Netflix and ACE Canada Launch ACE Five, Continuing Premiere Partnership for 2026

Netflix and ACE Canada expand their animation accelerator with the launch of ACE Five in 2026.

Netflix is doubling down on its commitment to animation equity in Canada.

Netflix and the Animation Career Excelerator (ACE Canada) Society have announced the continuation of their premiere partnership with the launch of ACE Five, the fifth cohort of the society’s flagship ACE Program, set to run in 2026. The immersive career accelerator is designed for mid-level women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit animation professionals across Canada, offering mentorship, advanced training, and hands-on production experience culminating in an original short film and a key creative credit.

Since its launch in 2018, the ACE Program has grown from a small, British Columbia–based initiative into a nationwide pipeline for underrepresented animation talent. What began with five roles has expanded to nine positions across Canada, resulting in 47 documented career advancements. According to ACE Canada, 28 participants have moved directly into new roles, while 19 have advanced into supervisory positions. The program has also helped launch four women-led animation companies and produced multiple award-winning Canadian short films grounded in personal and authentic storytelling.

Netflix’s continued support—alongside partners including the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, Creative BC, Toon Boom Animation, and the Autodesk Technology Impact Program—has strengthened ACE Canada’s national and international footprint. The partnership has also reinforced industry confidence in the program’s role in addressing long-standing gender disparities in key creative animation roles.

Netflix and ACE Canada announce ACE Five animation accelerator.

For ACE 3 alumna Sunita Balsara, writer of the short film Ostinato, the program proved transformative. She said working on the film expanded how participants viewed themselves and their careers, while the project’s success on Netflix helped open doors and build confidence. Director Sonia Furier echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how rare and essential such collaborative, mentored opportunities are for women—particularly those balancing careers and motherhood.

Applications for ACE Five are now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 22, 2026, with shortlisted candidates to be announced in March.

ACE Canada Executive Director Rose-Ann Tisserand said the partnership with Netflix reflects measurable progress toward the organization’s mission. While more women than men enter animation training programs, she noted that systemic barriers often prevent them from advancing into leadership roles. “Our goal is simple,” Tisserand said. “Reignite those dreams and empower underrepresented voices to shape the future of Canadian animation.”

The Netflix partnership first took shape nationally with ACE 3, which produced Ostinato, now streaming on the platform. Attention is now turning to ACE 4’s upcoming short film Rocketship Mai, which will receive a private screening at MIFA in Annecy, France, in 2026. Inspired by writer Nattasha Shrestha’s personal experiences, the film follows a six-year-old girl racing against time to spend moments with her ailing father.

ACE Canada’s work is supported by a broad coalition of industry partners, including Netflix Canada, the National Film Board, Atomic Cartoons, WildBrain Studios, VIFF AMP, and numerous other organizations committed to fostering the next generation of animation storytellers.

As ACE Five prepares to launch, the program continues to position itself not just as a training initiative, but as a tangible pipeline for reshaping who gets to lead, create, and be heard in Canadian animation.