French VFX Studio STIM Opens in Tenerife, Boosting Canary Islands Animation Hub

If you have been following the buzz around the Canary Islands' film and tech scene, you will have heard the name STIM by now. The French-founded studio, known for its work on major animated features like "The Wild Robot" and "The Garfield Movie," is the latest international player to plant its flag in the archipelago. The company is opening a full production center, STIM Tenerife, and is already recruiting for dozens of highly skilled roles. This is not a small satellite office; it is a core hub that will connect the Canary Islands directly to the global entertainment supply chain.

Founded in 2019 by Félix Ferrand and Jordan Soler, and later joined by Benoît Gielly, STIM has grown quickly to around 100 employees across studios in Lyon, Angoulême, Liège, and Vancouver. The decision to open a new base in Tenerife is a clear signal that the Canary Islands' strategy to build a world-class animation and VFX cluster is working. The studio plans to start operating in August and aims to have about 60 people on board by the end of 2026, with the total number of new jobs eventually exceeding 100. The roles they are hiring for—character modelers, environment artists, look-development artists, and supervisors—show this will be a place where high-end creative work happens.

A Tax Regime That Turns Heads

Why are companies like STIM suddenly looking to the Canary Islands? The answer lies largely in a powerful combination of tax incentives that is unique in Europe. The centerpiece is the Special Canary Zone, or ZEC, which offers a corporate income tax rate of just 4%. To put that in perspective, the rate in mainland Spain is around 25%, and it is similarly high in other major EU countries. On top of that, ZEC companies benefit from reduced withholding taxes and a lower VAT rate.

When you layer the ZEC benefits on top of the archipelago's already generous film and TV production rebates, the numbers become very compelling. International productions shooting in Tenerife can access a tax rebate of up to 50% on the first million euros spent and 45% on the rest, with the potential for this to rise to 54% on the first million for larger projects. Industry analysts have noted that the combined effect makes the Canary Islands' incentives roughly 80% higher than those in the rest of Spain. For a growing studio like STIM, this financial framework makes building a long-term production base a very smart business decision.

From Two Studios to a Thriving Ecosystem

It is easy to forget how quickly this sector has emerged. Back in 2015, Tenerife was home to just two animation or VFX studios. Today, the island alone hosts a double-digit number of studios and more than 700 professionals. Across the entire Canary Islands, the numbers are even more impressive: more than 30 specialist companies and close to 2,000 professionals are now working in animation, VFX, and digital creation. This is not a random cluster of businesses; it is a deliberate, policy-driven ecosystem.

The Tenerife Film Commission and other local authorities have worked hard to support this growth with tailored training packages and institutional backing. A recent academic study highlighted how a growing local business network, strong institutional support, and international visibility through festivals and awards have combined to create a competitive creative environment. This ecosystem not only attracts international companies but also helps retain local talent that might otherwise have to leave the islands to build a career in this field. The quality of life here, with its year-round sunshine and unique lifestyle, is a powerful extra incentive for specialists considering a move.

More Than Just a Tax Break: A Diversification Engine

The arrival of STIM is about more than just one company creating jobs. It is a key piece of a much larger puzzle: the Canary Islands' long-term effort to diversify its economy beyond tourism. The numbers show why this is so important. Services, driven overwhelmingly by tourism, account for roughly 83–87% of the region's GDP. When you include indirect effects, tourism and its linked sectors can represent nearly 39% of the entire economy, a figure that is about 10 percentage points higher than the Spanish average.

This heavy dependence makes the islands vulnerable to external shocks, and political and business leaders have long acknowledged the need to build other strong pillars. Since 2009, the regional parliament has listed the audiovisual industry as a key sector. The results are now becoming tangible. The direct economic impact of film, TV, and advertising productions was estimated at around €432–440 million in 2025. Officials now describe the audiovisual sector as a strategic engine for diversification, generating highly qualified employment and attracting international investment. The goal is for this sector to account for about 3% of the Canary Islands' GDP, a significant slice for a new industry.

A Future Built on Digital Creativity

STIM's new Tenerife studio is part of a wave of investment that is transforming the islands from a beautiful filming location into a permanent, year-round digital production center. Other major players like Anima Kitchent and Amuse Labs are also expanding, with hundreds more jobs in the pipeline. Sector forecasts suggest the animation and digital arts segment could reach between 3,000 and 4,000 specialized jobs in the coming years.

While animation and VFX will not replace tourism as the main economic driver anytime soon, the trend is clear. By building a high-skill cluster that creates well-paid jobs, retains talent, and connects the islands to global intellectual property, the Canary Islands are creating a meaningful secondary pillar for their economy. The ZEC now supports almost 700 firms and more than 11,000 jobs across tech, science, and creative sectors, showing a broader shift toward knowledge-intensive activities. For digital nomads, expats, and locals alike, the message is exciting: the Canary Islands are not just a place to visit; they are becoming a place to build a world-class creative career.