Waddell Media Expands Into Animation

Waddell Media has announced the acquisition of multi award-winning Belfast-based animation company Flickerpix Limited.
The name Flickerpix will be retained by Waddell Media and developed under the creative vision of its founder, Joel Simon.
This is Waddell Media’s first foray into the world of animation and comes at a time of unprecedented growth for the company.
Said Waddell Media Managing Director J Brian Waddell commented: “2007 has been by far our strongest year and we wanted to kick off 2008 by building on that success. Flickerpix is a great company that produces fantastic, innovative work and will complement our existing portfolio.”
Flickerpix is the animation studio behind the hugely successful BBC NI series “On The Air”, and is currently in preproduction with another 15-part BBC NI series “Days Like This”. The company has over 20 international awards under its belt, including a 2007 IFTA for its short film “Horn OK Please”, which has attracted over 300,000 views online.
Joel Simon, Creative Director, Flickerpix: “We have been looking for a while at ways of building the Flickerpix brand, and reaching out to a wider audience. This deal will allow us to flex our creative muscles and expand into the international arena, with the formidable managerial and financial support of Northern Ireland’s leading production company.”
Jannine Waddell, Director of Programmes, Waddell Media said: “We’re very excited about the creative opportunities. We believe that having a cutting edge animation company working with us will stimulate all sorts of interesting hybrid ideas and accelerate our expansion into new media production.
"It’s an exciting time, particularly if the BBC honour their commitment to increasing network production from Northern Ireland.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive NI Screen said: “This is great news. The television sector in Northern Ireland has traditionally been too spread out to successfully compete with their London counterparts. Some consolidation is long overdue and this is one that I’m sure will benefit both parties.”
The deal coincides with Waddell Media’s move from their longstanding home at Strand Studios in Holywood Co.Down to brand new purpose-built offices a few hundred yards along the road. As well as housing Flickerpix, the 10,000 sq ft, three storey space is currently being fitted out to accommodate Waddell Media’s domestic and international production staff, Irish language unit, development team and new media division, as well its five online and offline post-production suites.
(DS)