For the ESPECIARIAS CD released in 2000, ANIMA's line-up included Paulo Freire as guitarist and writer. Also contributing by researching Brazilian oral tradition, Paulo was with the group from 1999 through June 2001. For the ESPECIARIAS concert at Rock'n Rio in 2001, the director and actress Raquel Araújo generously did scenographic direction, and costumes were designed by Neide Fuser. Valeria Bittar researched images for the ESPECIARIAS CD booklet at the Rare Works section of the National Library in Rio de Janeiro. For this CD, the State of São Paulo Culture Secretariat named for ANIMA the 5th Carlos Gomes Award as best chamber music ensemble 2000. The ESPECIARIAS concert was taken on several tours in the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Colombia.