‘Un cuarto animado’: a book and exhibition on the boom in Spanish animated short films

ALCINE 55 is rolling! And in this edition dedicated to the art of bringing the inanimate to life and to animated cinema, one of the jewels in the crown will be the ALCINE-produced book 'Un cuarto animado. El cortometraje de animación español (2001–2025) ('A quarter century of animation: Spanish animated short films, 2001–2025)', as ALCINE's artistic director, Pedro Toro, revealed during an initial preview of the festival.

In the book, its author, Adrián Encinas, a PhD and expert in the History of Animation, explores Spanish animation over the past quarter century through short films, a format that frequently serves as a stepping stone to feature films and major successes. A perfect example is the series of short films through which Eduardo Gato, recipient of the ALCINE 55 Piedra Angular Award, began bringing Tadeo Jones, Spain's most popular animated character, to life.

The book is accompanied by an exhibition curated by Encinas, bringing together materials and original artwork from more than 30 artists. “We've brought together the very best of Spanish animated short films from this century to tell the story of Spanish animation through its short films, because the past quarter century has seen a genuine boom,” Toro explained.

The exhibition will be on display at the Capilla del Oidor from November 5.