A new digital platform dedicated to animated cinema has entered the European landscape. Launched by CEE Animation on 18 June, Animation HUB (AHUB) aims to improve the visibility, accessibility and circulation of animated works by bringing together nearly 4,000 curated titles in a single, online environment.

The initiative addresses a long-standing challenge within the animation sector: while thousands of animated shorts travel through festivals every year, many become difficult to find once their festival run concludes. Rather than hosting films itself, AHUB acts as a guide, directing users towards legally available titles across different platforms while providing editorial context and curated recommendations.

“Thousands of animated films travel through festivals every year, yet many of them disappear from public visibility shortly after their premiere,” explained Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger, project manager of Animation HUB. She added that, in an era of content overload, curated spaces play an increasingly important role in helping audiences discover quality animation beyond algorithm-driven recommendations.

Positioning itself as a cultural platform, rather than as a competitor to major streaming services, AHUB offers thematic collections, editorial features and educational resources that seek to present animation as an artistic medium, rather than merely a genre. The platform caters to a broad spectrum of users, from general audiences looking for films organised by theme, style or age group, to festival-goers interested in auteur animation rarely available on mainstream services.

Educators and students are another key target group. Through contextualised materials and curated selections, the platform aims to facilitate the use of animation in educational settings while encouraging deeper engagement with the medium.

Users can access interviews with animation filmmakers and producers, thematic articles, festival updates and industry news, creating what is described as a living source of inspiration and professional information.

An important feature of the platform is the “New in Line” section, dedicated to recently completed animated films seeking distribution opportunities. By highlighting new productions, the initiative hopes to increase their exposure among festival programmers, distributors, broadcasters and other industry stakeholders.

The project is set to expand further with the forthcoming launch of AHUB Pro, a dedicated professional section aimed at creators, producers and other industry players. The service will provide tools for project presentation, networking and partner discovery, enabling producers to showcase projects in development or production, and connect with potential co-producers, sales agents, distributors, broadcasters and festival representatives.

According to CEE Animation, AHUB Pro is intended to strengthen collaboration within the European animation sector while improving the international circulation of animated works through a specialised business-orientated environment.

Animation HUB is supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA programme and is co-financed through the International Visegrad Fund, with additional support from national and regional partners including the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Czech Audiovisual Producers’ Association and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.