The Catalan Manga and Anime Festival returns for its third edition from 21 March to 11 April 2025, with a programme full of activities for manga and anime lovers in Mallorca. The main day will be Saturday, 29 March, when the most important events will take place in different locations across the Balearic Islands.

Organised by the Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics (IEB), with the collaboration of various institutions and organisations, the festival aims to promote the use of Catalan among young people through two key expressions of Japanese culture: anime and manga.

The programme includes introductory workshops on manga and kanji, talks with experts, concerts, karaoke, cosplay competitions, and the screening of the premiere “Anzu, gat fantasma”. In addition, several libraries across the islands have created dedicated areas for their Catalan manga collections.

The director of the IEB, Llorenç Perelló, highlights that this event “encourages the regular use of the Catalan language among young people in engaging settings such as workshops or concerts.” Furthermore, he emphasises that the institution is excited to celebrate this third edition, as it is “a strategic project that brings together culture and language”.

Programme of the Catalan Manga and Anime Festival 2025 in Mallorca

Palma

  • Friday, 21 March, at 18:00 h. Biblioteca Pública Can Sales (pl. de la Porta de Santa Catalina, 24). Japanese calligraphy workshop with Tai Sato. Pre-registration required at the library.
  • Thursday, 27 March, at 18:00 h. Biblioteca Pública Can Sales (pl. de la Porta de Santa Catalina, 24). Audio fiction: Els contes tradicionals japonesos, Shinigamis i altres éssers sobrenaturals, by Mano de Mithril and Dani García.
  • Friday, 28 March, at 19:00 h. Biblioteca de Cultura Artesana (Via de Roma, 1). Presentation of Històries dels samurais by Jonathan Lopez-Vera, with the author and bookseller Jaume Albertí.
  • Saturday, 29 March. Centre Cultural de la Misericòrdia (c. de la Misericòrdia, 2). From 10:00 h.
    • 10:15. Presentation of FeMA 2025.
    • 10:30. One Piece, a world beyond the story, a talk by Josep Amigó.
    • 11:30. One Piece Kahoot, by Pau Gil. An interactive and humorous activity full of trivia.
    • 12:30. Bushido, the invention of the samurai myth, a discussion with Jonathan Lopez-Vera, writer and historian.
    • 13:30. Tirades, podcast with Marta Masana and Jaume Vadell.
    • Comic fair featuring Catalan manga publications, illustrations, t-shirts, figurines, and much more.
    • Exhibition area showcasing young manga artists.
    • Manga illustration workshop with Aina Llobera.
    • Japanese calligraphy workshop with Tai Sato.
    • Manga colouring workshop with Shinigamis.
    • Origami workshop with Shinigamis.
    • Introductory kanji workshop with Shinigamis.
    • “Create your own Omamori” workshop with Espai Daruma.
    • 16:30. K-pop and overseas idol performances.
    • 17:00. Cosplay competition for adults and children (under 12), with Shinigamis.
    • 18:00. Concert by Younenki Music.

Other locations

Manga and Anime FestivalAlcúdia

  • Saturday, 22 March, at 17:00 h. Auditori de Alcúdia (pl. de la Porta de Mallorca, 3). Screening of the film Anzu, gat fantasma. Free entry until capacity is reached.

Portocolom

  • Thursday, 27 March, at 17:30 h. Biblioteca Pública de Portocolom (c. d’En Cristòfor Colom, 52). Aoi Tori or the illustrated books the blue bird brings from Japan, storytelling with Raquel de Manuel Mur.

Andratx

  • Friday, 28 March, at 17:30 h. Biblioteca Pública d’Andratx Jaume Bover (pl. de Miguel Moner, 1). Aoi Tori or the illustrated books the blue bird brings from Japan, storytelling with Raquel de Manuel Mur.

Pont d’Inca

  • Friday, 28 March, at 17:30 h. Biblioteca Pública del Pont d’Inca (avda. d’Antoni Maura, 44). Japanese calligraphy workshop with Tai Sato. Pre-registration required at the library.

Sineu

  • Friday, 11 April, at 17:00 h. Biblioteca Pública de Sineu (m. de Sant Francesc, 10). Japanese calligraphy workshop with Tai Sato. Pre-registration required at the library.

The festival has been organised with the collaboration of the councils of Mallorca, Eivissa, and Formentera, as well as the town halls of Palma, Ciutadella, Eivissa, Alcúdia, Sant Lluís, Marratxí, and Sineu. Cultural associations such as VadCultura, the Otaku Association of Ibiza, Shinigamis de Mallorca, and Koala Menorca have also contributed, along with the Xarxa de Biblioteques de Menorca, the Xarxa de Biblioteques de Mallorca, the Xarxa de Biblioteques d’Eivissa, and the municipal libraries of Eivissa. Supporting partners include Tallers d’Art, Univers del Còmic, Gotham Còmics, Llibreria Mediterrània, VadLlibres, and publishers such as Norma Editorial, Planeta Cómic, Ooso Comics, Kaji Manga, and Distrito Manga. Additionally, several libraries across the Balearic Islands are supporting the initiative by creating special interest sections dedicated to Catalan manga.