51 Projects from 23 Countries Selected for Anniversary Edition

Stuttgart, 26 February 2026 – From a record total of 119 submissions, 51 projects from 23 countries have been selected for the 20th edition of Animation Production Days (APD), taking place from May 5–7. APD is the leading co-production and financing market for animation projects in Germany and part of the Stuttgart Animated Week.

For newly developed animation projects from across Europe and beyond, APD provides an efficient platform for discussion and business, enabling participants to evaluate the market potential of their concepts. Two selection committees reviewed 119 submissions from more than 30 countries – a new record in the event’s 20-year history. A total of 51 outstanding and innovative projects have been selected for presentation at Animation Production Days 2026. The producers and creatives behind these projects will present them to potential co-production and financing partners in pre-scheduled meetings. Around 1,000 one-to-one meetings are expected to take place during APD.

Selected Projects

Among the selected projects are 26 TV series, 14 feature films, 2 short films and 9 cross-media projects, including planned releases of books, online-media and games. With 25 %, projects targeting children aged 6–9 are the most strongly represented. 10 % are aimed at children aged 2–4, and approximately 12 % are designed for preschoolers aged 5–7. Eight projects (16 %) target the 9–11 “tween” audience, while 11 projects (22 %) are aimed at teenagers and adults. Eight projects address a family audience.

The thematic range is once again broad this year. Numerous genres are represented, from fantasy, action, and sci-fi adventure to comedy, dramedy, and drama, as well as animated documentary. Just over 15 % of the projects address themes related to nature, the environment, and sustainability. There is also considerable technical diversity: the animation techniques range from 2D and 3D animation to stop motion and hybrid techniques.

An overview of the selected projects can be found on our website: https://animationproductiondays.de/participation/projects/

International Participation

The selected projects originate from 23 different countries. In addition to Germany (14 projects), Denmark (6 projects) and Spain (5 projects) are particularly strongly represented. Further 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.

APD Talent Programme              

Of the 119 total submissions, 31 applications were received for the APD Talent Programme. Each year, eight European projects are selected for this emerging talent initiative. Young producers and creatives are given the opportunity at APD to discuss their ideas with experienced industry experts, build networks, and find partners for their projects. This year’s participants include newcomers from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. An additional project from Baden-Württemberg was selected by the Animation Media Creators of the Stuttgart Region (AMCRS) as part of the Creators Pitch Lab.

Registration Deadline for Investors Extended to March 4

Representatives of broadcasters, streamers, world sales companies, funding institutions, and distributors seeking new content can still register for an APD investor accreditation until March 4. More information is available at:
https://animationproductiondays.de/registration/investors/

The accreditation provides direct access to the producers and creative teams of the 51 selected projects and the opportunity to explore potential development and financing strategies. While participation is primarily designed as an onsite event in Stuttgart, an online day will also be held on 11 May 2026. Participants can indicate their preferred format when registering.

Stuttgart Animated Week: Three Events – One Platform

APD is part of the Stuttgart Animated Week which includes the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (5–10 May 2026) and FMX – Film and Media Exchange (On Site 5–7 May | Online & On Campus 8 May 2026), attracting up to 4,000 industry professionals to Stuttgart each year. The investor accreditation includes access to all three events of Stuttgart Animated Week.

Images:
https://animationproductiondays.de/press/photos-downloads/

About Animation Production Days:
Animation Production Days (APD) is part of the Stuttgart Animated Week and is a joint venture of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and the FMX – Film & Media Exchange. APD is organised by the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH in cooperation with the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH. It is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the MFG Baden-Württemberg film funding organisation and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the EU.

Press Contacts:

Animation Production Days
Marlene Wagener: ed.syadnoitcudorpnoitamina@renegaw.enelram, +49 (0) 30 911 47499

Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)
Lena Demmer: ed.hbmg-lavitsef@remmed, +49 (0) 711 925 46 102

FMX – Film & Media Exchange
Bernd Haasis: ed.xmf@sisaah.dnreb, +49 (0) 7141 969 828 86