Dreamwall and "Le Trésor de Barracuda": 2D animation in the spotlight

Dreamwall and "The Treasure of Barracuda": Expertise in 2D Animation and Hybrid Pipeline Management

The Dreamwall studio has reached a new milestone in supporting ambitious projects with the feature film "The Treasure of Barracuda" (El tesoro de Barracuda). This adaptation of the novel by Llanos Campos perfectly illustrates our ability to integrate a complex international co-production, combining technical challenges and shared expertise between studios.

A Success Crowned at the 2026 Anima Festival

Following a nomination at the Goya Awards (the Spanish Oscars) in the Best Animated Film category, the film won the hearts of the Belgian public. We are very touched to see that "The Treasure of Barracuda" won the Audience Award at the 2026 Anima Festival in the youth feature film category. This distinction rewards the synergy between the teams of Belvision, Inicia, Hampa Studio, and Dreamwall.

This success testifies to the vitality of the animation sector in Belgium and the relevance of cross-border collaborations. As a major player certified Walloon Anim Gold Provider by Wallimage, guaranteeing producers total eligibility for their expenses, Dreamwall structures its activity to facilitate the financing of large-scale European projects. For those who wish to discover the behind-the-scenes of our participation, we shared some reflections during interviews with media outlets like Cinergie.

Hybrid Pipeline: The Alliance of Traditional and Cut-out

The core of our intervention resided in the fusion of two distinct approaches to 2D animation:

• Traditional animation (frame by frame) led by our Spanish partners.

• Cut-out animation (digital puppets) optimized by our teams.

While Toon Boom Harmony was the software keystone for merging these two worlds, success primarily relied on surgical coordination between the structures. The real challenge was not only technical but structural: it was necessary to harmonize heterogeneous work methods and mitigate irregularities in inventory flow. Between the reception of prepared scenes (Scene Prep) and the launch of animation, our Technical Direction (TD) and our Production Management had to demonstrate constant agility to stabilize the pipeline, absorb creative adjustments (such as character redesigns), and guarantee manufacturing continuity despite logistical bottlenecks. Discover our animation studio services for your series and feature film projects.

Managing the Technical Setup (Box Anim)

The Box Anim phase (scene configuration) was crucial. Our teams took charge of the rigorous preparation of manufacturing: rigging verification, set design definition, framing, and asset scaling. This stage, though technical, ensures a healthy foundation for animators and guarantees that every shot scrupulously respects the original artistic intention.

Bongo: Our Proprietary Solution at the Service of the Flow

To pilot this complexity, Dreamwall deployed Bongo, our internal software solution. Used in tandem with our partners' asset manager, Bongo acted as the nerve center of the project:

• Asset Management: Centralization and real-time tracking of all graphic resources.
• Production Tracking: Monitoring progress to anticipate technical and human needs.
• Creative Focus: Freeing teams from administrative constraints to allow them to focus on image quality.

Did you know? Bongo owes its name to the studio's former mascot, a cat now retired, but whose spirit of agility continues to permeate our production tools.

Mastering the Unexpected: Technical and Human Agility

The production of a feature film like Barracuda requires great resilience. Whether it was script rewrites along the way or IT challenges, Dreamwall had to adapt its resources. Our dedicated team—including Line Producer, Production Manager, and Lead Animators—ensured the project's sustainability over more than a year of manufacturing. This "all-terrain" project management expertise allows us to maintain a high standard of quality, typical of world-class productions like The Red Turtle or Asterix, on which we also collaborated.

Compositing and VFX: Giving a Visual Soul

Dreamwall's work concluded with compositing and visual effects (VFX). This step is essential to merge the different elements—characters, special effects, and backgrounds—and give the film its luminous coherence. It is here that the image takes on its final cinematic dimension. Beyond the technique, our participation in this work resonates with our values. Much like Captain Barracuda, who realizes that knowledge is the ultimate treasure, Dreamwall wishes to cultivate continuous learning.

Professions Mobilized on This Project

To successfully complete the 36 minutes of animation entrusted to our studio, a multidisciplinary team was engaged:

• Coordination & Management: Line Producer and Production Manager.
• Technical Architecture: Technical Direction (TD) and IT Support.
• Preparation & Rigging: Box Anim Artists and Rigger Animators.
• Animation & FX: Lead Animators, 2D Animators, and FX specialists.