Press release date: 2 June 2026
66 projects selected for Cartoon Forum 2026
The selection for Cartoon Forum 2026 has been unveiled, with 66 animated projects chosen from 111 submissions across Europe. This year’s line-up features 61 TV series and 5 TV specials, representing a total production volume of 330 hours and an overall budget of €283.58 million, with an average budget of €4.30 million per production.
This highlights both the vitality of the European animation industry and the continued importance of international collaboration.
Countries involved
In total, 19 countries are represented as main producers. France leads with 32 projects, followed by Ireland (6), Germany (5) and Spain (4). The line-up also includes 6 projects from Central & Eastern Europe and 6 from the Nordics.
International collaboration
International collaboration continues to play a central role in this year’s selection, with 26 projects developed as co-productions, representing 39% of the line-up. Among them, 10 involve partnerships between two or more Creative MEDIA countries, while 5 include co-producers from Brazil, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom. In total, 15 countries are involved as co-producers, led by France, Luxembourg, Austria and Germany.
Broadening audience reach
The growing number of submissions targeting teen, young adult and adult audiences is reflected in this year’s selection, with such projects accounting for 26% of the line-up. A total of 17 projects are aimed at these audiences, comprising 3 projects for teenagers (aged 12-15) and 14 for young adult and adult viewers, illustrating the sector’s continued diversification and ambition to reach broader audiences.
Selection Committee insights
The Selection Committee praised the high quality and diversity of this year’s submissions, in what proved to be a highly competitive selection process.
In its evaluation, the Committee placed particular emphasis on originality, creative ambition, financial viability and international appeal, while seeking to ensure a broad diversity of European talents and perspectives across the final selection.
From Cartoon Springboard to Cartoon Forum
Two projects featured among this year’s selection, WAW Resort by Peekaboo Animation (Spain) and OUCH ! by Anna Films (France), were previously pitched at Cartoon Springboard, continuing their development journey across the CARTOON events network.
Produced in the territory
Three of the selected projects are produced in the Occitanie region: The Banana Complex by Xbo films, PlasticLand by Dwarf Entertainment and The Old Ladie and the Dragon by Les Films d'Ici Méditerranée.
Projects selected through industry partnerships
As part of Cartoon Forum’s ongoing partnerships, three projects joined the line-up through the Animation Production Days (APD) and the CEE Animation Forum. At APD, the German broadcasters HR, KiKA, MDR, Super RTL, SWR, WDR and ZDF selected Emotsters by Blaue Pampelmuse (Germany), and Reinventing Herman by Wolkenlenker (Germany), while the CEE Animation Forum jury awarded direct access to Tolo&Bolo by Filmograf (Poland).
Bringing projects closer to production
Following the positive response to its first edition and the ongoing challenges facing the animation industry, CARTOON is renewing the “Fill the Gap” initiative for 2026.
As financing remains increasingly difficult and many high-quality projects struggle to secure their final budget needs, this initiative aims to reconnect producers with buyers, broadcasters, distributors, and co-producers who can help move projects into production.
“Fill the Gap” offers former Cartoon Forum projects additional visibility through trailer screenings, networking opportunities, and One-to-One Meetings during Cartoon Forum 2026.
