Animation in Bulgary
Bulgaria’s animation sector may not be able to rival many of its European neighbours in terms of size or output, but major developments since 2020 mean the industry could see huge growth in the years ahead.
Strong animation tradition
Bulgaria has a strong history of producing artistic animation that goes way back to the 1960s, with international festivals regularly bringing distinctive animated short films from Bulgaria, such as Tasks of the Day (2019), to audiences around the world.
But this alone is not enough for an animation sector to thrive and, over the years, Bulgarian studios have suffered due to local broadcasters’ unwillingness to finance more commercial forms of animation such as animated series and feature films.
As a result, very few Bulgarian animated series and feature films have ever been produced. Many of the studios currently lack the infrastructure and capacity necessary to make such projects. However, service work from international clients like Cartoon Network, Disney and Mattel on series and web series such as I, Elvis Riboldi and Rescue Heroes means the skillset to produce such content is certainly present in Bulgarian studios, which made around 10 short- and medium-length animated films of their own in 2020.
Since the late 2010s, Bulgaria’s animation sector has mobilised with the formation of the Association of Bulgarian Animation Producers (ABAP), which continues to expand and by 2021 had around 15 member companies. Some of these are working to develop the sector commercially and attract back animation talent who have moved overseas with the development of original IP.
Impact of financial tools
Bulgarian producers have had to resort to methods such as online crowdfunding to raise finance, which highlights the challenges studios face attracting interest from local broadcasters to their projects. Historically, there has been a lack of awareness in Bulgaria’s screen sector regarding the potential economic rewards that can come from investing in original, commercially viable animation, as demonstrated in countries such as France and Ireland.
These are signs this is changing as, in early 2021, the sector was given a significant boost after Bulgaria’s Parliament voted to approve amendments to the Film Industry Act, boosting funding for local filmmaking. Among the changes, it saw annual state funding for animated films increased, while television series will be subsidised via a new, separate state aid scheme.
These developments have been viewed as a huge step locally towards securing better financing for animated projects that have the potential to be commercially successful, with development funding for original IP also in the pipeline. In 2021, Bulgaria also revealed plans to introduce a 25% cash rebate to attract international production into the country.
Potential for rapid growth
While Bulgaria’s animation sector lags behind many other countries’ elsewhere in Europe commercially, the country does boast a successful gaming sector that grew significantly in the last decade, with over 35 gaming companies employing more than 1,100 people in Bulgaria by 2020.
Among the reasons for this is the strength of the country’s internet speed, which is one of the fastest in Europe. VFX is a similarly vibrant industry in Bulgaria and both sectors highlight the potential for the Bulgarian animation industry to build on its recent steady growth thanks to service work to grow exponentially in the 2020s.
There are other reasons to believe the local animation sector in Bulgaria is on the cusp of strong growth. These include the expected adoption of the Euro currency in 2024 as well as Bulgaria’s animation schools and a training centre overseen by Anthony Christov, a former art director on Pixar’s award-winning films Wall-E, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Meanwhile, maintaining a gender balance in its studios and supporting female creators; sustaining and strengthening connections with European animation sectors via international coproductions; as well as investing in research into the demographics and economic value of the local sector are among the priorities for Bulgarian animation in the next decade.
Bulgaria’s animation sector may not be able to rival many of its European neighbours in terms of size or output, but major developments since 2020 mean the industry could see huge growth in the years ahead.
Strong animation tradition
Bulgaria has a strong history of producing artistic animation that goes way back to the 1960s, with international festivals regularly bringing distinctive animated short films from Bulgaria, such as Tasks of the Day (2019), to audiences around the world.
But this alone is not enough for an animation sector to thrive and, over the years, Bulgarian studios have suffered due to local broadcasters’ unwillingness to finance more commercial forms of animation such as animated series and feature films.
As a result, very few Bulgarian animated series and feature films have ever been produced. Many of the studios currently lack the infrastructure and capacity necessary to make such projects. However, service work from international clients like Cartoon Network, Disney and Mattel on series and web series such as I, Elvis Riboldi and Rescue Heroes means the skillset to produce such content is certainly present in Bulgarian studios, which made around 10 short- and medium-length animated films of their own in 2020.
Since the late 2010s, Bulgaria’s animation sector has mobilised with the formation of the Association of Bulgarian Animation Producers (ABAP), which continues to expand and by 2021 had around 15 member companies. Some of these are working to develop the sector commercially and attract back animation talent who have moved overseas with the development of original IP.
Impact of financial tools
Bulgarian producers have had to resort to methods such as online crowdfunding to raise finance, which highlights the challenges studios face attracting interest from local broadcasters to their projects. Historically, there has been a lack of awareness in Bulgaria’s screen sector regarding the potential economic rewards that can come from investing in original, commercially viable animation, as demonstrated in countries such as France and Ireland.
These are signs this is changing as, in early 2021, the sector was given a significant boost after Bulgaria’s Parliament voted to approve amendments to the Film Industry Act, boosting funding for local filmmaking. Among the changes, it saw annual state funding for animated films increased, while television series will be subsidised via a new, separate state aid scheme.
These developments have been viewed as a huge step locally towards securing better financing for animated projects that have the potential to be commercially successful, with development funding for original IP also in the pipeline. In 2021, Bulgaria also revealed plans to introduce a 25% cash rebate to attract international production into the country.
Potential for rapid growth
While Bulgaria’s animation sector lags behind many other countries’ elsewhere in Europe commercially, the country does boast a successful gaming sector that grew significantly in the last decade, with over 35 gaming companies employing more than 1,100 people in Bulgaria by 2020.
Among the reasons for this is the strength of the country’s internet speed, which is one of the fastest in Europe. VFX is a similarly vibrant industry in Bulgaria and both sectors highlight the potential for the Bulgarian animation industry to build on its recent steady growth thanks to service work to grow exponentially in the 2020s.
There are other reasons to believe the local animation sector in Bulgaria is on the cusp of strong growth. These include the expected adoption of the Euro currency in 2024 as well as Bulgaria’s animation schools and a training centre overseen by Anthony Christov, a former art director on Pixar’s award-winning films Wall-E, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Meanwhile, maintaining a gender balance in its studios and supporting female creators; sustaining and strengthening connections with European animation sectors via international coproductions; as well as investing in research into the demographics and economic value of the local sector are among the priorities for Bulgarian animation in the next decade.
ABAP
The Association of Bulgarian Animation Producers aim is to achieve mutuality and unity within the animation guild around a common vision for the development of the Bulgarian animation industry. The goals around which we have united are: to protect the interests of the Bulgarian animation industry; to improve the conditions for financing and production of animated films; to make Bulgarian animation available for a local and international audiences.
Lachezar Velinov – Director of Bulgarian government and state agency relations
Pavel Pavlov – Director of administrative and logistics
Dimitar Petrov – Director of international partnerships and communication
President: Justé Michailinaité