La Cumbre Pixelatl Is Helping Mexican Studios Produce World-Class Animation
Created by Pixelatl with the collaboration of Mexican studios Mighty Animation and Anima Estudios, La Cumbre is a new educational platform that connects Mexican animation companies with major international producers.
The goal of the first-year event, taking place today and tomorrow in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Mexico City, is to help Mexican studios sell animation and other creative services to international studios, and to start a dialogue between studios in Mexico with companies in the U.S., as well as other parts of Latin America.
The aims of La Cumbre fit neatly with Pixelatl’s other initiatives, such as Ideatoon, its annual bootcamp and pitching program that assists Mexican and Latin American creators in developing original IP for the global market.
However, in order for the region’s industry to grow collectively, it needs to strengthen the quality and output level of animation services provided by local studios. To that end, La Cumbre provides an opportunity for Latin American creators and companies to learn from established industry leaders about what it takes to create and deliver world-class animation on a day-to-day basis. This is done through B2B meetings where international studios provide feedback to Mexican studios that are offering services.
The event is also hosting a forum between studios in Mexico and other Latin American countries to discuss the state of the industry and strategies for workflow collaboration between studios in the region so that they can take on larger cross-studio projects.
Over 50 studios from across Mexico are attending this week’s event, as well as studios representing Colombia, Ecuador, and El Salvador. The list of studios includes Modjo Studios, Platypus Animation, Demente Animation Studio, Cocolab, Fotosintesis Media, Cinema Fantasma, Péek-Paax, Mako Animation, Gasolina Studios, Exodo Animation Studios, Hyperbeard Games, and Crooked House Studios.
Notable international guest include:
- Ben Kalina, COO, Titmouse
- Chuck Peil, vp of business Development, Reel FX
- Ollie Green, VP Animated Production, Adult Swim
- Scott Lowe, production manager, Renegade Animation
- David B. Levy, director of animation, Disney+
- Bobbie Page, svp of production, Warner Bros. Animation
- Johnny Tesoro, 2d supervising animation director, Bardel Entertainment
