The German co-production and financing market for animation received a record 119 submissions for its 20th edition, set to take place May 5–7 in Stuttgart.
The European animation co-production and financing market Animation Production Days (APD) has announced the selection of 51 projects from 23 countries for its 20th edition, which will be held May 5–7 in Stuttgart, Germany.
In total, the event received a record 119 submissions from more than 30 countries, marking the highest number in the market’s 20-year history. Following an evaluation process carried out by two selection committees, 51 projects were chosen to take part in the event, where producers and creators will present their concepts to potential co-production and financing partners through pre-scheduled meetings.
Around 1,000 one-to-one meetings are expected to take place during the market, bringing together producers, broadcasters, streamers, distributors, world sales companies and financing institutions looking for new animation content.
In terms of formats, the selection includes 26 TV series, 14 feature films, two short films and nine cross-media projects, which also involve planned developments in books, digital content or games.
Projects targeting children aged 6–9 represent the largest segment, accounting for 25% of the selected slate. Projects aimed at teenagers and adults represent 22% of the total, while several titles are also designed for family audiences.
Genre-wise, the lineup ranges from fantasy, action and sci-fi adventure to comedy, drama, dramedy and animated documentary. More than 15% of the selected projects also address themes related to nature, the environment and sustainability.
The diversity of the selection is also reflected in the techniques used, including 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion and hybrid formats.
In terms of origin, Germany leads the selection with 14 projects, followed by Denmark with six and Spain with five. Other projects come from Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The market will also once again host the APD Talent Programme, an initiative dedicated to emerging talent in the European animation industry. This year, eight projects were selected to participate in the program, which gives young producers and creators the opportunity to present their ideas to industry experts, expand their networks and seek partners for their projects.
Animation Production Days is part of Stuttgart Animated Week, which also includes the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and FMX – Film and Media Exchange, bringing together thousands of animation and media industry professionals in Stuttgart each year.
