Dublin-based animation company, Brown Bag Films, have taken more than 2,800 sq ft of space for their UK animation studio at The Sharp Project, Manchester’s digital content production complex, in Newton Heath.
The twice Oscar nominated animation studio will initially have 40 staff based in their Manchester studio by January 2015.
The award-winning firm, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, have produced some of children’s most popular TV shows, viewed by millions worldwide, and include Doc McStuffins, Henry Hugglemonster, Peter Rabbit, Olivia, Noddy in Toyland and Octonauts.
Their most recent co-production with Acamar Films is Bing, a BAFTA nominated pre-school series for CBeebies, which premiered in June this year.
The Manchester studio will build on Brown Bag Films’ track record by implementing a long form 2D animation pipeline using Toon Boom Harmony and Storyboard Pro software throughout and expanding their current output of animation production to the North West of the UK.
Brown Bag Films CEO, Cathal Gaffney, said “As we celebrate our 20thyear in business this year, there is no better way to celebrate than by expanding and opening a new studio in Manchester. We are very excited to get back to our hand-drawn animation roots with this 2D studio and Manchester is such a brilliant and vibrant city with so much talent to offer. As we grow, we hope to have as many as 40 full time jobs in the new year.”
The company was founded in 1994 by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O’Connell; Brown Bag Films have worked with some of the world’s biggest entertainment names, including Disney, Nickelodeon, BBC, Chorion and Silvergate Media. As well as the Manchester studio, they have studios in Dublin and LA and employ over 160 people worldwide.
