Surfing Giant Studios Opens Tenerife Headquarters, Creating 100 Animation Jobs

Surfing Giant Studios, the American production company behind global hits like SpongeBob SquarePants and Garfield, has officially opened a permanent headquarters in Tenerife. This move marks a major milestone for Spain’s audiovisual industry, positioning the Canary Islands as a key hub for 2D and 3D animation on the world stage.

The expansion is expected to create 100 direct jobs. It is driven largely by the Canary Islands' competitive tax incentives, which are increasingly attracting major studios looking to move operations away from traditional centers like Los Angeles and London. By setting up in Tenerife, the studio aims to manage its growing workload by integrating local talent into large-scale projects, covering everything from creative development to post-production.

The company is currently hiring for various technical and creative roles. While the work will be based in Tenerife, the studio is using a hybrid model that allows professionals from mainland Spain and across the EU to apply, though there is a clear preference for talent already based in Spain. This flexible approach reflects the global scale of the studio, which also produces popular titles such as Phineas and Ferb and Blade Runner: Black Lotus.

Local officials note that this investment further cements the Canary Islands as a center for digital arts. It is part of a broader trend that has seen the region grow into a mature ecosystem for high-end, full-service film and animation production over the last decade.

Recruitment is currently underway via the company’s digital platforms, with the goal of having a full team in place for the start of production this spring. This expansion represents a significant opportunity for industry professionals and marks the arrival of one of America’s most influential production companies into the Spanish business landscape.