Singapore
Animation Nation Festival 2026 Returns to Singapore with International Premieres and ASEAN Talent: The Animation Nation Festival 2026 is set to return to Singapore this October, bringing together international animation, independent filmmaking, emerging student talent and Southeast Asian creators for a two-day celebration of animated storytelling.
Organised by the Singapore Film Society in partnership with SIFT and presented with Alliance Française de Singapour, the festival will take place on October 10 and 11, 2026, at Alliance Française de Singapour.
Now in its 2026 edition, Animation Nation continues its long-standing mission of introducing Singapore audiences to innovative animation from around the world while providing a platform for local and regional creators.
Celebrating the Art of Animation
This year’s programme brings together independent French and international productions, exclusive Singapore premieres and a showcase of emerging animation and game talent from Singapore’s educational institutions.
Michael Lim, Festival Director of Animation Nation, said the festival aims to connect regional creators with audiences while highlighting original and underrepresented approaches to visual storytelling.
The programme has been designed for both dedicated animation enthusiasts and newcomers to the medium, with films spanning documentary, computer animation, adventure, comedy, science fiction and environmental storytelling.
Two Days of Animation
The festival opens on Saturday, October 10, with the NTU ADM BOFAS 2026 Journey on Animation and Game Screening at 2 p.m., presenting work from emerging talent at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Art, Design and Media.
At 4 p.m., audiences can attend the Singapore premiere of “Walking with Animators,” a feature documentary directed by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet.
Filmed over eight years across multiple countries, the documentary features insights from more than 70 influential figures from the animation industry, including Glen Keane, Peter Ramsey, Joe Dante and Phil Tippett. The film explores the history and creative philosophies behind hand-drawn, stop-motion and computer-generated animation while examining the future of the art form amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
The day concludes at 6 p.m. with the Singapore premiere of “Lucy Lost,” directed by Olivier Clert. Set during the First World War in 1915, the computer-animated sea adventure follows an amnesiac young girl discovered near a remote fishing village in the Isles of Scilly.
Sunday Lineup
The festival continues on Sunday, October 11, with “Yugly” at 3 p.m.
Directed by Yanis Belaid and Jérémie Degruson, the 3D computer-animated adventure comedy follows an unusually unattractive but lovable stray dog determined to compete in the prestigious Best in Dog Show. Surrounded by a colorful group of fellow strays, Yugly sets out to prove that even the most unlikely underdog deserves an opportunity and a loving home.
The festival concludes at 5 p.m. with “Dandelion’s Odyssey,” directed by Momoko Seto.
The visually distinctive hybrid live-action and 3D animated science-fiction eco-adventure follows four dandelion seeds escaping Earth’s destruction following a human-caused nuclear catastrophe. After landing on an unfamiliar alien planet filled with accelerated fungi and floating sea creatures, the seeds must navigate an extraordinary environment in search of a place where their species can survive.
The film features no dialogue, relying instead on visual storytelling, macro time-lapse photography, drone cinematography and contemporary dance-inspired movement.
ANSEA Awards Spotlight Southeast Asian Talent
Running alongside the festival is the third annual Animation Nation Southeast Asia (ANSEA) Awards, which continues the festival’s commitment to showcasing emerging animation talent from ASEAN countries.
Submissions for this year’s competition closed in September. Entries are being evaluated by an international jury that includes three-time Oscar nominee Tomm Moore, co-founder and creative director of Cartoon Saloon.
The winning short film is expected to be announced later in 2026 following the completion of the jury selection process.
Tickets and Festival Access
Tickets for the festival’s screenings range from SGD 8.50 for students and seniors to SGD 16 for the general public, while Alliance Française members can access discounted tickets priced at SGD 14.50.
Further information and ticket details are available through Alliance Française de Singapour.
Two Decades of Animation Nation
Founded in 2004 by the Singapore Film Society, Animation Nation is described as Singapore’s longest-running and largest international animation festival.
Over more than two decades, the festival has presented acclaimed international animation from studios and filmmakers associated with Aardman Animation, DreamWorks, Pixar and Satoshi Kon, while also hosting Academy Award-winning animation creators including Domee Shi and Adam Elliot.
The festival has also maintained a Singapore Showcase featuring local animation education institutions and studios, including Robot Playground Media.
For Festival Director Michael Lim, 2026 represents his 10th anniversary year in the role, adding another milestone to the festival’s continuing development.
With its combination of international premieres, local student showcases, industry perspectives and the ANSEA Awards, **Animation Nation Festival 2026 is positioning
