GLAS Animation

What GLAS Animation does

GLAS Animation is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation founded in 2014 to cultivate and promote the art and science of independent animation in the United States. The organization operates two core programs: the annual GLAS Animation Festival, which launched in March 2016 in Berkeley, California, and features competition screenings, retrospectives, panels, Q&As, workshops, and special programs over a multi-day run, and the GLAS Animation Grant Program, established in 2019, which awards $3,000 grants (plus Wacom tablets) to individual U.S. animators creating original animated short films. The festival has showcased notable guests including Henry Selick, Brad Bird, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Terry Gilliam, and Masaaki Yuasa, and has earned coverage from Variety, Cartoon Brew, Animation World Network, IndieWire, Screen Rant, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Name

GLAS Animation

Legal name

GLAS Animation

Website

https://glasanimation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Festival Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production (MPADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Adult Animation Production (MPADACAK)

Keywords

• Independent animation festival
• Animation grant program
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Animation film exhibition
• Creative arts funding

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, GLAS Animation relies primarily on donations from individuals and sponsorships from animation industry companies. Donations are tax-deductible and can be directed toward the GLAS Animation Festival, the GLAS Animation Grant Program, or both.
2. Festival Passes and Event Revenue: The organization sells passes for festival attendance, with specific RSVPs required for the annual event (e.g., GLAS 2025 at London West Hollywood).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GLAS Animation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that runs the annual GLAS Animation Festival and the GLAS Animation Grant Program. The festival showcases international independent animation through competition screenings, retrospectives, panels, Q&As, and workshops, while the grant program awards $3,000 grants plus Wacom tablets to U.S. independent animators producing original animated short films.

Product overview

GLAS Animation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating two core programs: the GLAS Animation Festival and the GLAS Animation Grant Program. The festival, launched in March 2016 in Berkeley, California, is an annual independent animation event that showcases international competition screenings, retrospectives, special-curated programs, workshops, and panel discussions across four days. The grant program, established to complement the festival, provides $3000 grants plus Wacom tablets to independent animators in the United States for creating original animated short films. Together, these programs create a comprehensive platform for cultivating and promoting independent animation, championing diverse voices, and expanding the understanding of animation as an artistic medium in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GLAS Animation Festival Annual independent animation festival featuring international competition screenings, retrospectives, special-curated programs, workshops, panel discussions, performances, and installations. The festival brings together animators, filmmakers, and enthusiasts over four days at cultural institutions across Berkeley and Los Angeles, with past editions hosted at venues including the London West Hollywood. Multiple award categories recognize excellence in animation, including Grand Prix, Audience Award, High Risk Award, New Talent Award, and Simulation Award.
• GLAS Animation Grant Program Grant program providing $3,000 grants plus Wacom tablets to independent animators in the United States for the development and production of original animated short films. Two grants are awarded per cycle to individual filmmakers who have completed at least one prior film, with applications managed through FilmFreeway. Recipients have included nine filmmakers supported over four years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 grants awarded to filmmakers in 4 years
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TitmousecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Major sponsor whose extraordinary generosity helped sustain GLAS as an institution in the wake of the pandemic. Titmouse is a prominent animation studio.
• PsyopcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Major sponsor contributing to GLAS's sustainability post-pandemic. Psyop is a production company specializing in animated content.
• GKIDScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Major sponsor supporting GLAS Animation. GKIDS is a film distributor known for independent and animated films.
• SonymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate sponsor of GLAS Animation Festival, providing financial support for programs.
• OIAF (Ottawa International Animation Festival)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International partner organization, one of the major animation festivals in the world. Partnership strengthens ties between major animation festival communities.
• Annecy International Animation Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier international animation festival partnership. Annecy is the most prestigious animation festival globally, and partnership provides mutual recognition and cross-promotion.
• Zagreb Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International partner, one of the major animation festivals in the world known for animated short film competition.
• WacommajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Technology sponsor providing tablets to grant recipients. Each GLAS Animation Grant recipient receives a tablet courtesy of Wacom.
• Animation Show of ShowscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner organization showcasing animated short films. Joint promotion and recognition of excellence in animation.
• NewgroundsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Online animation platform partner, helping reach independent animation creators and enthusiasts.
• Screen NoveltiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Production studio partner with animation focus.
• Cartoon BrewcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Leading animation industry news outlet and partner. Extensive press coverage of GLAS festival and programs.
• FilmFreewaycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Platform used for grant applications. Filmmakers submit applications through FilmFreeway, the standard platform for film festival and grant submissions.
• Giphy ArtsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Partner providing Best GIF award at the festival, with $500 prize. Connects GLAS to the GIF and digital animation community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Film Festival: The largest US independent film festival, including animation shorts in its programming. Broader in scope than GLAS but overlaps in supporting independent cinema and providing a platform for emerging filmmakers.
• Tribeca Film Festival: Major US film festival with animation categories alongside broader indie film programming. Comparable as a New York-based industry-facing festival with animation components, broader scope than GLAS's indie-focused mission.

Direct peers

• Hiroshima International Animation Festival: One of the world's most established biennial international animation festivals, focused on independent animated shorts and works that push the medium forward — directly comparable in curatorial scope.
• Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS): Major European animation festival showcasing independent animated shorts, features, and series with strong industry programming — directly comparable in focus on the art and craft of animation.
• Annecy International Animation Film Festival: The world's most prestigious animation festival, focused on animation as an art form across feature, short, and TV categories. Strategic mutual partner of GLAS; directly comparable as a tier-1 international animation festival.
• Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films (Animafest Zagreb): A major European animation festival dedicated to animated short film. Strategic mutual partner of GLAS; directly comparable as a festival focused on independent animated shorts.
• Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF): One of the leading international animation festivals, focused on independent animated shorts from around the world. Strategic mutual partner of GLAS; directly comparable in mission and programming.
• Animation Show of Shows: A long-running curated traveling showcase of the year's best animated shorts. Strategic mutual partner of GLAS; directly comparable in curatorial mission and short-film focus.

Others

• ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d'Animation): The international animation industry association representing animators worldwide, supporting professional exchange, advocacy, and industry events. Comparable as a globally networked animation organization, though operating as an industry body rather than a festival.

Regional players

• Aspen Shortsfest: A US-based short film festival with a strong animation program, recognized internationally for quality short-form cinema. Comparable as a regional US festival focused on shorts with notable animation programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glasanimation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasanimation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLAS Animation