Miren Berasategi

Miren Berasategi
CEO
Lotura
Spain
Pitching: Kima & Yamik

What is the biggest issue facing the animation industry?
Overall, a lack of financial support. Times are changing with regards to government funds and the like, and the Basque government has been vital at times. However, the industry as a whole needs the same kind of help that live-action series are getting because when an animation doesn’t get the public support it needs, it doesn’t get it anywhere else.

Another problem is that no matter how far technology advances, the production process for animation is slow and that means we have to make large investments over long periods to maintain these work structures. This, in turn, means it’s harder for shows to still be relevant once they’re delivered.

What is your company doing in response to this?
We have to be diverse and offer a range of products to do with animation and drawing. The pandemic has helped the industry as it’s not affected it so badly, and we’re trying to access more international markets and get ourselves known. At the end of the day, that’s just surviving, but we do what we can.

Are physical animation studios essential or is working from home the future of the industry?
We’ve definitely got more used to working from home, like many companies, and we especially don’t need a physical space to work anymore. But for me, even though times have changed, human contact is indispensable to the success of a company. It helps communication, especially in small companies like ours where departments overlap.

How do you feel about Disney’s decision to close many of its TV channels around the world?
I honestly think it’s just a move towards the future. With everything else happening in TV, this is a natural step for companies like Disney. People don’t want a thousand channels anymore, and they either have to globalise or merge into one. The pandemic has accelerated this; if there was someone without Netflix before, they’ve got it now. My biggest fear is for the cinema industry. I don’t see where that fits into the picture.

Tell us about the project you are pitching at Cartoon Forum.
Kima & Yamik (26×11′) is a preschool animation aimed at 4-6s. Kima and Amik are cousins who are complete opposites. Kima lives in the city and Amik lives in the country, and the names are even palindromes of each other. While they always want something different, what’s more important to them is having a good time together. The central themes are empathy, fun and friendship. The world is becoming more and more diverse and it’s so important for kids to relate to others. When I saw the project I saw huge international potential because these are global themes and the show has characters of all different ethnicities.