The biggest news and reveals from Annecy Animation Festival

Every June, the animation world descends on Annecy, a French lakeside town that becomes the center of the medium's universe for one packed week. Studio executives arrive with blockbuster ambitions. Independent filmmakers bring deeply personal visions from every corner of the globe. Anime creators, TV cartoon veterans, and the artists shaping animation's future all mingle in the same cafés. Truly, we can't believe we're here this year.

Yes, Polygon is on the ground at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to cover that collision firsthand. It's a place where the next billion-dollar animated franchise can debut alongside a daring experimental short, where industry-shaking announcements share space with conversations about craft, artistry, and the endless possibilities of the form. One second you're admiring the French Alps, the next you're gabbing with fans about a new Batman cartoon.

We're here to celebrate all of it. Here's what we've learned so far.