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Animation Studio Chooses Canary Islands for Disney Projects

From Lima to the Atlantic: An Animation Giant Lands in the Canaries

Films and short stories travel the world regardless of where they are created. A child connects with the hero’s journey of their favourite movie in the same way, whether they are here in the Canary Islands or in Peru. It was this universal connection that the founders of Red Animation Studios believed in. With over 20 years of experience in animation production based in the Latin American city of Lima, the studio has been operating in the Archipelago since 2025. Attracted by the fiscal advantages offered by the Islands and driven by the qualified talent of Canarians, Red Animation Studios now works for major animation brands. The latest of these: Disney.

The Fiscal Allure of the Canary Islands

Red Animation Studio’s intention in setting up in the Canaries was to establish a gateway into Europe, connect with potential clients in this part of the world, and develop new projects across the pond. One of the key attractions for settling in the Islands was taxation. Due to the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC), the Canaries offer a differentiated tax environment for this sector, focusing on deductions of up to 45%. Furthermore, the ZEC allows companies to benefit from a reduced rate of 4% on Corporation Tax. These two highly favourable keys combine to make the Canary territory a unique space in Europe and Spain for developing this market.

Talent: The Essential Ingredient

The tax advantages the Islands present are an opportunity for firms to settle, but it would not be possible without talent, and in the Canaries, “there is a lot”. So says Guillermo Peraza, a producer at Red Animation. In his professional portfolio, he carries the experience of having worked on the creation of the Goya-award-winning animated film, Mariposas Negras (Black Butterflies). This adult-oriented film focuses on three women from very different points on the planet who share one thing in common: they all lose everything due to the effects of global warming and are forced to migrate to survive.

Peraza enjoyed this work, aimed at a more mature audience on this occasion, although he admits that few areas are as personally rewarding for him as children’s animation. He states that working on content for the very young has a special value, both for the emotional impact it generates and the creativity each project demands. However, he admits it is one of the most competitive markets in the audiovisual sector, due to the enormous volume of productions made each year and the high level of technical and artistic expertise the industry demands.

The Joy and Complexity of 3D Animation

The producer has been linked for practically his entire professional career to projects aimed at a young audience. For him, this type of production has a singular appeal because it allows for more imaginative stories and more dynamic work processes. “It’s a more fun process,” he assures. The firm he works for mainly handles 3D animation projects, a field he defines as “especially technical and complex”. Peraza explains that this type of production requires meticulous coordination between numerous departments. To streamline this workflow, artificial intelligence has come to stay, especially in the audiovisual realm.

The producer acknowledges the value of this tool to facilitate the work of artists, speed up processes, and “help us develop ideas in the best way possible,” he notes. In this sense, he asserts that creative processes are part of human invention. Therefore, anything that must be done by a person will continue to be guided, organised, and executed by the hand of an artist.

International Reach with Local Support

One of Red Animation Studio’s strong points is its international projection. In this area, the public company Proexca has provided strong support to complete this mission. Thanks to its backing, the studio has been able to participate in strategic markets and festivals for the sector, such as Kidscreen, where it not only gains visibility but also real business opportunities. The support to attend these fairs, access meeting spaces, and connect with other industry players is fundamental to strengthening the export of talent and projects developed in the Canaries.

This projection translates not only into attendance at fairs. The company is also working on an animation for the Disney giant. But, moreover, it has produced work with well-known names like Angry Birds. “These are projects that demand a very high production standard,” he emphasises.

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