SA Animation Studio Triggerfish to Launch Branch in Ireland

• Triggerfish, the maker of Netflix’s first original African animated TV series, aims to open its first international studio in Galway, Ireland, with 60 new jobs to be created over the next three years.
• The first two movies of the studio, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba, are among the top five South African feature films of all time, with nine million film tickets sold worldwide.
• Triggerfish was named the overall Business of the Year in South Africa’s Western Cape province in 2015. This was the first time this recognition was given to an animation company.

Triggerfish, the SA animation studio behind Netflix’s first original African animated TV series, is planning to open its first international studio in Galway, Ireland.

The company, which was established in 1996, said last week in a statement that the project will be backed by the Irish government through IDA Ireland’s investment agency, and is expected to generate 60 new jobs over the next three years.

Triggerfish animated the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation Revolting Rhymes and is currently making their third feature film, Seal Team, and Netflix’s first African animated television series, Mama K’s Team 4.

The first two movies of the studio, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba, are among the top five South African feature films of all time, with nine million film tickets sold worldwide. Due to this achievement, Triggerfish was named the overall Business of the Year in South Africa’s Western Cape province in 2015. This was the first time this recognition was given to an animation company.

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Triggerfish CEO, Stuart Forrest said in order to keep up with the demand, the company began outsourcing work to Irish animators last year and was quickly won over by both the quality of the work and the craftsmanship of the animators over there.

Studio producer Andy Wonnacott, who will be heading the Galway branch, said the location “ticked all the boxes” for a European branch as it has a time zone close to South Africa, is very well linked and provides substantial business support.

“For us personally, Ireland is our second home, so it will be good to be back with family and friends,” he said.

Heather Humphreys, Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, said she was pleased to see that Triggerfish decided to set up their first international studio in Ireland.

Triggerfish was founded by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye. Later the company was acquired by Stuart Forrest and James Middleton.