Tradition Meets Technology: Cuban Film Animation Enters the Global Marketplace

The production and dissemination of Cuban animation has undergone dramatic transformation in recent years. Over the past decade alone, computer-generated images (CGIs) have replaced much of the hand drawing and painting, and the animation studio at Instituto Cubano de Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC) has stepped up its efforts to engage with the international sphere—participating in more festivals, entering new markets, and providing services to clients around the world. This transformation has not meant a complete rupture with the institution's past, however. The studio's original mission—contributing to the creation of a uniquely Cuban culture—remains intact. And its commitment to the revolution has not wavered. Animation artists continue to perceive their primary role as serving their compatriots, especially the children of their nation, and resisting hegemony by proffering alternatives to Disney representations. So while digital technology and international market forces have had a major impact on Cuban animation in recent years, the global industry has not usurped the island's local tradition. On the contrary, autochthonous animation is thriving in Cuba. This essay integrates the reflections of numerous animation artists to analyze the way in which Cuban animation has carefully balanced political aims with aesthetic concerns, local needs with global forces, and tradition with innovation.