Madrid will once again become an international stage for European animation with the hosting of Cartoon Springboard, the pitching event aimed at young talent in the sector. The gathering, now in its 12th edition, will take place from November 4 to 6 and will bring together 22 projects selected from 87 submissions, a record figure for the event.
The significance of this edition lies in the consolidation of Madrid as the event's permanent host city, now in its fifth consecutive year in the Spanish capital, and in the growing presence of local talent within a selection marked by geographic diversity across Europe.
Five Spanish Projects in the Selection
Among the 22 chosen works, Spain contributes five projects, making it the second most represented country, just behind France, which tops the list with six projects. Rounding out the ranking are Italy, with three projects; Germany, with two; and Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands, each with one.
The selected Spanish projects are the series Kukeleku, Rewind and Saltport, along with the feature films Amalthea's Children and The Windmill Boy. All of them are created by students or recent graduates from institutions such as the Universitat Politècnica de València, BAU College of Arts and Design of Barcelona, UDIT, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and ECAM.
Synopses of the Spanish Projects
Amalthea's Children, created by Estrella Vázquez, is a 75-minute feature film aimed at young audiences that tells the story of two siblings, a unicorn without a horn and a pegasus who doesn't know how to fly, determined to overcome their insecurities in order to compete in their disciplines.
Kukeleku is a 26-episode preschool series, co-produced between Spain and the Netherlands under the direction of Jelle Janssen, centered on a young rooster with no crow who discovers his worth through empathy.
Rewind, directed by Lyda Fernández and Lucía Pérez Domínguez, offers a 26-episode comedy about two small aliens who, without meaning to, end up starring in key moments of human history.
Saltport, directed by Nacho Laya with a script by Dani Coira, is a twelve-episode adventure series produced by the Spanish company H501 Studio, following three friends who spend every summer together in a coastal town marked by strange events.
The Windmill Boy, a 90-minute family feature film written by Olga Sanchis Terol, tells the story of a young musician who sets off on an adventure with his best friend to discover why the sirens of his coastal town have stopped singing.
Formats and Target Audiences in the Selection
Most of the chosen projects are in early stages of development, where creators will receive guidance from industry professionals during the event. In terms of format, series dominate the selection with 17 projects, compared to three feature films and two web series.
Regarding target audience, ten projects are aimed at young people and adults, eight at children between 6 and 11 years old, three at preschool audiences and one at family audiences.
Four of the projects were brought in directly by Cartoon Springboard through collaborations with festivals and events such as Cartoons on the Bay, Magelis, Animation Dingle & JAM Media and the Rennes Festival. Five projects, including Saltport, already have a production company attached to their development, among them the Spanish company H501 Studio.
Talks and Masterclass Program
In addition to the pitching sessions, the event will include a masterclass and three keynote talks focused on different aspects of animation production. Emmy-winning director and head of Martirio Films James A. Castillo will give a masterclass on his experience producing animation in Spain for the international market.
Meanwhile, Federico Turani, co-founder of IBRIDO Studio, will address how to produce an animation project; Barbara Slade, of Blue Arrow Productions, will explain how to develop a solid animated series; and Janine Weigold, former Head of Strategic Media at Netflix, will discuss how projects manage to connect with their audience.
The program will also include a Special Screenings session featuring previews of eleven projects that began their journey at Cartoon Springboard and continued their development at other CARTOON events.
Experts and Professional Networking
A total of 35 experts from 14 countries will take part in this edition, including representatives from broadcasters and platforms such as BBC, France Télévisions, RTVE, ARTE France and Warner Bros. Discovery. Producers, distributors and international sales executives from companies such as CAKE Distribution, DeAPlaneta Entertainment and Under The Milky Way will also be present.
The Ateneo de Madrid, the event's venue, will also host the Connections Hub, a networking space between Madrid-based animation companies and the participating young talents. The program will be rounded off with individual meetings of up to 20 minutes between creators and industry professionals.
An Event with Over a Decade of History
Since its first edition in 2015, Cartoon Springboard has received 280 animation projects, of which 21 have been completed and more than 90 remain in active development. Additionally, 48 projects that emerged from Springboard have gone on to take part in other CARTOON events, such as Cartoon Forum, Cartoon Movie and CartoonNext.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does Cartoon Springboard 2026 take place?
The 12th edition of Cartoon Springboard will take place from November 4 to 6 in Madrid, at the Ateneo de Madrid.
How many Spanish projects are taking part this year?
Five Spanish projects are taking part: the series Kukeleku, Rewind and Saltport, and the feature films Amalthea's Children and The Windmill Boy.
How many projects were selected in total and from how many countries?
22 projects from 10 countries were selected out of 87 submissions, a record figure for the event.
What kind of training does Cartoon Springboard offer participants?
In addition to the pitching sessions, the program includes a masterclass, three keynote talks, special screenings and one-on-one meetings with producers, broadcasters and other industry professionals.
Which Spanish production company is involved in any of the projects?
H501 Studio, a Spanish production company, is involved in the development of the series Saltport, directed by Nacho Laya.
Since when has Cartoon Springboard existed, and what results has it achieved?
The event has existed since 2015 and has received 280 projects, of which 21 have been completed and more than 90 are currently in active development, with 48 having gone on to take part in other CARTOON events.
