Irish Studio Panel: Unlock your creative potential

From 10:30 to 11:15 at Dingle Skellig Hotel

Do you want to work in a studio, which provides a collaborative and creative environment? Or develop your skills and grow as a professional? How do you get to reach your full potential?

Are you looking for competitive pay, flexible hours, and access to the latest animation software and technology? Are you looking to work in a studio who is passionate about creating high-quality content and creating a supportive and inspiring work environment? A studio space that explores new ideas and pushes boundaries in the ever-evolving world of animation.

Chair: Ronan McCabe

CEO, Animation Ireland

Ronan McCabe is the CEO of Animation Ireland, the trade association for the island of Ireland’s leading animation studios. He has more than 25 years of experience in the media industry and has a proven track record in the development and commercialisation of television and animation properties in Ireland, Britain, Europe and the USA.

He is the former managing director of Double Z Enterprises, an award winning production company that produced shows for RTE, TV3, Channel 4, BBC, ITV, MTV and Starz.

During his career he has worked with many companies on projects covering financing, negotiating of rights, formats, licensing/merchandising and co-production deals with broadcasters, promoters, music labels, licensees, advertisers and distributors.

Throughout his career Ronan has built strong relationships with key industry stakeholders both domestically and internationally. He regularly attends and presents at markets, festivals and industry gatherings at home and abroad.

Ronan is a mentor through Enterprise Ireland, Screen Ireland Skills Development and Local Enterprise Offices. He has devised and delivered courses for Animation Skillnet and has participated in High Potential Start Up and Commercialisation funding panels for industry stakeholders.

Darragh O’Connell

Brown Bag Films

Darragh O’Connell co-founded Brown Bag Films with Cathal Gaffney in 1994. Darragh produced the short film Give Up Yer Aul Sins, which was nominated for an Oscar® at the 74th Academy Awards® in 2002. He subsequently directed the TV series which went on to become one of the best-selling Irish DVD releases of all time. In 2010, Darragh was nominated for a second Academy Award® as producer of the short film Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty and was invited to join the Academy for Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences.

Darragh’s director screen credits also include the TV series I’m An Animal (RTE), Olivia (Nickelodeon) and Octonauts (BBC) and is currently directing a ( soon to be announced) pre-school show for Netflix. Darragh is currently Group Creative Director at Brown Bag Films and 9 Story Media Group and is responsible for the group’s creative content.

Stuart Forrest

CEO Triggerfish

Stuart Forrest is the CEO of Triggerfish, an animation studio based out of Galway and Cape Town, South Africa. Triggerfish has produced 2 TV series, 3 feature films, 6 half hour TV specials, and 15 short films for partners, including Disney+, Netflix, BBC One, Hasbro/eOne, Nickelodeon and Sony. Their work has won multiple BAFTAs, an International Emmy, and earned an Oscar nomination.

Stuart is a leader in developing the animation industry - establishing the Triggerfish Academy, which is breaking ground in training animators and artists, and the Triggerfish Foundation, which seeks to develop the animation industry in Africa.

Deirdre Barry

Programme Director, National Talent Academy for Animation

Deirdre Barry is Programme Director of the National Talent Academy for Animation, a new initiative by Screen Ireland, managed by Animation Ireland, providing support and training opportunities to Irish-based creative talent. Deirdre has been in the industry for over 25 years. She began her career in Los Angeles and has been working in Ireland since 2001, where she has produced numerous shows including the award-winning animated series Sir Mouse and the Warner Bros’ Flintstones spinoff Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs as CEO of animation studio Salty Dog Pictures.

Paul O’Flanagan

Boulder Media

Paul O’Flanagan is an award-winning director and one of the founding fathers of Boulder Media, having joined as its first animator in 2000.

In the years since, Paul has acted as animation director and director for many high-profile shows such as ‘Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends’, ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’, ‘Danger Mouse’ and ‘My Little Pony’ for broadcasters such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, BBC and Disney. Paul has recently directed 20 episodes of ‘Transformers:Botbots’ which debuted on Netflix last year.

Paul has made several short films throughout the years. His most recent, ‘Memento Mori’ has bowed in over sixty festivals around the globe and was long listed for the Oscar’s ‘best animated short’.

Last year, Paul was promoted to serve as one of the Creative Directors in Boulder Media.

Mark Cumberton

Producer/ COO of JAM Media

Mark is currently Series Producer for the second season of ‘Nova Jones’ - 20 X 24 minutes for CBBC and is also producing a 2D animation feature film entitled ‘A Greyhound of a girl’. He recently completed season 01 of ‘Nova Jones’ - 10 X 24 minutes for CBBC. Other Producer credits include ‘Jessy and Nessy’ - 40 X 11 minutes for Amazon Studios, Becca’s Bunch - 52 x 11 minutes for Nickelodeon US & UK as Series Producer. He also Produced ‘Little Roy’ – 52 x 14 minutes for CBeebies & CBBC and has produced, Zig & Zag, Zogcasts and Roy series 3 & 4. He was also the Producer on the original Roy 01-04 series, Baby Jake, PICME and Tilly and Friends and Funky Fables. Roy has won numerous international awards including BAFTA, RTS and Kidscreen. Mark has produced several short films, most notably the Irish Film Board funded, Badly Drawn Roy and Escape.

Mark continues as COO Chief Operations Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media since its inception in 2002. His position makes him responsible for the smooth running of all operations and productions by the company, ensuring that all productions are consistent with the world class high standard synonymous with JAM. He is also an Animation Ireland board member.

Prior to co-founding JAM Media, Mark worked with Walt Disney Feature animation on ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and ‘Hercules’ in Paris and Los Angeles and also with Don Bluth Studios in Ireland as a Special Effects Animator.