With 19 years of creating and innovating in the animation landscape, \u00c1nima has solidified its place as a leading studio in Latin America and a global player in the kids\u2019 and family entertainment industry. \u201cIn terms of what we\u2019ve done, not just quantity-wise but very much quality-wise\u2014and attached to that, the scope of our projects and partners\u2014I would dare to say that we\u2019re positioned to be the number one LatAm content provider for kids\u2019 and family animation,\u201d says Jos\u00e9 C. Garc\u00eda de Letona, founding partner and COO of \u00c1nima.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve done 22 films, all of them theatrically released in many countries around the world,\u201d he adds. \u201cPart of our focus is to each day become more global as a company and to bring unique content to audiences all over the world. On top of that, we\u2019ve done almost 600 TV episodes. We\u2019re very selective about the projects we do.\u201d The aim, he says, is to do as much premium content as possible.<\/p>\n
Alongside its films and series, \u00c1nima has a strong digital business rooted in YouTube. \u201cThat\u2019s a big part of our strategy and our focus,\u201d he says. \u201cNowadays, our channels have upwards of 24 million subscribers all included. We aim to grow that significantly in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
This emphasis on premium content is one of the key assets that sets \u00c1nima apart. \u201cWe try to grow every day and make even better content; we want to have the best possible content at the premium level in everything that we do,\u201d says Garc\u00eda de Letona. \u201cOur operational footprint helps us a lot. Having offices in Mexico, Madrid, the Canary Islands and Buenos Aires gives us the sensibility of a full LatAm and Spanish operation that allows us to reach talent all over the region; so, we\u2019re not just confined to one territory or country. We always reach out to the best talent wherever they may be, even if it\u2019s not countries or regions where we have actual operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The quality of \u00c1nima\u2019s partners\u2014which include Netflix, Disney, Amazon and many others\u2014validates its quest for premium content. \u201cThe mix of all of this, plus our previous experience, sets us apart and gives us a unique perspective,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says. \u201cAdd to that the Latin heart that we aim to have in most if not all of our productions and it\u2019s a very defining element. I don\u2019t think many or any other studios have all of these ingredients, and that\u2019s what makes \u00c1nima unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though a global force, \u00c1nima very much embraces its Latin roots. \u201cWe bring unique projects that would not be done, or would be done very differently elsewhere, from a Latin perspective, that show our POV, our way of living and looking at things, but at the same time\u2014and this is the trickiest part\u2014have universal appeal,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says. \u201cThese are shows that can be enjoyed by audiences all over the world, not just in our region. We try to bring a fresh perspective, and we think we know what audiences all over the world are looking for and how to entice them. We want to deliver content that entertains them but also makes them feel, to bring them into unique worlds and give them a different perspective on how Latin people\u2014and by this, I include Spaniards\u2014see life and how they approach it. At the end of the day, we\u2019re all connected and part of the same world.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the film side of its business, \u00c1nima recently released Cranston Academy: Monster Zone<\/em> in Australia and New Zealand, following previous releases in many other countries. \u201cWe\u2019re still very much believers in the film proposition, be it for theaters or direct to platforms,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says.<\/p>\n On the TV side, \u00c1nima is co-producing Brave Bunnies<\/em> with Glowberry in Ukraine. The preschool show has been licensed into 20-plus countries in all, with broadcasts in Australia on ABC and the U.K. on Milkshake!, among others.<\/p>\n Cleo & Cuquin\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Lea & Pop <\/em>have been standouts of \u00c1nima\u2019s YouTube operation. \u201cWe\u2019re doing more content around that, and we look forward to growing the audience,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says. \u201cWe have a sensibility in creating the content but also the know-how of how to market it, analytics, etc.\u2014everything that goes into having a full YouTube operation on top of the content itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Expanding the company\u2019s YouTube presence is top of mind for \u00c1nima as it plots future success, with an aim to dramatically grow viewership, in terms of subscribers, watch time and viewing numbers. \u201cThe business is looking better by the day, so we are putting a lot of effort and investment into expanding our YouTube operations further,\u201d says Garc\u00eda de Letona.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the TV side, we\u2019re actively working with Aardman on closing deals for Brave Bunnies<\/em>,\u201d he continues. \u201cWe do a lot of co-productions; we love to do them because we find great partners and talent to work with. Brave Bunnies<\/em> is part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00c1nima is also looking to develop its Canary Islands studio. \u201cWe recently set up shop there to access the talent and the incentives,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says. \u201cWe want to make the most of it, so we\u2019ll be expanding.\u201d<\/p>\n The company has more co-productions on the horizon as well, including a project with The Co-Production Company, led by Doug Schwalbe. \u201cIt validates our reach to invaluable people who want to do totally premium and unique content as much as we do,\u201d Garc\u00eda de Letona says. \u201cAt the same time, we have quite a few serious conversations with major companies for a number of our shows. There are a lot of things to do and a lot of things to make happen, but we\u2019re really excited and happy about how the future is shaping up for us!\u201d<\/p>\n