French animation and visual effects studio STIM, known for its work on "The Wild Robot", "The Garfield Movie" and "Coyote vs. Acme", is opening a new production centre in Spain's Canary Islands, with plans to create more than 100 jobs as part of a broader European expansion. The move matters because it strengthens the archipelago's growing status as an animation and VFX hub, offering the industry additional tax-supported production capacity and financing options within Europe.

STIM Tenerife is due to begin operating in August and aims to employ 60 people by the end of 2026, with recruitment already underway for roles such as character modellers, set and prop modellers, and look-development artists and supervisors. The operation will be based within the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC), a low-tax regime designed to attract qualifying companies, and will support financing structures spanning France, Belgium and the islands. STIM's CEO for the new base, Amélie Houpline, said the site would boost production capacity while preserving artistic and technical standards, and described ambitions to build a lasting studio that contributes to the local ecosystem. The Canary Islands now host more than 30 specialist animation and VFX companies and close to 2,000 professionals, according to ZEC figures, marking significant growth for a sector that was comparatively small less than a decade ago.