Colombia’s Burgeoning Animation Scene Finds Its Voice With Afro-Colombian Tales, Eco-Activism and Myth at BAM

Colombian animation is hitting a fresh stride, driven by a mix of social storytelling, ancestral mythologies and new talent, plus determined governmental support.. That energy is on show at the Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM) in its Animation strand, set to be unveiled over July 14-18.

Common are stories spotlighting Afro-Colombian identity and Indigenous worldviews, like “Berenice y los Moravitas,” where an eight-year-old girl discovers her divine warrior heritage and “Verde,” a rotoscoped drama set in Colombia’s mangrove villages caught between violence and tradition. 

Other projects tackle subjects from gender fluidity in “Negrites” to eco-activism in anarchic comedy “Sacha.” There also seem to be many with cats — both wild and domestic.

A strong presence at international co-production forums has been key to this momentum. Several titles have already paraded through top industry platforms such as Annecy’s MIFA, the Quirino Co-Pro Forum and Ventana Sur’s Animation! section, positioning Colombian creators as rising players on the Latin American animation scene. Veteran names like “El Libro de Lila” helmer Marcela Rincón and fresh voices alike are leveraging Colombia’s growing support structures, including the national film fund FDC and regional initiatives such as Cali’s cultural stimuli.

Animation houses such as Samsa, Bombillo Amarillo, La Banda del Sur and Estudio Marañacos are now forging ties beyond Colombia, collaborating with partners across Europe and Latin America, while exploring transmedia expansions to keep pace with global trends.

Variety profiles seven projects in development from BAM’s Animation lineup:

“Berenice y los Moravitas,” (Lucía Cedeño. Prod: Carlos Castaño)

A debut feature following an eight-year-old Afro-Colombian girl who gets trapped in a fantasy world where she is a goddess-warrior fated to topple a tyrant and restore the bond between humans and nature. The fantasy adventure won a Colombian FDC development grant and selected for Ventana Sur’s Animation! Working Session (2023) and the Quirino Co-Pro Forum (2024), the project is steered by Cedeño — hailed as “Mujer Exitosa Latam 2022” — and Osshun, the Cali-based company behind “Irma, la gran pelea contra el pasado.” Film is “a metaphor for freedom and harmony with nature,” says Cedeño.

“Corazón Animal,” (Ana María Castiblanco. Prod: Julián Manrique)

A 2D episodic kids’ series in which jungle-raised Mar shape-shifts — jaguar on the pitch, flamingo on the dancefloor — to survive a cold new city. Backed by MinTIC’s Abre Cámara 2024 and honored at Pixelatl’s Ideatoon (2024), the show arrives from Estudio Marañacos, makers of the three-season hit “Juani & Gatón.” “An animated show about migration and identity in childhood,” says Castiblanco, which won an Honorable Mention at Mexico’s Pixelatl 2024.

“Green,” (“Verde,” Iván Sierra. Prod: Linda Marín)

Rotoscoped 80-minute animated drama where a mangrove-dwelling Afro-Colombian family’s tranquil life shatters with the return of Kondo, a figure tied to past violence. Torn between fleeing or fighting, they face a profound test of identity and peace. Backed by Colombia’s FDC and Ibermedia, the film has toured Quirino, MIFA, Chilemonos and now BAM and seeks sales agents and co-producers. Director Iván Sierra frames it as a meditation on how fear of losing happiness breeds violence  – and how true peace lies in confronting inner fears.

“Las Vidas de Marie,” (Sofía Andrade. Prod: Alei Valet Siv)

In this young adult miniseries, an 18th-century witch braves 2020s reality to grant her cat a never-ending ninth life, trailed by Marie’s seven former souls. The project is backed by Piragna, the 2D studio behind viral phenomenon “Frailejón Ernesto Pérez,” and is aiming to expand into a transmedia universe.

“Negrites,” (Marcela Rincón. Prod: Maritza Rincón)

A six-part 7-minute 3D coming-of-age comedy where a delivery-riding black cat grapples with puberty, gender fluidity and activist fervor in a Latin-animal metropolis. Director Rincón returns to series work after her Platino-nominated feature “El Libro de Lila” and TV hit “Guillermina y Candelario.” “‘Negrites’ is an animated series with claws, fangs and a lot of heart, set in a very Latin American city of animals that seeks to give prominence to non-binary characters who defend their struggles and reflect the diversity of our society,” Rincón tells Variety.

“Poli,” (David Andrés Mesa. Prod: Daniel Vélez)

A 90-minute 3D family adventure: stellar-trash recycler Poli crashes on Earth and, alongside grieving child Ana, must return home before ecological balance collapses. Developed by Bombillo Amarillo, fresh off the transmedia kids’ smash “Zooñadores” (CreaDigital) and Netflix Poland work as executive producer on “Kajko i Kokosz.”

“Sacha,” (Keila Cepeda. Prod: Rafael Pérez)

An 11-minute, 13-episode 2D satire in which an Amazonian trickster spirit launches anarchic eco-pranks to repel loggers. Pitched at Quirino, MIFA and Ventana Sur (2024), it is produced by La Banda del Sur, whose short “Paloquemao” won the 2023 Macondo for Best Colombian Short.