Being able to gather again in controlled and safe conditions, as well as an enjoyable weather, made Cartoon Business 2021 a pleasant reunion. Moreover the diversity and the quality of the talks, as well as the honesty of the speakers sharing insights without any filter offered us great moments of learnings and fun.
The ecclectic programme of 16 keynotes, brought to us by 27 speakers, wrapped up by a round table of 7 experienced animation professionals made these two days an intense time for the 107 participants.
TRENDS & TOPICS AT CARTOON BUSINESS 2021
YouTube as a tool. The video platform is a beast that you need tame. It's not easy to find how to play by the rules, but played well it can be an efficient tool to create a direct access to your audience, to support a try & fail strategy. It's also the place to find talent and community that you could lean on. Miguel Aldasoro (Ánima), Arthur Lener (Amuse).
The role of linear TV. Public broadcasters still have an important role to play in the industry and for the people. Despite the rise of the new comers, the pandemic has shown that people are still attached to linear TV. Their offer is still relevant: they're trustworthy, the content is educational and carefully curated. Yago Fandiño Lousa (RTVE), Daphné de Beauffort (TF1), Benjamin Manns (Südwestrundfunk - SWR).
What kind of growth for your studio. There's many different ways to grow a studio therefore it is very important to know where you want to go and with whom when making decisions about growth. Finding investors is a tricky journey, and you should know whether you want corporate investors or private equity fundings. Peter Voelkle (Atmosphere Media), Stanimir Milev (Chase a cloud) – Philippe Alessandri (Watch Next Media), Reginald de Guillebon (Hildegarde).
New ways of working. On the creativity side, new technologies developed for video games start to blend in the workflow of animation, this will probably intensify in the next years. On the production side, developing formats for Youtube or TikTok first to test a project could be a new way to ensure success. On the distribution side, there's now a huge diversity of platforms to place your content, but keep an eye on your IPs. Nick Young (Wildbrain) – Chapman Maddox (Boat Rocker Studios), Alison Warner (Blue Zoo Rights).
The fleeting audience of the 9+. Both linear TV and YouTube work wonders from 3 to 8 years old, but kids of 9+ have adopted a completely different behavior: they're on multiple platforms, they seek interaction, they also want to create and share. Animation could still be relevant for them, but they're not easy to attract and satisfy.
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
The main partners of Cartoon Business are Creative Europe - MEDIA, Cabildo de Gran Canaria with the Sociedad de Promoción Económica (SPEGC) & Gran Canaria Film Commission
SAVE THE DATE
Next year, we'll be happy to welcome you again in Gran Canaria from 15-17 November 2022.
We hope that you heard new and eye-opening insights during these two days, that you were able to meet interesting people, and that you enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of Gran Canaria island.