Surfing Giant Studios Expands Animation Production to the Canary Islands
February 17, 2026
Surfing Giant Studios, the animation studio behind the Disney Junior series Hey A.J.!, is expanding its European operations with a new production facility in the Santa Cruz region of Tenerife, Spain. This marks the studio’s second European location, following the 2022 launch of its studio in Manchester, UK.
Expanding European Footprint
The new studio, set to open in Spring 2026, will initially focus on 2D animation production, with plans to expand into additional formats and platforms. Surfing Giant anticipates creating over 100 new animation and production positions, primarily based in Tenerife and mainland Spain.
Strategic Location and Incentives
According to Scott Parish, Co-CEO of Surfing Giant Studios and COO of Alcon Entertainment, the Canary Islands offer “strong tax incentives and an experienced talent base, which allows us to scale production efficiently and reinvest directly into our teams and projects.” The location is considered a strategic extension of the company’s European operations.
Growing Production Slate
Since opening its Manchester facility in 2022, Surfing Giant has experienced significant growth, expanding its intellectual property (IP) development and service work. The studio’s hit series, Hey A.J.!, premiered on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney+ last month, receiving critical acclaim and achieving top 5 daily chart rankings on Disney+.
New Action-Adventure Series in Development
Surfing Giant is currently in production on a new, undisclosed action-adventure series for Disney Branded Television. This project differs from Hey A.J.! in genre and is likely intended for Disney Channel or Disney+, with a subsequent release on Disney+.
Leadership and Operations
Both the Manchester and Tenerife teams will be overseen by Head of Studio Helen Brown, who will manage production, recruitment, and talent development across both locations.
About Surfing Giant Studios
Surfing Giant Studios was founded by Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Phineas and Ferb), Michael Hodges (Blade Runner 2049, The Garfield Movie, Blade Runner Black Lotus), and Scott Parish. The company is a full-service 2D/3D animation and production company with integrated capabilities spanning development through post-production, music, and sound. The studio’s portfolio includes contributions to projects such as Hey A.J.!, Blade Runner Black Lotus, The Garfield Movie, Batman, Phineas and Ferb, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Harley Quinn, Pete the Cat, and SpongeBob SquarePants.