunities, and an international sales agent to support the next stages of development and distribution.
Almond Eyes
Originated from a short story by Ana Gutiérrez Rubio, one she wrote as a teenager, “Almond Eyes (“Ojos de Almendra”) is a tale about how romantic love can turn against the very people who experience it, and how love can turn everyone into a victim. Dana and Mara, two inseparable sisters, are enjoying the beginning of summer in Málaga. But their bond begins to fray when they meet a group of boys and girls their age from Madrid, whom Dana calls “the kids from the capital.” Dana falls for Gael, the boy with almond-shaped eyes, and they begin a relationship. As the couple slowly forget everything around them, their idyllic romance ends in an emotional instability that neither Dana nor Gael can control, and whose consequences mark Dana and Mara’s lives forever.
“This idea of love turning us into victims is a delicate topic that we hope to approach with great sensitivity, working especially from the emotional perspective,” added Rubio. “The language of animation allows us to work with abstract elements (such as emotions) in a figurative way. Symbolism, the dreamlike, and rhetoric are themes that interest me, and I believe they reach their full potential in an animated medium.” Rubio’s connection with the animated medium goes beyond symbolism, as she also confesses to be drawn to 2D animation and the craftsmanship involved in this specific technique. “As this is a piece we truly ‘care for’, a piece that speaks about the human experience, we are aiming for the most artisanal approach possible.”
“Almond Eyes” is aimed at adults and young adults, with a particular focus on older teenagers. At Mafiz, the team is looking for co-producers, distributors, and sales agents who could help move this in-development project forward.
Run, Kuru, Run!
Adapted from the acclaimed children book series of the same name, “¡Corre, Kuru, corre!” (“Run, Kuru, Run”) is Dibulitoon’s latest project. Created in 1991, the studio has produced more than ten feature films and hundreds of hours of animation for television, receiving numerous accolades, with highlights being its 34 nominations for the Goya Awards. Directed by Agurtzane Intxaurraga, “Run, Kuru, Run!” is a 3D-animated feature film following the adventures of Nora, 12, who enters the Basque Bidasoa Hospital. While waiting for a badge, she spots Kuru, a 12-year-old Ethiopian. The boy will share with her the story of Ketxine, a giraffe that travelled across the Mediterranean Sea almost 200 years ago, as he just did.
Aimed at family audiences, the 75-minute feature is set to be completed in September. Dibulitoon comes to Málaga looking for international sales agents.
Beyond these seven projects and the other pitches presented this year in Mafiz, Animation receives a strong spotlight during the whole event. On March 10, Mafiz will host a roundtable discussion focused on putting Spanish animation on the global markets. Tomorrow, workshops with Jordi B. Oliva (Imagic TV), Sergio Jiménez (Pinkman.TV), Manuel Sicilia (Rokyn Animation) and Raúl Rocha (Illusorium Studios) will dive deeper into practical case studies, while animation buffs and professionals alike will be treated with a Golden Talk by Pixar alum, “Trollhunters” director Rodrigo Blaas.
Complete program here
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