SA animation studio Triggerfish to open office in Ireland

Triggerfish, the SA animation studio behind Netflix’s first Original animated TV series from Africa, plans to open its first international studio in Galway, Ireland.

The company, which was founded in 1996, said in a statement last week that the project is supported by the Irish government through investment agency IDA Ireland, is expected to create 60 new jobs over the next three years.

Triggerfish animated the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation Revolting Rhymes and is currently producing their third feature film, Seal Team, and Netflix’s first African animated TV series, Mama K’s Team 4.

SA animation studio Triggerfish will open an office in Galway, Ireland

The studio’s first two features, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba, are among the five highest-grossing South African feature films of all time, with nine million cinema tickets sold globally. This saw Triggerfish named overall Business of the Year in South Africa’s Western Cape province in 2015 — a first for an animation company (see this story).

Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest said to keep up with demand, the company began outsourcing work to Irish animators last year and were quickly won over by both the quality of the work and the dedication to the craft by the animators there.

Studio producer Andy Wonnacott, who will head up the Galway branch, said the location “ticked all the boxes” for a European base as it has a similar time zone to South Africa, is very well connected and offers significant business support.

“For us personally, Ireland is our second home, so it will be good to be back with family and friends,” he said.

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys said she was delighted to see that Triggerfish have chosen to establish their first international studio in Ireland.

Triggerfish was founded by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye. Forrest and James Middleton later bought the two founders out.

Read more: Triggerfish Animation Studios named Western Cape Business of the Year

Featured image: Screen image from Triggerfish’s ‘Revolting Rhymes’ (Supplied)