International Animation Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
ASIFA — International Animated Film Association
About International Animation Day
International Animation Day is observed on 28 October. ASIFA, the International Animated Film Association, says it created the observance in 2002 and continues to coordinate and promote celebrations around the world.
The day is an organizer-led cultural observance centered on animation as an art form and international medium. It is not presented by the reviewed sources as a statutory public holiday.
Why International Animation Day matters
Animation spans film, television, games, advertising, education, independent art and many other forms. International Animation Day provides a shared date for screenings, workshops, exhibitions and discussion across those different practices.
A useful observance can look beyond a single studio or commercial style by exploring animation history, techniques, regional traditions and the people who make animated work.
History of International Animation Day
ASIFA says International Animation Day began in 2002 from an idea of then-ASIFA president Abi Feijó.
ASIFA chose 28 October to honor Émile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique performance in Paris on 28 October 1892, which ASIFA describes as the first public performance of projected moving images associated with the birth of animation.
ASIFA continues to coordinate International Animation Day through its international network and chapters.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Abi Feijó
ASIFA states that International Animation Day began in 2002 from an idea of then-ASIFA president Abi Feijó.
ASIFA — International Animated Film Association
ASIFA states that it created International Animation Day in 2002.
First documented observance
ASIFA states that the international day began in 2002 and fixes the observance on October 28.
ASIFA — International Animated Film Association
ASIFA says it coordinates and helps promote International Animation Day celebrations around the world.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Animation Day
Watch animated work from different countries, decades or techniques and compare how movement, design and storytelling differ.
Attend or organize a screening, workshop, exhibition or discussion that credits the artists and rights holders appropriately.
Learn about a technique such as stop-motion, hand-drawn animation, cut-out animation or computer animation.
Explore the history of animation in your own country or region instead of treating the medium as belonging to one national tradition.
If sharing films publicly, check copyright, venue and licensing requirements separately from the observance.
International Animation Day Facts
The documented calendar date for International Animation Day is 28 October.
ASIFA says it created the observance in 2002.
ASIFA traces the original idea to then-president Abi Feijó.
The date honors Émile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique performance in Paris on 28 October 1892.
ASIFA continues to coordinate and promote celebrations internationally.
The reviewed sources do not establish International Animation Day as a statutory public holiday.
International Animation Day Messages
Happy International Animation Day! May it bring a fresh appreciation for the artists, ideas and techniques behind animated work.
Celebrate International Animation Day by discovering an animated film, artist or tradition you have not explored before.
Wishing animators, students and audiences a creative International Animation Day.
May International Animation Day make room for curiosity about how drawings, models and digital images are brought to life.
Here’s to the craft, history and imagination of animation in all its forms.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
ASIFA — International Animation Day (opens in a new tab)
Organizer Dedicated Page
ASIFA — International Animation Day history (opens in a new tab)
ASIFA — Who we are (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Animation Day?
28 October The documented recurrence rule is: 28 October.
Does International Animation Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Animation Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Organizer-backed worldwide cultural observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Animation Day?
The reviewed sources identify ASIFA — International Animated Film Association as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Abi Feijó. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as ASIFA — International Animated Film Association.
Is International Animation Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Organizer-backed worldwide cultural observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-02.
When is International Animation Day?
It is observed on 28 October each year.
Who created International Animation Day?
ASIFA says it created the day in 2002, with the idea originating from then-ASIFA president Abi Feijó.
Why is it on 28 October?
ASIFA chose the date to honor Émile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique public performance in Paris on 28 October 1892.
Other observances on October 28
These observances are also listed on October 28, 2027.
Independent Czechoslovak State Day
Czech Act No. 245/2000 currently lists 28 October, Den vzniku samostatného československého státu, as a state holiday; Czech MFA material anchors the date to the establishment of Czechoslov…
National First Responders Day
The U.S. Fire Administration recognizes 28 October as National First Responders Day; presidential proclamation records also use that date for national recognition.
World Judo Day
International Judo Federation primary sources verify the first World Judo Day on 28 October 2011, annual IJF stewardship and the October 28 Jigoro Kano birthday rationale.
“OHI” Day / 28 October anniversary
Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs