Could Tampa become a world-class animation hub?

TAMPA, Fla. — Guests streamed into the University of Tampa’s Charlene A. Gordon Theater Thursday night. Tampa’s no stranger to major arts events, but this was something new: The 200 animation enthusiasts in attendance were there to watch what Variety considers the front-runner for the best animated feature Oscar, “Wildwood,” with its studio’s head of animation appearing in person to present it. All to raise the curtain on the 2026 edition of the Tampa Animation Festival. kAm%96 2>3:E:@? 96C6 :D 3:8]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2>A232J]4@>^=:76\4F=EFC6^2CED^>@G:6D^a_ad^`a^ag^DF?\C2J\4:?6>2\:D\E2>A2D\>F=E:A=6I\>@G:6\E962E6C\H:E9\D@F=\2?\:?5:6\2CE9@FD6^Qm%2>A2 92D 2 8C@H:?8 7:=> 4F=EFC6k^2m[ 3FE E96 6G6?E[ H9:49 C2? E9C@F89 $F?52J @? E96 F?:G6CD:EJ 42>AFD[ >2C2<:?8 %2>A2 2 9F3 7@C 2?:>2E:@?] xE >2J @?6 52J 36 2? p4256>J pH2C5D\BF2=:7J:?8 76DE:G2= :? E96 J62CD 29625]k^Am kAmx7 E92E 92AA6?D[ 2?:>2E65 D9@CED 2?5 762EFC6D AC@8C2>>65 :? 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