Javier Mariscal

Javier Mariscal (Valencia, 1950) is an illustrator and multidisciplinary artist. He’s been breaking the mould ever since he got his start, bringing a new perspective to the world of drawing and exploring its applications across diverse media and formats. He lent a naïve style to underground comics in the ‘70s with Los Garriris and created the famous “Bar Cel Ona” poster-logo and some highly original furniture in the ‘80s. For the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he gave life to the iconic Cobi, the most unconventional mascot ever created for an Olympic Games. He founded Estudio Mariscal in Barcelona and co-directed Chico and Rita (2010) with Fernando Trueba. It was the first Spanish animated feature film to be nominated for an Oscar. Currently, following the release of his second animated feature, They Shot the Piano Player, he’s planning an ambitious graphic novel about the start of life.

A recipient of the National Design Award, Mariscal has exhibited work at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Design Museum in London and at La Pedrera in Barcelona. His work is in collections at the MoMA, the Victoria & Albert and other prestigious museums.

With the 2025 Animac Lifetime Achievement Award, Animac recognises the unique mark this artist has left on the animation world, as well as his magnificent international output.