From the Periphery to International Projection: Building an Animation Industry in the Canary Islands

Abstract

This article analyzes the development of the animation industry in the Canary Islands, exploring how a historically peripheral territory has undergone remarkable growth to rank only behind Spain’s two main hubs: Madrid and Catalonia. The aim is to examine the cultural, institutional, and economic factors that have enabled this transformation, as well as their impact on creating opportunities for design and animation. A qualitative methodology is employed based on a multiple case study that combines semi-structured interviews, a review of institutional sources, industry reports, and press analysis, complemented by the study of representative companies, training programs, and professional events. The findings show that sector growth has been supported by a set of interrelated elements: the creation of specialized education, the existence of highly competitive tax incentives, the consolidation of a local business network, institutional support, and international visibility through festivals and awards. These factors have enabled the transition from a scenario marked by a lack of infrastructure and networks to a competitive creative ecosystem that generates skilled employment, retains talent, and fosters internationalization from a peripheral island context. The article concludes that the Canary Islands constitute an example of a “propositive periphery,” capable of offering a replicable model for other non-central territories seeking to develop sustainable cultural industries.