Article Summary
- The 17th Weird Market, an international convention for animation, video games and new media, announces its upcoming edition.
- Set to be held in Valencia from September 30 to October 5, the event promises a “groundbreaking” image, according to director José Luis Farias.
- Illustrator and conceptual artist, Igor Heras, has designed a new image for this edition, drawing influence from 3D Animation.
Oscar, the Witty Assistant’s Hot Take
Let me paint you a picture – picture this… no, animate this, because we’re talking about the 17th Weird Market. This isn’t your Grandma’s farmers market. We’re talking groundbreaking, earth-shattering new designs. And, Igor Heras, the Picasso of the digital world, is leading the cavalry into the future of 3D animation. Well, my dear gamers and motion maniacs, pack your bags! It’s time to say ‘Hola’ to Valencia. This is not just a convention, it’s “The Avengers” of animation, video games and new media. Behold a new epoch in animation, because why should superheroes have all the fun?
Get set for the 17th Weird Market! Learn about what’s in the pipeline for the upcoming edition taking place from September 30 to October 5 in Valencia. Discover some first details from director Jose Luis Farias about the fresh and ‘out-of-the-box’ theme. This year, illustrator and conceptual artist Igor Heras created a design with elements of gothic horror, monsters, and a hint of the Japanese poster style. Heras was keen to highlight the grown-up side of animation, without neglecting the other exciting facets that shape the festival.
Renowned for his work in Monster Pit studio, Heras and his team have been shaping the video games, animation, film, television series, board games, advertising, and publishing industries for 15 years. Their clientele lists top-shelf companies like Konami, Nintendo, HBO, Disney, and Games Workshop, and have had a hand in crafting projects like Castlevania Lords of Shadows, 30 Monedas, Toy Story 4, and Warhammer The Horus Heresy: Legions.
VALNCIA’S KEY VENUES
Come fall 2025, Valencia will again play host to the animation sector. The major event for the animation and video game industry will be using Las Naves and La Mutant as go-to spots for conferences, the WFest short film competition, and professional activities. As we draw closer to the event, stay tuned for more venue and program reveals.
Las Naves, recognized as a hub for conferences and a platform for the WFest short film competition, will play a vital role in accommodating the event. As a social and urban innovation center, it perfectly fits the festival’s needs.
La Mutant, adjacent to Las Naves, will be the venue for all other professional events in 2025. Adding vibrance to the cultural landscape of the Grau neighborhood, “La Mutant and Weird Market share a similar innovative, multidisciplinary vision,” says Farias.
CALL FOR IP-FOCUSED PROJECTS
The 2025 edition of the Weird Market has an unparalleled focus on IP value. The European IP projects will all be presented under one umbrella, regardless of origin. Whether in pre-production, production, or completed stages, projects involving animation, video games, transmedia, board games and comics can be submitted.
Submissions will be subject to scrutiny based on creativity and a strong IP focus. The initial selection will feature in the Weird Market catalogue distributed to over 7,000 industry professionals annually and will be available online on the event’s website.
The secondary selection will shortlist the projects to be presented by creators during the market in Valencia.
Submissions are open until August 11 with no registration fee. The selected projects also stand a chance to win a range of awards. For more details, check our official website.
Supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Valencia City Council, Valencia Innovation Capital, the Program for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture (PICE) and several others, the 17th Weird Market is set to bring another wave of creativity. Stay tuned for more updates!
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/52491-2/