Blue Zoo Animation Studio

Last updated
Blue Zoo Animation Studio
Industry Animation
Television production
Advertising
Founded2000 [1]
FoundersOli Hyatt
Adam Shaw
Tom Box
Headquarters
London, England
Website www.blue-zoo.co.uk

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.

Contents

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 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. [5] [6]

List of long form productions

Television

TitleYearsNetworkNotes
The Story Makers 2002–2004 CBeebies Animation servies for Blue Cow segments only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Tikkabilla 2002–2007Animation services for animated segments and Sami's World only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Those Scurvy Rascals 2005–2006 Nickelodeon UK co-production with Entara
Doodle Do 2006CBeebiesAnimation for Sandworm segments only
produced by BBC In-House Children's Production
Kerwhizz [7] 2008–2011co-production with BBC In-House Children's Production and Studio 100
Stitich Up Showdown2009Nickelodeon UK
Alphablocks 2010–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
Olive the Ostrich [8] 2011–2014 Nick Jr. UK
Tree Fu Tom [9] 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 5 2013–2014co-production with Snapper Productions and ZDF Enterprises
Miffy's Adventures Big and Small [10] 2015–2017 Tiny Pop [11]
KRO-NCRV (Netherlands)		co-production with Mercis BV and Telescreen
Go Jetters [12] 2015–2020CBeebiesAnimation services from season 2 to season 3
co-production with BBC Studios and BBC Children's Productions
Digby Dragon [13] 2016–2018Nick Jr. UK & Channel 5 co-production with Aardman Animations
Mac & Izzy [14] 2016 YouTube co-production with WGBH Boston and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Owned by HarperCollins since 2021.
Numberblocks [15] [16] 2017–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
The Adventures of Paddington 2019–2025 Nick Jr. UK
Gulli, M6 & Piwi+ (France)
Nickelodeon (international)		co-production with StudioCanal, Heyday Films and Superprod Animation
It's Pony [17] [18] 2020–2022Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon/Nicktoons (United States)		co-production with Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Pip and Posy [19] [20] 2021–present Sky Kids, 5 & Nick Jr. UKco-production with Magic Light Pictures
Millie & Lou2022YouTube
Big Tree City [21] 2022 Netflix
Supertato2022–presentCBeebies
Tencent Video (China)		under Brighton Zoo
co-production with BBC Studios Kids & Family
Lego City: No Limits [22] [23] 2023–present ITVX
YouTube		co-production with The Lego Group
Mojo Swoptops [24] 2024–presentCBeebiesco-production with Tararaboom
Wonderblocks 2025–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD

Television shorts

TitleRelease dateBroadcasterNotes
Superworm December 25, 2021 BBC One co-production with Magic Light Pictures
The Smeds and the Smoos2022

List of awards and accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2006 Children's BAFTA Animation Those Scurvy Rascals Nominated
2008Children's BAFTAShort FormStitch Up ShowdownNominated
2009Children's BAFTAShort FormMy Favourite Bedtime StoryNominated
2009Children's BAFTABreakthrough TalentAdam ShawWon
2010Children's BAFTALearning - PrimaryAlphablocksNominated
2010Children's BAFTAShort FormMy Favourite Bedtime StoryWon
2012Children's BAFTAPre-School Animation Tree Fu Tom Nominated
2012Children's BAFTAIndependent Production CompanyBlue Zoo Animation StudioWon
2014Children's BAFTAShort FormGumball SongNominated
2014Children's BAFTAIndependent Production CompanyBlue Zoo Animation StudioNominated
2016Children's BAFTAIndependent Production CompanyBlue Zoo Animation StudioNominated
2017Children's BAFTALearning Numberblocks Nominated
2017Children's BAFTAIndependent Production CompanyBlue Zoo Animation StudioWon
2018 BAFTA Films Short FilmMamoonNominated
2019Children's BAFTAPre-School Animation Digby Dragon Nominated
2019Children's BAFTAPre-School AnimationNumberblocksWon
2020 Annies Best TV/Media - Preschool The Adventures of Paddington Won
2020AnniesBest Voice Acting - TV/Media It's Pony Nominated
2020AnniesBest Production Design - TV/MediaThe Adventures of PaddingtonNominated
2016 PromaxBDA UK Best Direct Response PromoBitesizeWon
2015PromaxBDA UKBest Channel IdentityNick Jr RebrandWon
2015PromaxBDA UKBest Sponsorship PackageLEGO Star Wars RebelsWon
2021 Emmy Award Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Series The Adventures of PaddingtonWon
2021Emmy AwardOutstanding Writing for a Pre-School Animated ProgramThe Adventures of PaddingtonWon
2021Emmy AwardOutstanding Directing for a Pre-School Animated ProgramThe Adventures of PaddingtonNominated
2024British Animation AwardsChildren's ChoiceLego City: No Limits [25] Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Growth capital: Blue Zoo are a trio who got animated about a venture into cartoons". Evening Standard . 13 May 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  2. ↑ Wolfe, Jennifer (2018-12-19). "'Blue Zoo Opens New 2D Animation Studio in London". Animation World Network . Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  3. ↑ "Blue Zoo and Plug-In Media partner on new studio" . Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. ↑ televisual.com (2021-09-29). "Blue Zoo gets B Corp status". Televisual. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  5. ↑ Miligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Blue Zoo & Plug-In Media Join Forces as Regional Creative Powerhouse". Animation Magazine.
  6. ↑ Miligan, Mercedes (October 24, 2022). "Blue Zoo & Plug-In Media Launch Regional Studio Brighton Zoo". Animation Magazine.
  7. ↑ Castlemann, Lana (April 14, 2009). "Studio 100 snags another CBeebies deal". Kidscreen.
  8. ↑ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (February 10, 2011). "UK students tapped to illustrate new TV series". Kidscreen.
  9. ↑ "CBeebies Commissions 'Tree Fu Tom' Series". Animation Magazine. April 4, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Miffy gets CGI reboot". C21Media. April 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ Franks, Nico (August 20, 2015). "UK network adds Miffy toon". C21Media.
  12. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (June 9, 2015). "CBeebies Commissions 'Go Jetters'". Animation Magazine.
  13. ↑ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (October 8, 2013). "UK creatives give life to Digby Dragon". Kidscreen.
  14. ↑ Whyte, Alexandra (November 18, 2016). "YouTube Kids bows HMH original". Kidscreen.
  15. ↑ "CBeebies Grown-Ups 🎉 (@CBeebiesHQ) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  16. ↑ White, Alexandra (January 20, 2017). "CBeebies bows new Numberblocks series". Kidscreen.
  17. ↑ "Nickelodeon Greenlights Original Animated Comedy Series Pony" (Press release). Nickelodeon. March 6, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020– via The Futon Critic.
  18. ↑ Mercedes Milligan (March 6, 2018). "Nick Upfront 2018: Original Pony, Loud House Spin-Off, Blue's Clues Remake Coming Soon". Animation Magazine . Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  19. ↑ "ViacomCBS and Sky take up Magic Light Pictures' pre-school animated series, 'Pip and Posy". Animation Xpress. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  20. ↑ Alexandra Whyte,Whyte, Alexander (25 February 2019). "Magic Light goes long with Pip & Posy". Kidscreen. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  21. ↑ Foster, Elizabeth (October 1, 2021). "Netflix orders four new preschool series". Kidscreen.
  22. ↑ "New Lego City – No Limits animated series officially revealed". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "LEGO City Animation | Longform & IP | Blue Zoo".
  24. ↑ "Home grown talent, animations and culturally relevant co-productions lead the way as BBC Children's announce new commissions". BBC. October 16, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Children's Choice".
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