Mundos Digitales began in 2002, when Manuel organised a student event which was inspired by visits to industry events around the world such as Siggraph and the 3D Festival. Now, some 20+ years later, Mundos Digitales offers a range of events and activities throughout the year.
How would you describe Mundos Digitales in one sentence?
If I have to describe it in one sentence, I will use the city’s slogan: “an event where no one is an outsider”.
How did it all begin?
In 1990 we created a group of Advanced Visualization at the University of A Coruña and a few years later we created a Master in Digital Creation and Production, to train the first professionals in the sector that came out of the University in Spain.
In those years, I used to go to important international events such as 3D Festival (Copenhagen), Imagina (Monaco) or SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles). I saw great talents in the industry and I loved the idea that my students could also enjoy their great lectures at these events.
Since I couldn’t take them all with me, one year I decided to bring two or three good friends to give a talk in Coruña as an end-of-course activity. What started as a one-time activity for my students continues 23 years later.
What were the biggest challenges in the early days?
Certainly, it was to get the interest of great professionals that existed then, and get them to come to Coruña to participate in an event that no one knew, outside a small core of professionals in Spain.
To be grateful, I want to make a special mention to Mike Milne, one of the founders of Framestore CFC, a good friend and an excellent person who unfortunately passed away last year. Mike helped me a lot in the early years to get great speakers, which, without his help, it would not have been possible to have them in Coruña.
What is new about Mundos Digitales this year?
More than two decades ago I was not sure where the sector would be heading, what technologies and developments there would be in the future, I chose a name that I knew would not fail: Mundos Digitales (Digital Worlds).
“Everything has a place in Mundos Digitales, Animation, VFX, Virtual Production, AI, because nowadays everything is transversally related.”
In this sense, any innovation, technology or differential aspect that occurs in the sector, we try to incorporate it into the programming.
What is your favourite part of Mundos Digitales?
Personally, the greatest satisfaction of all the effort we do all year to organize the event, is to have the support of the sector. A Coruña is a small city far from the big capitals, and for me, the fact that every year the studios and professionals who participate and attend, not only remember Mundos Digitales, but have it as a must visit every year, and that in many cases they keep their new productions and projects to present them in Mundos Digitales, is a sign that we are doing something right.
Mundos Digitales is one of the biggest industry events in Spain, how do you and your team ensure that all of your guests have a good experience?
Although I may appear as the visible face of the event, one thing that is characteristic of Mundos Digitales is that many of the speakers and attendees consider it as their own, and this is built by all of us. This is like having a team of dozens and dozens of people, who watch, care and pamper the event because they take it as their own.
In a context like this, everything is easier and obviously, having an experience of more than two decades, always helps to try to organize everything as best as possible. Of course, and when you think you have everything ready, there is always something unexpected that we didn’t have under control, but so far, nothing that we can’t manage together.
Why is A Coruña the perfect place for this event?
Between the end of the 90s and the early 2000s, something happened in A Coruña that was “magical”. A series of circumstances came together that made the whole sector consider Coruña as a European reference in animation.
Between the students coming out of our master and the creation of Dygra Films, the first 3D animation film in Europe “The Living Forest” was made.
That was, for the context in which we were, the resources and the technological limitations of those years, something amazing.
It became a catalyst for the creation of numerous animation studios creating animated feature films, and in those years, everyone understood the reason why Mundos Digitales was in A Coruña.
“Mundos Digitales is three frenetic days talking about animation, VFX, videogames, virtual production and a lot of creativity…but it’s not all about sitting and listening to lectures. Mundos Digitales is also a full-fledged experience. And part of that magic has a name: A Coruña.”
This city has something special. It is by the sea, it has places with history, a food that is pure vice (those who have been there can confirm it), and a great summer atmosphere that makes you feel on vacation.
That’s why many say that Mundos Digitales is not just an event: it’s a professional getaway with a summer flavor.
A 2-day Mundos Digitales took place in February this year in Tenerife, tell us more about that…
In recent years, and largely thanks to the magnificent tax incentives, the Canary Islands have become a hub for digital creation.
Numerous animation, VFX and videogame companies have moved there or have opened offices, making the islands a reference for production, both nationally and internationally.
“In a time of continuous changes in the sector, where technologies and new business models are constantly emerging, it’s great to be able to make a winter edition in an area where so much production takes place.”
This past year was our first experience, but we are sure that it will not be the last, and that Mundos Digitales has a long way to go in the coming years with its Canary Islands edition.
Do you have any tips for first-time attendees, or what can I expect to see and do?
We are always delighted to have new attendees join Mundos Digitales, and you’ll see how easy it all is. All you need is to want to learn, share and have fun. The rest will be taken care of by those who have already been here, so that you feel a little bit at home. For us, one of the most important aspects of Mundos Digitales is networking, and we try to make all attendees, especially those who come to Coruña for the first time, feel part of the event.
