Press room

Barbican Cinema is pleased to present Animation in Love, a year-long series that captures the magic and mystery of love, through the art of animation. 

Following on from the success of last year’s Animation at War, the Barbican continues its exploration into the power of animation, celebrating the universal theme of love, with films that capture its complexities and joy.

Going beyond fairy-tale romance, spanning decades and showcasing films from around the world, Animation in Love examines the very human yearning for connection and belonging through enriching stories about identity, community, passion and creativity.  

The series opens on Monday 16 February with the original fairy-tale romance Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (US), which upon its release in 1937, broke new ground in the world of animation with its engaging story, vibrant art-work and memorable songs, setting the tone and standard in the art-form for decades to come.

It continues in March with the Oscar-nominated romantic drama Chico & Rita (Spain 2009)  which follows a love affair between a jazz pianist and a singer over several decades in a luscious bittersweet tale of romance. This screens with 20 Años, Bárbaro Joel Ortiz’s story of faded love, which is a rare gem of Cuban stop-motion animation. Both these titles are presented in partnership with Screen Cuba.

September’s screening Olivia & the Clouds (Dominican Republic 2024) is a surreal exploration of love's complexities which uses a kaleidoscopic variety of animation styles and techniques, from painting to stop-motion to photomontage. Director Tomás Pichardo Espaillat offers an emotionally charged exploration of the very personal experiences of love, loss and memory.

The series concludes on Wednesday 28 October with Night is Short, Walk on Girl (Japan 2017), an animated comedy about one epic night in Kyoto, in which a young student dreams of orchestrating the perfect romantic meet with his girl crush. A highly original work, this colourful caper is the perfect canvas for Masaaki Yuasa’s freewheeling, eccentric and exuberant style of animation. 

Series Curator Michael Leader and Barbican Producer Jonathan Gleneadie said: 

“Following on from our successful series Animation at War, we continue our commitment to showcasing the best in world animation year-round. 2026 sees the programme move into an altogether more romantic direction with Animation in Love.

When Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937 it was love at first sight, and Disney's fairytale fantasies still epitomise animated cinema at its most heartfelt. Our programme starts there, before branching out to explore how the expressive medium of animation has been used by filmmakers from around the world to craft emotional and enriching stories, proving that animation, like love, is a many-splendoured thing.”

Screenings

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (U) + Introduction
US 1937, Dirs David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Larry Morey, Wilfred Jackson & Ben Sharpsteen, 83min 
Mon 16 Feb, 6.30pm, Cinema 2 

Since its release in 1937, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs has enchanted generations of viewers of all ages around the world. By no means a safe bet, this expensive gamble was dubbed 'Walt's Folly' before its blockbuster success set the tone and standard for spectacular, big-screen animation. 

For this first feature-length Disney Classic, the studio turned to the tales of the Brothers Grimm for inspiration. They transformed the story of a young princess fleeing from her evil stepmother into a lavish, romantic fairy-tale packed with the charismatic characters, singalong showtunes and awe-inspiring animation wizardry. 

This screening is accompanied by an introduction from Dr. Sam Summers, speaking about the historical significance of the film. 

Chico and Rita + 20 Años (15)
Spain 2009, Dir Tono Errando, Javier Mariscal & Fernando Trueba, 94min
Thu 19 Mar, 6.10pm, Cinema 2 

An animated love story that plays out like a Latin ballad, the Oscar-nominated Chico & Rita follows a jazz pianist and a singer through the decades from Havana to New York
to Paris and beyond, in a luscious and bittersweet tale of romance and heartbreak.

This screening will be preceded by a rare opportunity to see a gem of Cuban stop-motion animation: Bárbaro Joel Ortiz’ plaintive evocation of faded love, 20 Años (20 Years).

Presented in partnership with Screen Cuba. 

Olivia & the Clouds + Introduction (15) 
Dominican Republic 2024, Dir Tomás Pichardo Espaillat, 98min
Thu 10 Sep, 6.30pm, Cinema 2

The stories of two couples intertwine in this wildly creative and visually dazzling marvel from the Dominican Republic. 

Using a kaleidoscopic variety of animation styles and techniques – from painting to stop-motion to photomontage – director Tomás Pichardo Espaillat offers up a romantic Rashomon, fragmenting the very form of the film itself in its emotionally-charged exploration of the very personal experiences of love, loss and memory.

Night is Short, Walk on Girl + Introduction (15)
Japan 2017, Dir Masaaki Yuasa, 93min
Wed 28 Oct, 6.20pm, Cinema 2 

One wild night on the streets of Kyoto with the irrepressible anime auteur, Masaaki Yuasa (Lu Over the Wall, Mind Game, Inu-Oh).

A young student dreams of orchestrating the perfect romantic meet-cute with his crush, The Girl With the Black Hair, and searches for her across town. 

Meanwhile, the girl herself has a series of strange encounters with local characters as she roams through an abstract, bustling night in Kyoto – taking in everything from pub crawls to book fairs to impromptu musical happenings.