Who’s who: Animation studios

Profiles of key executives at some of Ottawa-Gatineau’s animation studios. See pages 48 for the full list of the region’s largest facilities. Profiles by Dani-Elle Dubé.

Kyle Mac Dougall

President, Jam Filled Entertainment

Thomas and Friends, DC Superhero Girls and Numb Chucks have entertained kids and families across Canada for years, but did you know the company that produces those cartoons started in Ottawa? It was 1993 when Kyle Mac Dougall, now president of Jam Filled Entertainment, first worked in the video game, advertising and television industries. He started out as an artist, eventually growing to become a producer, entrepreneur and — ultimately — a studio builder. Then in 2008, he joined forces with co-founders Jamie Leclaire and Phil Lafrance to open what is now known as Jam Filled Entertainment. Its first office opened in Manotick and was a fully-operational, multi-production animation company. “In the beginning, we wanted to start a studio that we would want to work for — a place that reflects and respects our values as people and artists,” Kyle says. “The abundance of talent and passion for the industry, as well as our deep personal roots, made Ottawa an ideal place for our studio to flourish and thrive.”

Then in 2016, the company was purchased by Boat Rocker Media. Today, it acts as its animation division.

Since then, Jam Filled has grown to one of the largest employers in the animation industry, with studios in Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax.

Rick Morrison

President, Big Jump Entertainment

Did you know Ottawa is a hotbed for live action and animation? Meet one of those players in the booming industry: Rick Morrison of Big Jump Entertainment.

Before Morrison — who has called Ottawa home since 1982 — became the president of the Ottawa-based animation studio Big Jump Entertainment, he had co-founded another animation studio called Funbag Animation Studios shortly after graduation.

He attended Sheridan College in the 80s, where he received his degrees for animation, interactive technology, video graphics and special effects.

Today, he heads the live action and a studio that employs about 70 people and is located in Heron Gate on Holly Lane at Walkley Road.

As the executive producer, he has led more than 200 hours of proprietary animation projects.

The animation company has worked for a long list of big international and national names in entertainment that include HBO, Netflix, CBC, Warner Bros., FOX, TVOkids, TFO, Sony Entertainment and more.

Some of their projects include Raccoons, The Trailer Park Boys animated series, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz animated series and F is his for Family.

Jam Filled has also worked with other major content providers such as Netflix, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. CBC and Disney.

Clint Eland

Founder and CEO, Mercury Filmworks

For Clint Eland of Mercury Filmworks, success is making audiences feel something powerful by connecting them emotionally to the characters and stories created by his Ottawa-based studio. “If we can make kids and families laugh out loud, feel sad, joyous or inspire wonderment, then we are making a difference,” Eland says. Mercury Filmworks is an independent entertainment company that collaborates with partners across the globe to produce what it boasts as “world-class content.” The Ottawa-based company was originally founded by Eland in 1997, when he was living in Vancouver. Over the years, the studio has worked with other partners such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon Studios and Warner Bros. and produced works such as The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, Kid Cosmic, Centaurworld, Hilda and The Ghost and Molly McGee. This has won them Daytime Emmys in different categories including outstanding main title and graphic design for an animated program — most recently their Emmy for Hilda.

The company has more than 340 employees in Ottawa.

That success, Clint says, is attributed to the company’s commitment to partnerships and telling stories that take its audiences on emotional journeys.

“Going further isn’t a business strategy — it’s simply who we are: storytellers and innovators who are constantly reinventing ourselves to remain ahead of the curve,” Eland says. “An ambition to go beyond the expected is innate in our people, our practices and our business model. Our dedication to telling extraordinary stories is matched only by our commitment to the people who make it.”

WHO'S WHO