Permanent Collection

Afonso Amaro & João Vaz Oliveira Open The Atlas Festival

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The 2026 edition of the Atlas Festival kicked off in Lisbon with this title sequence, infused with plenty of drama and a dash of Stoicism, by local motion masters Afonso Amaro and João Vaz Oliveira.

Afonso Amaro and João Vaz Oliveira: “The Atlas Festival is dedicated to animation, motion design, visual effects, and gaming. Every year, the festival opens with a collaborative film created by artists from the Portuguese motion community.

“This year’s opener started from a simple question: how do we live in a world constantly surrounded by conflict, noise, and tension, and what happens to us internally while we watch it all unfold through screens?

“The film became a collaborative reflection on the times we live in, and on the idea that maybe change starts less in the world outside and more in how we choose to exist within it.”

“We invited several Portuguese motion artists to each create a short sequence based on a pair of opposites. Every artist had complete creative freedom while still following a shared visual structure and camera movement system to help the film feel connected as one continuous piece.

“One of the biggest challenges was turning so many different artistic voices into a coherent emotional experience without losing individuality. Instead of forcing visual uniformity, we embraced the contrast between styles and approaches as part of the concept itself.

“The film became a collaborative reflection on the times we live in, and on the idea that maybe change starts less in the world outside and more in how we choose to exist within it.”

Watch the 2025 Atlas Festival titles here.

Images

A single small green plant grows through cracked, broken concrete, illuminated by a beam of light in an otherwise dark, monochromatic setting—capturing the spirit of resilience seen at Atlas Festival. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A blue-toned statue of a person sits cross-legged on a floating rock against a dark background, reminiscent of João Vaz Oliveira’s style. Similar statues meditate on distant rocks, illuminated by soft purple and blue light. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A brightly lit living room with a blue coffee table holding colorful floating objects, a dining table and chairs in the background, bookshelves on the right, and a plant near the wall—a cozy scene inspired by João Vaz Oliveira at Atlas Festival. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Abstract, symmetrical, white organic shape on a black background, overlaid with red circles and dots in a mirrored pattern—evoking a scientific or technological theme inspired by João Vaz Oliveira and Afonso Amaro at Atlas Festival. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A person stands alone in a dark space, surrounded by floating illuminated cubes with glowing screens—a futuristic, surreal atmosphere echoing Afonso Amaro and João Vaz Oliveira’s visionary direction for The Atlas Festival 2026 titles. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Credits

Client: Atlas Festival

Director: Afonso Amaro, João Vaz Oliveira
Writer: Afonso Amaro, João Vaz Oliveira, Murilo Lense
Editor: Afonso Amaro, João Vaz Oliveira
2D: André Leite, André Lima, Carlos Marques, João Vaz Oliveira
3D: Afonso Amaro, André Pires, João Batista, Mário Domingos, Miguel Madaíl de Freitas, Pedro Custódio

Music/sound design: Miguel Madeira
VO: Murray Gordon Todd

Special thanks: Ágata Melquíades

Stephen Price

Stephen is the co-founder/CD of Stash Media Inc. and the executive editor of Stash Magazine and the Stash Permanent Collection.
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Category: CG, Featured, Motion Design, Titles · Tags: Afonso Amaro, Atlas Festival, João Vaz Oliveira, Miguel Madeira