Leading animation production studio now 100% independently owned as it celebrates 40 years
Award-winning, creative-led animation production studio, A Productions, has returned to 100% independent ownership, as it marks its 40th year in business.
Katherine McQueen and Mark Taylor have reacquired the majority stake in A Productions. Katherine will assume the role of sole managing director at the end of this year, as Mark steps back from his joint MD position. He will remain an active shareholder and continue to offer his experience and insight in an advisory capacity. Mark founded A Productions – originally named A for Animation – in 1985, laying the foundations for the studio’s creative legacy.
“A Productions has a bright, secure and exciting future ahead. With our wonderfully talented team, we will continue to take pride in creating stand-out, beautifully-crafted, authentic content that inspires and delights our audiences. We will continue to focus on strengthening our creative vision, ensuring each show has its own unique voice, as well as embracing new opportunities, with some very special projects currently in negotiation. We have a robust pipeline and financial security in place to ensure that we are in a strong position to move forward.”
Katherine McQueen, Managing Director at A Productions
Katherine joined A Productions in 2002 and has been joint managing director since 2019.
A Productions makes iconic children’s content for TV and film for audiences in the UK and around the world, working with leading broadcasters and streamers including Disney, Netflix, Max (formerly HBO Max), CBeebies and CBBC, and Sky.
The studio, based in Bristol, UK, is also developing a strong portfolio of its own original content.
“We’ve witnessed extraordinary changes to the industry since those early days, but what hasn’t changed over four decades is the remarkable talent, passion and dedication of the A Productions team, with whom I’m so grateful to have worked alongside. As the studio begins a new chapter, now feels like the right time to step away from my joint MD role, but I will remain a shareholder and a lifelong supporter of the studio.”
Mark Taylor, Founder of A Productions
The A Productions team is currently working on My Friend Maisy, which stars the globally-loved characters from the bestselling Maisy books by Lucy Cousins and has been commissioned by Sky Kids. BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions and Trustbridge Entertainment are co-producing My Friend Maisy, with animation created by A Productions and Karrot.
Recently, A Productions was chosen as as the UK producer for The Underglow, a new 2D animated pre-school series all about inspiring curiosity and wonder in children, and was named one of the UK’s Best Places to Work in TV 2025 for the third time, whilst it has clocked up multiple award wins and nominations over the years for its shows.
