Ireland – Animation Insider

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Kilkenny, Ireland-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon â€” the studio behind Oscar-nominated animated features The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea â€” and Canada-based animation studio Mercury Filmworks are partnering to create a new 2D-focused,Â Kilkenny-based animation studio to develop childrenâ€™s and family TV entertainment, for multiplatform global distribution.

Dubbed Lighthouse Studios, the joint venture will have its own not-yet-announced management team, reporting to a board of directors comprising executives from both Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon.

It plans to announce more information about its first development and production projects, as well as hiring details, in the coming weeks. The venture was revealed on Monday with support from Irelandâ€™s Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland and intends to create at least 140 jobs in the next three years.

Both partners also continue their own TV and film operations. Mercury Filmworksâ€™ projects have included Disneyâ€™s Tangled animated series, Mickey Mouse Shorts, Wander Over YonderÂ as well as the upcoming Netflix original series Hilda.

Read the entire article here.

Hasbro Acquires Boulder Media Animation Studio

Hasbro Expands TV and Feature Film Capabilities with Purchase of Irish Animation Studio

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that it has acquired Boulder Media, a multi-award winning Irish animation company based in Dublin. Boulder has produced a variety of award-winning series for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney and BBC. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Boulder will continue to produce animated series on behalf of third-party clients, in addition to producing animation projects for Hasbroâ€™s best-known brands. Terms of the transaction, which closed on July 13, 2016, were not disclosed.

â€œAt Hasbro, weâ€™re building our brands through storytelling, and today, weâ€™re telling richer stories across more platforms than ever before,â€ said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. â€œWe are also reinventing traditional modalities of animation production, both creatively and financially. With Boulder, we will deliver the highest quality animation that will engage our audiences with deep storytelling and great characters in a very cost-efficient manner.â€

Founded in 2000 by Robert Cullen, Boulder is one of the fastest growing animation studios in Ireland with approximately 150 full-time employees. Boulder will retain its brand and report into Stephen Davis who leads Hasbroâ€™s entertainment and consumer products licensing division. In February 2016, Hasbro was ranked No. 3 on Fast Companyâ€™s list of Most Innovative Companies in Hollywood.

â€œAs one of the largest independent studios producing animation in Hollywood, the time is right for Hasbro to acquire its own animation studio, allowing us to expand our animation and storytelling capabilities even further,â€ said Stephen Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Hasbro. â€œIn Boulder, we have found one of the most progressive, innovative and creative teams in the business. We are thrilled to partner with Rob Cullen, Pete Lewis, Jenni MacNeaney and the entire Boulder team as we significantly enhance the execution of our story-led Brand Blueprint strategy.â€

â€œBoulder and Hasbro have ambitious plans for growth, and working together, we will substantially expand our team and our business,â€ said Robert Cullen, Creative Director, Boulder. â€œWeâ€™re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring to life the Hasbro stories and characters that mean so much to our team, and join a company thatâ€™s emerging as an entertainment powerhouse.â€

About Hasbro

HasbroÂ (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences by leveraging its beloved brands, including LITTLEST PET SHOP, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MONOPOLY, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, PLAY-DOH and TRANSFORMERS, and premier partner brands. From toys and games, television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and consumer product licensing, Hasbro fulfills the fundamental need for play and connection with children and families around the world. The Company’s Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, create entertainment brand-driven storytelling across mediums, including television, film, digital and more. Through the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families. Learn more atÂ www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@HasbroÂ &Â @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

About Hasbro Studios and Allspark Pictures

Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment, brand-driven storytelling for Hasbro across television, commercial productions and short-form content. It develops, produces and distributes content based on Hasbroâ€™s world class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, and LITTLEST PET SHOP. Many of its series air on Discovery Family Channel and on networks and digital platforms in more than 190 territories globally. Since its formation in 2009, the studio has received ten Daytime Emmy wins.

On the film side through its film label Allspark Pictures, the Company has developed and produced a number of features based on Hasbroâ€™s brands. Films in development or planned for release include OUIJA 2 (Universal), MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (Lionsgate), MAGIC: THE GATHERING (21st Century Fox), PLAY-DOH (21st Century Fox), TRANSFORMERS 5, 6 and 7 (Paramount) and the Cinematic Universe (Paramount) which includes GI JOE, MICRONAUTS, M.A.S.K, ROM and VISIONARIES.

About Boulder Media

Boulder Media is a multi-award winning Irish animation company based in Dublin. One of Irelandâ€™s largest animation studios, it has produced many great shows for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, BBC and Disney, including Wander Over Yonder for Disney, and Go Jetters and Danger Mouse for BBC. Learn more atwww.bouldermedia.tv/.