Award-winning animation studio Brown Bag Films have announced the launch of a 2D animation studio in Manchester. Initially employing 40 staff, the new studio will extend the studio’s production and creative capability.
The announcement was made by Cathal Gaffney at the Manimation Festival in MediaCityUK, Manchester where he delivered the keynote address.
Brown Bag Films CEO, Cathal Gaffney, said: ‘As we celebrate our 20th year 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.’
Celebrating twenty years in business in 2014, Brown Bag Films employs over 160 full time staff from their studios in Dublin and Los Angeles. Brown Bag Films are currently in production on a second season of ‘Peter Rabbit’ and a fourth season of ‘Octonauts’ for Silvergate, as well as new seasons of ‘Doc McStuffins’ and ‘Henry Hugglemonster’ for Disney Jr.
Brown Bag Films’ latest co-production with Acamar Films, Bing, premiered on CBeebies in June 2014 and has been nominated for a BAFTA in Best Pre-school Animation.
Sarah McQuire, newly appointed Studio Manager of Brown Bag Films UK said: ‘To be part of the creation of a new, vivacious studio is a very exciting venture. The studio opening has created a number of roles for people within the Animation Industry and to be involved from the beginning is an opportunity not to be missed.’
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.
Robert Chandler, Executive Producer, UK, for Brown Bag Films, said: ‘The new studio will be producing and developing material for all ages of children, including pre-school and older age groups. We’ll be equipped to handle all kinds of 2D animation, from cut-out to traditional.’
Brown Bag Films' new animation studio is opening at The Sharp Project, Manchester, in November, 2014.
