Blue Zoo Animation Studio

British animation studio From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blue Zoo Animation Studio is a British animation studio known for producing children's television series, commercials and short films. Founded in 2000 by Oli Hyatt, Adam Shaw, and Tom Box from Bournemouth University,[1] the studio has gone on to win numerous BAFTAs and in 2021 won two Daytime Emmy awards. They have also previously won the Best Places to Work in TV survey by Broadcast and Best Companies Group.

Founded2000[1]
FoundersOli Hyatt
Adam Shaw
Tom Box
Headquarters
Quick facts Industry, Founded ...
Blue Zoo Animation Studio
IndustryAnimation
Television production
Advertising
Founded2000[1]
FoundersOli Hyatt
Adam Shaw
Tom Box
Headquarters
Subsidiaries
  • Brighton Zoo
  • Kazoo Animation
Websitewww.blue-zoo.co.uk
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Some of the more well-known children's shows the studio has produced are Alphablocks, Numberblocks, Digby Dragon, Miffy's Adventures Big and Small, The Adventures of Paddington, Tree Fu Tom, and It's Pony.

The company operates from a studio in Fitzrovia, London, where they have a team of over 200 artists. It later expanded to a second studio, adjacent to its main studio, that's 'dedicated to episodic 2D animation.'[2] In August 2021, it was announced that they would be opening a new hub in Brighton, initially partnering with Plug-In Media on a new 2D pre-school action comedy series.[3]

In 2021, the company became the first major animation studio in the world to achieve B Corp certification.[4]

History

In December 2009, Blue Zoo Animation Studio enterted the video platform service by partnering with young animator Junior Jesman and distributor Cake Entertainment to develop & produce an animated web series entitled If I Was... for French streaming network Dailymotion with Blue Zoo Animation Studio would provide & develop animation services while Cake Entertainment would distribute the series online.[5]

In April 2014, Blue Zoo Animation Studio was appointed by Dutch company Mercis BV when they announced a new reboot series that would bring the Miffy franchise into CGI for the first time with Blue Zoo would co-produce a new CGI animated series featuring its character Miffy alongside Mercis BV with Blue Zoo's writing team would handle scripts for the new series and would be completed for a 2015 release.[6]

In July 2019, Blue Zoo Animation Studio strengthen its position as a world-class production company with the expansion into the rights management & distribution activities by launching its rights division dedicated to its own and third-party IP named Blue Zoo Rights with Alison Warner heading the new rights division.[7]

In August 2021, Blue Zoo Animation Studios announced a partnership with Brighton-based producer Plug-In Media to establish a joint-venture regional animation production and interactive studio based in Brighton, South England that will handle animation production and interactive services for both production companies as Plug-In Media founders Dom Minns and Juliet Tzabar heading the new studio; the name for the Brighton-based animation studio was revealed to be Brighton Zoo one year later on October 2022 with their first animation production called Supertato.[8][9]

In 2022, Blue Zoo Animation Studio expanded into the French production business by partnering with Paris-based French animation production studio Samka Productions to launch a French animation studio & post-production company called Kazoo Animation.[10]

List of long form productions

Television

More information Title, Years ...
Title Years Network Notes
The Story Makers2002–2004CBeebiesAnimation services for Blue Cow segments only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Tikkabilla2002–2007Animation services for animated segments and Sami's World only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Those Scurvy Rascals2005–2006Nickelodeon UKco-production with Entara
Doodle Do2006CBeebiesAnimation for Sandworm segments only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Stitich Up Showdown2009Nickelodeon UK
Alphablocks2010–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
Olive the Ostrich[11]2011–2014Nick Jr. UK
Tree Fu Tom[12]2012–2016CBeebiesAnimation services only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production and FremantleMedia Kids & Family
Owned by Boat Rocker Media since 2018.
Q Pootle 52013–2014co-production with Snapper Productions and ZDF Enterprises
Miffy's Adventures Big and Small[6]2015–2017Tiny Pop[13]
KRO-NCRV (Netherlands)
co-production with Mercis BV and Telescreen
Go Jetters[14]2015–2020CBeebiesAnimation services from season 2 to season 3
co-production with BBC Studios and BBC Children's Productions
Digby Dragon[15]2016–2018Nick Jr. UK & Channel 5co-production with Aardman Animations
Mac & Izzy[16]2016YouTubeco-production with WGBH Boston and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Owned by HarperCollins since 2021.
Numberblocks[17][18]2017–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
The Adventures of Paddington2019–2025Nick Jr. UK
Gulli, M6 & Piwi+ (France)
Nickelodeon (international)
co-production with StudioCanal, Heyday Films and Superprod Animation
It's Pony[19][20]2020–2022Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon/Nicktoons (United States)
co-production with Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Pip and Posy[21][22]2021–presentSky Kids, 5 & Nick Jr. UKco-production with Magic Light Pictures
Millie & Lou2022YouTube
Big Tree City[23]2022Netflix
Supertato2022–presentCBeebies
Tencent Video (China)
under Brighton Zoo
co-production with BBC Studios Kids & Family
Lego City: No Limits[24][25]2023–presentITVX
YouTube
co-production with The Lego Group
Mojo Swoptops[26]2024–presentCBeebiesco-production with Tararaboom
Wonderblocks2025–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
Untitled Doctor Who spin-off2027–2029CBeebies[27][28][29]
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Television shorts

More information Title, Release date ...
Title Release date Broadcaster Notes
SuperwormDecember 25, 2021BBC Oneco-production with Magic Light Pictures
The Smeds and the Smoos2022
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List of awards and accolades

More information Year, Award ...
Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
2006 Children's BAFTA Animation Those Scurvy Rascals Nominated
2008 Children's BAFTA Short Form Stitch Up Showdown Nominated
2009 Children's BAFTA Short Form My Favourite Bedtime Story Nominated
2009 Children's BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Adam Shaw Won
2010 Children's BAFTA Learning - Primary Alphablocks Nominated
2010 Children's BAFTA Short Form My Favourite Bedtime Story Won
2012 Children's BAFTA Pre-School Animation Tree Fu Tom Nominated
2012 Children's BAFTA Independent Production Company Blue Zoo Animation Studio Won
2014 Children's BAFTA Short Form Gumball Song Nominated
2014 Children's BAFTA Independent Production Company Blue Zoo Animation Studio Nominated
2016 Children's BAFTA Independent Production Company Blue Zoo Animation Studio Nominated
2017 Children's BAFTA Learning Numberblocks Nominated
2017 Children's BAFTA Independent Production Company Blue Zoo Animation Studio Won
2018 BAFTA Films Short Film Mamoon Nominated
2019 Children's BAFTA Pre-School Animation Digby Dragon Nominated
2019 Children's BAFTA Pre-School Animation Numberblocks Won
2020 Annies Best TV/Media - Preschool The Adventures of Paddington Won
2020 Annies Best Voice Acting - TV/Media It's Pony Nominated
2020 Annies Best Production Design - TV/Media The Adventures of Paddington Nominated
2016 PromaxBDA UK Best Direct Response Promo Bitesize Won
2015 PromaxBDA UK Best Channel Identity Nick Jr Rebrand Won
2015 PromaxBDA UK Best Sponsorship Package LEGO Star Wars Rebels Won
2021 Emmy Award Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Series The Adventures of Paddington Won
2021 Emmy Award Outstanding Writing for a Pre-School Animated Program The Adventures of Paddington Won
2021 Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Pre-School Animated Program The Adventures of Paddington Nominated
2024 British Animation Awards Children's Choice Lego City: No Limits[30] Nominated
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References

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