On 15 September, the Government of the Canary Islands held Kyoto talks with the Toei Group to explore partnerships for the islands’ animation industry. According to the government, the delegation organised by Proexca visited Toei Studios and his party Toei Kyoto Studio Park. According to the government, the talks also involved Motoaki Adachi, president of the technology company Shrewd Sekkei from Kyoto.
The Vice-Counsellor of the Presidency and President of Proexca, Alfonso Cabello said the exchange was intended to show how creativity, talent and technology can be turned into intellectual property with global commercial potential. The aim of the visit was to draw on the Japanese group’s experience to scale up the Canary Islands’ animation industry, attract new projects and open up partnerships with international markets. The government cited no specific contracts or funding commitments.
According to the Gobierno de Canarias The government regards animation as one of the most dynamic areas of the islands’ audiovisual sector. The industry generates more than 35 million euros a year and provided around 1,500 direct jobs in 2024, it says. According to the government, the Canary Islands rank third among Spain’s autonomous communities for animation employment and account for around eight per cent of jobs nationwide. In Tenerife around 32 per cent of total audiovisual investment in 2024 went to animation, equivalent to about 19 million euros.
The authorities place the mission to Japan within a broader strategy to diversify the islands’ economy. For several years, Proexca has increasingly focused on internationalisation in the audiovisual, animation and games sectors. According to the government, this includes cooperation initiatives with industry clusters and skills development measures.
The rest of the Canary Islands’ audiovisual ecosystem has also expanded recently. For 2025, the government cites 180 productions excluding advertising, an increase of 17 per cent on the previous year. Direct revenue from these reportedly stood at 432 million euros; including advertising shoots, the economic impact amounted to 440 million euros. Activity generated around 20,000 direct jobs on the islands over the year. Of the 180 productions recorded, 134 were Spanish and 46 international.
Implications and interests: Successful partnerships with players such as Toei Animation could strengthen production volumes and the international exploitation of rights from the Canary Islands, while increasing demand for specialist creative and digital roles. Risks include potential dependence on global markets for commercial exploitation and the need for long-term investment in training and infrastructure.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).