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THE ANIMATION SCENE Left: Floogals was a Jellyfish hit last year and a second series is on the way. Below: Jellyfish CEO Phil Dobree.
Inside The Studios there is a significant drop in funding of education and skills in the UK to plug this gap is very concerning. We can’t survive as an industry in the UK without the talent for which we have become world-renowned.” Larkshead Media’s confidence in the sector is best-illustrated by the fact the company was only founded last August. It is being run by former Nickelodeon UK vp and director of programming Tim Patterson. He says: “The UK animation sector enjoyed commercial and critical success in 2016 and looks in good shape, despite the Brexit and tax incentive challenges that the industry faces as we head into 2017. “Efficiencies have improved in terms of making great quality animation, so shows are becoming less expensive to make and this keeps broadcasters interested in buying and distributing shows. “We are very creative here in the UK. We have Inset: Lupus Films’ We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, based on the Michael Rosen book, published by Walker Books, was a big hit on TV over Christmas.
some of the best creative minds in the industry.” One of the companies helping to drive and grow the sector (as well as attract investment), is undoubtedly Islington-based Lupus Films. At Christmas it delivered We’re Going on a Bear Hunt for Channel 4 and Ethel and Ernest for the BBC, both of which were extremely well received. Lupus’ joint md Ruth Fielding comments: "2016 felt very buoyant. British brands were really cutting through and shining on the international arena and we’re confident this will only build in 2017.”
Jellyfish
Jellyfishpictures.co.uk Last year saw Jellyfish complete its first series of Floogals for NBC/Sprout and Zodiak Kids. Ratings were strong and it was nominated for an award at Kidscreen – a second series is already in production. It has been commissioned by Beano Studios to create the reinvented Dennis and Gnasher: Unleashed, to be broadcast on CBBC starting later this year (52 x 11 min episodes). It is also working on pre-school animated series, Bitz and Bob, to be shown on CBeebies (44 episodes)
Larkshead
Above: Former Nickelodeon UK vp Tim Patterson now heads up the recently launched Larkshead Media.
Larkshead.com Established last August by former Nickelodeon UK vp and director of programming Tim Patterson (alongside investment and advisory group Bob & Co), Larkshead is too new to have any screen credits just yet, but does have six projects in development, all TV shows aimed at children: Q Pootle 5, Ray of Hope, Dot and Dash, Planet Wrong, Tales from the Web and Alfi.
Lupus
Lupusfilms.com Lupus had a very happy Christmas in 2016. It’s handdrawn masterpiece, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while Ethel & Ernest, its first 2D animated feature film premiered on the BBC on 28 December. On the licensing front for Bear Hunt, a plush bear from Aurora has sold well while Walker Books (which owns the IP) is in active conversations with other licensees. A DVD and many other tie-ins are due this year and Lupus’ joint managing director Ruth Fielding believes “it’s going to compete with other evergreen brands in years to come”. The firm is currently developing “a raft of feature films” at the moment and hopes to get the first one “based on a classic piece of British literature”.
At Blue Zoo, Oli Hyatt, head of development, has equally unswerving faith in the talent at work within the UK, but, he also raises some concerns regarding commissioning. “A frustration many of us feel in animation is a lack of risk taking. When budgets get tight, everyone turns to what they know and we think 2017 will be no different; we LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2017
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