Sugar Animation Studios Names Cleto Acosta-McKillop Director of 2D Animated Special Production Chipa
Sugar news February 25, 2026
Independent studio Sugar Animation has appointed filmmaker Cleto Acosta-McKillop to direct its upcoming half-hour 2D animated special, Chipa, now in production.
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The project marks a significant milestone for the growing studio, which has steadily expanded its development slate over the past several years. With development now complete and animation officially underway, the special represents Sugar’s most ambitious in-house production to date.
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Entirely hand-drawn, Chipa is a fantasy slice-of-life story carried by the soul and purity of traditional animation. At a time when much of the industry leans toward CG-driven pipelines, Sugar is embracing the textured warmth and expressive qualities that define the craft’s roots.
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The appointment formalizes a long-standing creative partnership. Cleto has played an integral role in Sugar’s development slate and studio growth, helping shape its original storytelling direction in recent years. He also wrote the original story and will guide the production through animation and post, leading a close-knit team of artists as the film continues to take shape. The half-hour special is described as a heartwarming, slice-of-life adventure. Specific story details remain under wraps.
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For Sugar Animation, the move signals more than just a new film. It reflects the confidence of an independent studio scaling thoughtfully while maintaining a distinct creative identity.
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“This film is my love letter to Paraguay,” Cleto said. “2D animation all the way, baby. There’s something about it that, in my eyes, really shows the hard work, the craft, and the humans behind the paper.”
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While release details will be announced at a later date, production is fully underway, with character animation currently in progress.
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For a studio operating outside the major animation system, Chipa stands as a reminder of what focused vision and a committed team can accomplish.
