The Philippines is aggressively positioning itself to capture a significant portion of the massive $413 billion global animation market, leveraging growing exports, an expanding talent base, and strategic development of homegrown intellectual properties.
Rapid Industry Growth and Projections
According to the Animation Council of the Philippines Inc. (Acpi), the local animation sector generated $60 million in revenue during 2024 and currently employs more than 7,500 animation professionals. The industry organization projects even more dramatic growth in the coming years, expecting the workforce to double to over 15,000 by 2028, with industry value anticipated to reach $141 million.
Acpi attributes this expansion to increasing international demand and new government-supported trade platforms that are helping the industry evolve beyond traditional outsourcing services toward creating original Filipino-owned content.
Animahenasyon 2025: Catalyst for Industry Evolution
Serving as the centerpiece of these development efforts is Animahenasyon 2025, the country's premier annual animation festival scheduled for November 24 to 26 in Metro Manila. This event has long been recognized as a key indicator of the industry's creative and commercial progress.
The festival will feature the return of major components including:
- AniSine for film screenings
- AniTalk for industry discussions
- AniKompetisyon Awards, which attracted over 100 entries this year
New Business Initiatives and International Partnerships
A significant addition to this year's event is AniBusiness, a business-to-business convention set for November 26 at Seda BGC. Organized through collaboration between Acpi and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions' CreatePhilippines, this trade component aims to help local animation studios secure:
- Outsourcing contracts
- Co-production opportunities
- Global partnership agreements
CreatePhilippines will leverage its extensive trade network to bring both local and international buyers to the event, offering business-matching sessions and various incentives. Delegates will also participate in AniXperience, a cultural and business program featuring tours of historical Intramuros and visits to creative communities in La Union.
The formal partnership between Acpi and Citem was solidified through a memorandum of agreement signed on October 13. Key officials including Acpi executive director Daniel Enriquez, president Marlyn Montano, and Citem executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo collaborated to develop initiatives supporting the Philippines' emergence as a major animation hub.
Filipino animators have long helped bring some of the world's most beloved titles to life, Ocampo noted. It's time the local industry gains the recognition it deserves. This year's Animahenasyon can mark the start of the next stage of our industry's evolution.
