Animation Ireland contributes to Animar Think-Tank, Barcelona: Developing a Common Strategy for the European Animation Sector.
Skwigly
Animar 2025 was the fourth edition of the Annual Think-Tank for the European Animation industry, held last month in Barcelona, Spain. Animar focuses on the European animation industry’s challenges, regulatory frameworks, and collaborative initiatives for future growth and co-productions. 52 high-profile experts participated from 15 European countries, with 42 entities attending including national animation producers’ associations, broadcasters, and European bodies including the European Parliament, the European Commission and Animation in Europe. The Irish animation sector was represented by Ronan McCabe, CEO of Animation Ireland and Moe Honan, Chair of Animation Ireland and Board Member of Animation in Europe. Also in attendance from Ireland was Brian Furey, Assistant Director of Funding at Coimisiún na Meán.
Speaking of the Irish contribution at Animar, Ronan McCabe said
The Animar conference is a significant opportunity to forge, and further connections for the Irish animation industry with our European counterparts. We meet regularly at markets and festivals globally but Animar provides the space to focus on and debate the policy and structural issues impacting the business of animation across Europe. It is vital that Irish perspectives and experiences are heard and understood. Our contributions enable us to advocate for our member studios and ensure that decisions made at European level will benefit the Irish animation industry as a whole. The attendance of Coimisiún na Meán this year, and our other stakeholders in previous editions, affords the Irish delegation added cogency and aligns us strategically in protecting and growing Ireland’s globally renowned animation industry.
In opening Animar 2025, Diana Riba MEP, Coordinator and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament, emphasised animation’s role in fostering a shared European identity. It was noted throughout Animar 2025 that children’s content is crucial in reflecting European values and that there is need for increased investment in children’s programming to ensure meaningful representation, ensuring diversity, inclusion and accessibility.The need for stronger collaboration between funding bodies and broadcasters was also underscored, particularly for underfunded children’s programming.
Key recommendations arising from working groups at Animar included:
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Revising the AVMS Directive (AudioVisual Media Services) to include video-sharing platforms
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Raising European content quotas to 50%.
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Ensuring the new European Convention on the Co-Production of Audiovisual Works in the Form of Series (adopted by the Council of Europe in November 2025 and due to be ratified in 2026) addresses the specific needs of animation so as to ensure collaboration opportunities for European co-producers and the broadening of access to cross-border financing.
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The need to design a common strategy for the animation sector across Europe to better understand and respond to new European frameworks such as the AgoraEU programme (the merging of Creative Europe with the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values CERV programme) affecting independent producers of animated works and leverage these changes to strengthen the industry.
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The potential renewal of the EU-South Korea Co-Production Treaty, which expires in 2026.
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The need for dedicated animation focused tools to support and enable Green Animation Initiatives.
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The forthcoming launch of new sectoral awards CODA (Co-Development Animation Awards)
The full Animar 2025 Report can be found here