Check out which Animation UK members are winning awards, growing their business, taking on new staff or winning new commissions…
8 July 2020
#PowerYourBreakthrough is a content series hosted by creative professionals working in animation, motion design, filmmaking, photography, graphic design, and illustration.
7 July 2020
With demand growing for Bing across the world, Acamar Films is facilitating its progress by creating a dedicated UK team and strengthening key global roles.
1 July 2020
Finalists received 1-to-1 virtual masterclasses from the likes of Konnie Huq, Reggie Yates, Jessica Hynes, Rob Delaney, BBC Children’s Cheryl Taylor, Harry Hill, Matthew Lewis, Amelia Dimoldenberg and Robert Popper.
24 June 2020
The independent production company has has optioned the rights to the much-loved book written and illustrated by award-winning Alex T. Smith, with Rob Minkoff attached as Director/Producer.
23 June 2020
Aardman reveal details on highly anticipated Chicken Run sequel – and This Time, They’re Breaking In!
A delegation of over 30 studios, producers and distributors from Animation UK are attending the Annecy this year, with the UK presence supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding.
22 June 2020
Among the winners were Turtle Journey by Aardman Animation (in collaboration with Greenpeace), and The Tiger Who Came to Tea produced by Lupus Films.
17 June 2020
New research from Oxford Economics projects a combined revenue drop of £74 billion for the UK’s creative industries in 2020 (£1.4 billion a week), with a GVA drop of £29 billion, and 406,0001 (1 in 5) creative jobs expected to be lost.
16 June 2020
Aardman, the independent UK animation studio, has announced the promotions of Alison Taylor to Director of Distribution and Business Development and Rob Goodchild to Commercial Director.
11 June 2020
The Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) announce that Professor Lyndsay Duthie has been appointed as its new CEO.
4 June 2020
The nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and the British Academy Television Craft Awards 2020 have been announced.
27 May 2020
The move is the company’s next stage of development after opening a large virtual VFX and animation studio at the end of 2019.
22 May 2020
Option secured by the independent production house Kelebek Media to create a 2D animated series featuring Harriet Muncaster’s beloved characters.
18 May 2020
The online community providing mental health support has been launched as the Film and TV Charity set about enhancing mental health plan for the industry amid the COVID-19 crisis.
14 May 2020
This month our spotlight is on Locksmith Animation as we're talking to Sarah Smith, co-founder of the acclaimed Locksmith Animation studio, the UK’s premiere high-end CG feature animation studio who use their craft to tell unique, original stories, that delight and entertain.
13 May 2020
BFI launches ‘See Yourself on Screen Challenge’, calling on 4-18 year olds to make their own mini-TV show whilst in lock-down.
Consultations on draft production and post-production protocols have commenced to ensure film and high-end TV production can restart as soon as it is safe to do so.
6 May 2020
The Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF) supports the creation of distinctive, high-quality content for audiences up to the age of 18.
30 April 2020
Eton Animation Studio Salamandra.uk has been nominated for award in Cardiff Animation Festival.
16 April 2020
The Festival has received more than 3,000 films, all categories together, from 94 countries (the most represented are: France, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, China, and South Korea)
9 April 2020
Independent production company Acamar Films has launched a multi-territory campaign to provide fun and engaging activities for families with young children who are currently staying at home together.
8 April 2020
The Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, in partnership with BFI, is now live, providing one-off grants from £500 to £2,500 to people behind the scenes in UK film, TV and cinema who have been hardest hit by COVID-19.
7 April 2020
The Edinburgh TV Festival, set to be re-imagined online for 2020, announces a series of initiatives to support and connect the TV industry amidst the covid-19 pandemic.
3 April 2020
The 2020 Children's Media Conference has become 'The Children's Media Community', with the updated theme of ‘Still Here Right Now’, running regular online content leading up to a virtual conference in July.
31 March 2020
Magic Light Pictures’ animated festive special Zog has scooped the International Emmy in the Kids Awards Best Animation category at this year’s International Emmy® Kids Awards.
30 March 2020
Neil Hatton, CEO of UK Screen Alliance, the trade body for post, VFX and animation, encourages producers and commissioners to keep the work flowing as companies innovate to be safely open for business during the Covid-19 outbreak.
24 March 2020
The BFI and The Film and TV Charity have partnered to create a new industry-backed Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund to help support the creative community, which like many industries, has been devastated by the pandemic.
23 March 2020
UK Screen Alliance is one of the 34 key trade body signatories who have joined together in an open letter to the Chancellor, calling for help for the freelancer workforce.
20 March 2020
The law firm focusing exclusively on media, technology and intellectual property, has advice to offer clients on the employment law implications of COVID-19, and points of notice for Film and TV businesses.
19 March 2020
In the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, the Home Office picks its moment to quietly announce its fourth consultation on immigration in less than 2 years
18 March 2020
The partnership marks the first joint co-production between ViacomCBS and Sky.
The winners were revealed by writer and comedian Paul Merton and were streamed live to nominees and viewers at home, via the RTS website.
17 March 2020
Our sector will be seriously affected by the almost total sudden stop of global film and TV production. It will need Government support to get through the coming months and a jump-start once the difficulties are over. We were the fastest growing sector after the 2008 crash, so there's every reason we can do that again once the current crisis passes.
13 March 2020
Lupus Films, Blue-Zoo, and Magic Light Pictures were among the prestigious winners of this year's awards, as well as Aardman Animations who took home four awards on the night.
10 March 2020
Director Darren Dubicki from Aardman Animations discusses some of his career highlights and recent successes with Little Black Book.
7 March 2020
Created by Jason Jameson and executive producer Keith Chapman, working with Unanico Studios in association with Shanghai Motion Magic, GCI Film, FroG-Land Productions and Spider Eye Studios.
4 March 2020
In this month's Spotlight feature, UK Screen Alliance talks to Ian Mackinnon, co-founder of the widely-acclaimed Mackinnon and Saunders, specialists in Character design, puppet build and animation production for television, features and commercials.
2 March 2020
Acamar Films has announced they have signed Redan Publishing for a new monthly Bing Magazine, to follow the Kennedy one-shot magazine.
26 February 2020
New studio opens following the ongoing development of Northern team having outgrown previous location after nine months.
24 February 2020
Acamar films signs new partnership with Gulliver's Land and renews Cbeebies Land Alton Towers partnership.
19 February 2020
Aardman has announced that Shaun and the Flock will return for a brand new series causing more mayhem in 20 x 7’ new episodes, Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom.
This morning (19/02/2020) the UK Government has published a policy statement on its proposed Point’s Based Immigration system for skilled workers to be introduced by January 1st 2021.
18 February 2020
Almost 87% of people in working in the UK’s film, TV and cinema industries have experienced a mental health problem, according to a major study commissioned.
17 February 2020
The VFX & feature animation studio has been recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing companies in the annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Zog and The Snail and the Whale, vie for honours for Best Long Form.
13 February 2020
Following another successful programme in 2019, AWUK launches The Helen North Achieve Programme for a fourth year to continue to provide targeted career development to women across the VFX and animation industries.
12 February 2020
The winners for the 2020 Kidscreen Awards were announced last night at the Kidscreen Summit in Miami, Florida.
One of the night’s biggest winners, 1917, benefitted from creative industry tax reliefs thanks to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
10 February 2020
Kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has secured a global deal on behalf of Fresh TV with Cartoon Network and Boomerang for the new long form CGI animated series Lucas the Spider.
6 February 2020
Aardman has today announced a Shaun the Sheep seasonal special, which will premiere on BBC One in the UK, and Netflix in the US, Latin America, Spain, CIS, and Greece in late 2021.
Film and television series animation company Lupus Films is joining forces with Rockpool Licensing to bring Brambly Hedge series to a new audience.
4 February 2020
Lupus films are set to work alongside Melusine Productions & Uli Meyer Studios to produce the new animated feature film, featuring the voice of Matt Lucas in the title role.
3 February 2020
Technicolor’s MPC win BAFTA for Special Visual Effects for 1917 at the EE British Academy Film Awards.
31 January 2020
First comprehensive report on immersive experience production reveals urgent need to develop UK’s talent pipeline.
Scotland’s premier animation festival returns to Edinburgh for a 4th year with stellar line up from Disney Animation, to Industrial Light and Magic.
29 January 2020
CAKE has announced the UK premiere of award-winning stop motion preschool series Kiri and Lou.
28 January 2020
UK Screen Alliance CEO Neil Hatton weighs in on the Migration Advisory Committee's newly released report on a points-based immigration system and salary thresholds, and how the booming VFX industry may be affected.
27 January 2020
Kong Studio creates playful and fluid animated spot to reflect the company's new brand identity.
Production company Lupus Films collaborated with the UK skills charity ScreenSkills to create the educational resource, based on Judith Kerr’s beloved story.
The 47th Annie Awards announced their 2020 winners in California, Los Angeles, on the 25th of January.
23 January 2020
Animation studio Salamandra's CEO Christine Mackay is listed in the UK’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs
15 January 2020
Aardman and Greenpeace have launched a powerful new animated film to highlight the plight of the world’s oceans.
14 January 2020
The Camden-based independent production company reflects on a successful 2019; from a new series launch, to a number of new additions to the senior team.
17 December 2019
The 92nd Oscars® Shortlists in nine Awards have been announced, with categories 'Animated Short Film' and 'Visual Effects' among them.
16 December 2019
Cinesite announced today it has secured investment from Gryphion Capital Investments along with new banking facilities from Barclays and NatWest which amount to US$112m
12 December 2019
The new studio in Brixton bolsters Jellyfish Pictures’ capacity to 350 increasing staff numbers by 40%.
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has signed a deal with CITV in the UK for TeamTO’s maverick slapstick comedy Mighty Mike.
With the theme ‘Right Here Right Now’, the Children's Media Conference in 2020 will run from 7-9 July in Sheffield
11 December 2019
This month Axis Studios’ Director & Creative Head of Development Stephen Donnelly discusses his career journey, creative process and the company’s development of original IP.
10 December 2019
Channel 4 to air animated Christmas special of Judith Kerr’s children’s classic produced by Lupus Films on Christmas Eve.
Winners to be revealed at a gala event on February 11 during Kidscreen Summit 2020 in Miami, Florida.
6 December 2019
The music video for Christmas single 'Let's Not Go Away' by Scouting For Girls, has first-time director Katie Gascoyne taking the reins in Blue Zoo’s innovative shorts programme.
2 December 2019
Kate Winslet Narrates This Must-See Festival Special, animated by Lupus Films, coming to screens this Christmas.
28 November 2019
Howard Jones is among the prestigious recipients of The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) craft award winners for 2019.
26 November 2019
Aardman has announced its new animated holiday special, Robin Robin, coming to Netflix in 2020.
Following the successful debut of Bing in cinemas last year, Acamar Films have developed a new feature-length cinema experience, “Bing’s Christmas”, which will run exclusively in 105 cinemas across the UK from Friday 29th November.
20 November 2019
Ben Whishaw returns in the title role of the series, set to air in March 2020 on Nick Jr., with a brand-new theme song “Paddington Bear” written and performed by Gary Barlow.
15 November 2019
Aardman has announced its music video for Coldplay’s forthcoming album track, ‘Daddy’, with the release of a teaser across social media.
13 November 2019
New PixStor secure multi-tenancy capabilities allow leading VFX and animation house to meet exacting security standards whilst delivering collaborative workflows.
12 November 2019
Multi Oscar-nominated and Bafta Award-winning production company Magic Light Pictures has announced an animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s book, 'Zog And The Flying Doctors', is set to premiere on BBC One for Christmas 2020.
UK GDP monthly estimate reveals screen industry key in supporting the economy and preventing a recession.
11 November 2019
Axis Studios announced the appointment of David Townsend as new Head of Business Development.
5 November 2019
The animated spot is Kong Studio’s third Collaboration with IMAX for the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
1 November 2019
Dedicated feature CG Animation Studio Locksmith Animation has signed a multi-picture deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.
30 October 2019
The event, free for attendees and tailored for animation and kids’ content TV/digital production communities, distributors and media freelancers, was an opportunity for a range of industry experts to present invaluable information on how the sector can prepare for various Brexit outcomes.
29 October 2019
A consortium of industry bodies representing key stakeholders and employers in the creative industries have issued a 10-point manifesto outlining statements of intent.
24 October 2019
The British Animation Awards (a.k.a. the BAAs), has announced the categories for its 2020 awards. One of UK animation’s landmark events, this will be the 13th awards to be held since their introduction in 1996.
14 October 2019
The shortlist for the 2019 Europe shots Awards has been announced, with a plethora of talented companies and individuals shortlisted for this year's Euro-centric award show.
10 October 2019
At MIPCOM this year, leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE, has announced it will be bringing new Netflix Original Legend Quest.
7 October 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE and Amsterdam-based The Dreamchaser Company have teamed up to develop a brand new Woozle & Pip animated series.
5 October 2019
Animation industry representatives from Animation UK members Aardman Animations, Blue-Zoo, Magic Light Pictures, and Acamar Films, joined the panel at Brand Licensing Europe for an insightful discussion on storytelling.
4 October 2019
The popular pre-school series is to be refreshed for a new generation of fans.
3 October 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE, has signed a number of deals for ground-breaking pre-school animated series Pablo.
2 October 2019
The 25th Edition of the Film Festival Hosted the Awards Ceremony at Colston Hall in Bristol.
24 September 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE, has announced the international launch of CBeebies’ hit series Biggleton at MIPCOM.
Animation UK Executive Chair Kate O'Connor gives an update on the fund in relation to submissions from the animation sector.
19 September 2019
Aardman announced today the successor to David Sproxton, who is stepping back from the MD role after 43 years at the helm of the studio.
16 September 2019
The hugely popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering goes viral with cinematic trailer developed in partnership with Axis Studios.
14 September 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE, France’s La Cabane and Belgium’s Thuristar have announced the launch of CGI series Mush-Mush & the Mushables, set to launch with two new episodes at MIPCOM.
13 September 2019
Acamar Films has signed a significant new content deal with the BBC for a new series of their award-winning pre-school property, Bing.
10 September 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has announced that Total Dramarama, the prequel to the original Total Drama series, will roll out in multiple territories this year.
9 September 2019
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has opened entries for the British Academy Games Awards, with a series of new categories including 'Animation'.
5 September 2019
‘Inclusion and diversity’ study results published today reveal positive industry gains and highlight areas of future focus.
20 August 2019
Axis Studios recognised in sixth edition of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report.
15 August 2019
Over 150 key figures from across the creative industries and beyond have signed a letter urging government to recognise the value of creative education.
Caspar Lee & Snoochie Shy kick off new video series highlighting our shared love of creative content and the true cost of piracy Creative industries initiative encouraging fans to value the creative process and to access content legally
7 August 2019
HM Treasury has revealed new figures on how much Britain's Film, High-end TV, and Animation sectors have benefited from government tax reliefs.
For this month's Spotlight feature, we talk to Jamie Badminton, co-founder of Karrot Animation, the BAFTA & Emmy award-winning entertainment company specialising in the creation, development and production of children’s and family entertainment.
6 August 2019
We welcome our newest Animation UK members Kong Studio to the fold as Bill Elliott, Co-founder of Kong Studio, introduces the East London-based animation and illustration studio and what they're all about.
Animation UK are delighted to report that the BFI has today announced their new Short Form Animation Fund, offering support for higher-budget animated work from teams based in the UK.
5 August 2019
Of the nine AHRC funded programmes to support Creative Clusters across the UK last year, Animation UK formally supported the successful Yorkshire and Humber Screen Industries bid, XR Stories.
29 July 2019
Award-winning animation specialist production company Lupus Films have announced the stellar voice cast for Channel 4, Lupus Films and HarperCollins’ The Tiger Who Came to Tea which is set to air this Christmas.
16 July 2019
The renovated 195 Piccadilly headquarters for BAFTA will open in summer 2021 with doubled capacity to support charitable work and emerging talent.
12 July 2019
The move comes as part of eOne's planned expansion of non-scripted business to bolster the company's position in the UK.
11 July 2019
There is very little data about ethnicity, disability, or social mobility in VFX, animation or post production. To understand the impact of any new initiatives we will need credible statistics so we have launched a new survey.
3 July 2019
Regulatory body Ofcom has published their updated repsonse to the commerical PSBs' plans to iprove children's television content.
2 July 2019
Plans for the Animation Skills Fund will be discussed at the Children's Media Conference in Sheffield on Thursday the 4th of July.
CAKE has announced a deal with ABC in Australia for 52 episodes of preschool series Kiri and Lou.
Award-winning animation company Blue Zoo launches new brand rights company and hires Alison Warner as Managing Director.
11 June 2019
Salamandra, a creative visual problem-solver with studios in Eton and St Andrews, is celebrating its fifth birthday and looking back on it's many animation and design successes over the past five years.
The first ever UK Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board (CITIB) strategy has been published today, pledging to boost creative industries goods and service exports by 50 per cent by 2023.
6 June 2019
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has unveiled brand new character designs ahead of its much-anticipated Angry Birds series.
3 June 2019
BAFTA and multi-award winning VFX and animation studio, Jellyfish Pictures, has announced the opening of a new virtual animation facility in Sheffield.
24 May 2019
Aardman has partnered with global retailer Animation Toolkit, to create a bespoke 'Armature Kit' aimed at supporting stop-motion animation enthusiasts and students with the process of creating puppets for film, and the small screen.
21 May 2019
Axis Studios, the leading animation and visual effects studio behind the recent Netflix series 'Happy' and 'Love, Death and Robots - Helping Hand', has announced the appointment of Tracey la Cour as Head of Communications.
14 May 2019
Non-Executive Director of ACCESS: VFX Amy Smith sheds some light on the cross-company initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the VFX & animation industries.
2 May 2019
Ten parents and carers have successfully completed paid placements within the Post Production and VFX sector as part of ScreenSkills Return To Work Scheme in association with Film London, concluded today with a networking lunch in partnership with UK Screen Alliance.
30 April 2019
Lupus Films today announced that, in partnership with Universal Content Group, it is in development with a new animated feature film based on the life and work of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, with award-winning filmmaker Paloma Baeza on board as director.
26 April 2019
Wallace & Gromit and hit drama Peaky Blinders will be part of Ambitious new projects by industry leaders in immersive entertainment putting fans in the thick of the action to be part of modern Industrial Strategy in action to ensure home-grown talent remains world-leading for the next generation.
8 April 2019
UK Screen Alliance talked to Director of UK operations at Brown Bag, Sarah McQuire, who gave an insight into the company's growth, some of her personal favourite achievements, and what’s on the horizon.
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE and TT Productions have announced their partnership on brand new CGI action comedy Treasure Trekkers, a 52 x 11 minute series launching at MIPTV with five episodes.
31 March 2019
The hunt for the next big thing in radio and young people’s television has begun, as applications opened today for a share of a Government financed £60 million fund set up to provide a boost to the UK’s Radio and Television sector.
19 February 2019
The 38 date tour will feature live orchestral accompaniment from a professional orchestra drawn from members of the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic orchestras among others.
14 February 2019
The famous Peruvian bear is set to feature in new television series for pre-school audiences around the world, brought to life by London animation studio Blue Zoo.
7 February 2019
The voice cast for the animated feature Kensuke's Kingdom to be directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry from a script written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce has been announced, with main animation production taking place at Lupus Films.
5 February 2019
Oscar nominated Magic Light Pictures has announced a raft of sales for its Christmas 2018 half hour animated special Zog to major broadcasters across Europe and in Australia and Japan.
17 January 2019
Magic Light Pictures makes imaginative entertainment for audiences, families and children worldwide, Oscar nominated and responsible for creating content beloved worldwide, the BAFTA award winning company specialises in family entertainment and brands, managing production, distribution, licensing and marketing,
16 November 2018
Animation UK has published a skills analysis of the UK Animation industry, which highlights skills gaps and workforce shortages in the sector.
10 November 2018
Peter Lord and David Sproxton of Aardman announced they are preparing for the company's long-term future success by transferring the company into Employee Ownership.
6 November 2018
New boost to showcase ‘best of British’ creativity abroad with Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board consisting of representatives from across the sector including Animation UK.
1 November 2018
Ian Liddell of Manchester-based Animation studio, Studio Liddell gives his thoughts and insights into Immersive storytelling skills, and partnership with Immotion Group.
21 October 2018
As active and early supporters for introduction of a new Contestable Fund, Animation UK argued strenuously and with strong evidence for a focus on children and young adults, including new first run UK orientated animation content.
9 October 2018
Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated production company, has been providing festive family treats to BBC One for over a decade. This Christmas it’s bringing much-loved children’s picture book Zog to BBC One.
8 October 2018
The BFI has released important new research today demonstrating the positive impact of tax reliefs on production across the Screen Industries.
23 September 2018
Kieran Argo has been working in animation for over 25 years. In recent years Kieran has been responsible for delivering a number of professional development events including the Encounters Producers Courses and a number of training events for the Random Acts (Channel Four/Arts Council England) film-makers in the South West of England.
6 February 2018
From day one, Animation UK has picked up the baton and worked with key partners to promote the need for funds to support development and production of short animated films and content.
Always part of our mission, shaping skills has become one of increasing concern; issues surrounding mobility of labour has brought this into sharp relief.
If 2018 wasn’t already shaping up to be the year of animation, ‘Anim-18’ will celebrate the genre in the UK and provide a reminder of what our fantastic, iconic and world-beating sector has to offer.
As we move into our second year we will be re-examining governance in the light of our expanding membership and looking at how we can build our reach and get more people involved.
It almost goes without saying, that plans and decisions regarding Brexit over the next year will critically impact on our sector.
5 February 2018
Animation UK was launched at a reception at 10 Downing Street in December 2016. The first Animation UK Council in its new guise met in January 2017 and since then, it’s been quite a year.
