Jam Media, the Dublin-based animation company best known for their BAFTA success with ‘Roy’, has revealed plans for a new special effects facility in Belfast creating 40 new jobs.
Earlier this month Jam Media’s CEO John Rice was announced as one of the board members on the newly-appointed Irish Film Board, in a show of strength for the company’s influence and the Irish animation industry.
The 40 positions to be created will include high quality senior developers, graduate programmers, management positions and administrative staff.
Mr Rice said of the company’s new Belfast operation: ‘We are here for the long term and really looking forward to being part of the emerging creativity community in Northern Ireland. There is a huge amount of talent in the North and have been very impressed with the people and enthusiasm.
‘We have commenced recruitment and are excited about our investment plans here as we see Belfast as an integral part of our future growth.’
Jam Media won the BAFTA for Best Children’s Drama in 2012 for Roy – their series about a cartoon boy from Ballyfermot living in the real world - and the award for Producer of the year at the Cartoon Tribute Awards 2012 for their full slate of children’s programming including Tilly and Friends, Baby Jake and Funky Fables.
Invest Northern Ireland helped secure the 40 new jobs which are estimated to be worth over £1.4 million in salaries to the local economy annually. Northern Ireland Screen also provided loan assistance for the Belfast animation project.
Executive Minister Arlene Foster added: ‘This is a tremendous boost for the local animation sector and the wider creative industries arena. Jam Media is a highly acclaimed, BAFTA award winning company which has recognised the quality of talent available in Northern Ireland’s animation sector.’
Founded in 2002 by John Rice, Alan Shannon and Mark Cumberton, Jam Media have firmly established themselves as major players in the animation industry with their programmes now available in over 80 territories worldwide including Nick Junior and PBS Sprout.
