Animation Production Days 2026: Anniversary Edition Provides Strong Impetus for the Industry
Skwigly
The 20th edition of Animation Production Days (APD) concluded yesterday with great success, once again underlining its role as Germany’s leading business platform for the animation industry. A total of 178 participants from 27 countries came together over three intensive days to present new projects, initiate international co-productions, and exchange views on current industry developments. APD is part of the Stuttgart Animated Week, which was opened on Monday 4 May together with the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and FMX – Film & Media Exchange.
Co-Production and Financing Market
Approximately 1,000 pre-arranged business meetings took place at the Landesmuseum Württemberg from 5 to 7 May. A total of 50 selected animation projects were presented at the co-production and financing market.
110 producers and creatives met with 68 representatives from studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms, sales agents, funding bodies and other industry experts to receive feedback on the market potential of their ideas, discuss development strategies, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Participating companies included major German broadcasters such as ZDF, KiKA, Super RTL, WDR, MDR, HR, SWR and BR, alongside international players including Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, France Télévisions, BBC and Canal+.
APD Conference Highlights AI and Audience Strategies
The APD Conference, held on 5 May at the ITFS Festival Centre, welcomed around 200 industry professionals and focused on key issues shaping the future of the animation sector.
In the first panel, Nira Bozkurt (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg), Larry Cutler (Baobab Studios) und Aleksi Hyvärinen (Don Films & The Alchemist) discussed the growing importance of artificial intelligence in animation production—from current applications through to future potential. The session was moderated by Prof Lilian Klages.
The second panel, “The First Yes!”, explored how audience decision-making is evolving and the strategic implications this has for project development. The discussion was moderated by Janine Weigold and featured Jo Allen (BBC Children’s & Education) and Thom Chapman (Victura Media).
Two roundtable sessions offered further practical insights: in cooperation with Young Horizons Industry, Zofia Ścisłowska (Laniakea Pictures) presented a case study on “Cloudy & Stormy: A New Generation of Audience-First Storytelling.” Mark Taynton (Marky Sparky Media) led a discussion on how the European animation industry can strengthen its position in the growing adult animation segment.
The Talent Speed Pitch, showcasing nine selected projects by up-and-coming talents, also attracted great interest. The programme was complemented by a range of networking events.
As part of the ongoing partnership with CARTOON, the European Association of Animation, two German producers will once again have the opportunity to present their projects – first introduced at APD – at the CARTOON Forum in Toulouse this September.
The selected projects:
- “Emotsters”, a TV series by Blaue Pampelmuse (Leipzig)
- “Cozy Cove”, a TV series by Wolkenlenker (Berlin)
The next edition will take place from 27 to 29 April 2027.
Animation Production Days (APD) is a joint venture of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and the FMX – Film & Media Exchange. APD is organised by the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH in cooperation with the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH. It is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the German Federal Film Board (FFA), the MFG Baden-Württemberg film funding organisation and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the EU.