Monster Animation’s Gerard O’Rourke has been named European Producer of the Year at Cartoon Forum in Poland. This is the second time Ireland has picked up this prize, with Brown Bag winning it in 2009.
The European Association of Animation Film awarded the tribute to Monster Animation, which competed with stiff competition from major companies from all over Europe, underlining the strong reputation the Irish animation industry has developed in the continent for original and creative animation work.
“Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board has supported Monster Animation’s body of work over the past decade and we are delighted to see them win this prestigious European award,” James Hickey, chief executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann, said.
“Their recent TV series PUNKY, which was developed with funding from the IFB, has delighted audiences all over Ireland and is a great example of the original and successful work that Monster Animation have produced.
“We are looking forward to working with Monster Animation on their latest project, COSMO, a TV series about astronomy for children, which has just been presented at the forum to a very positive response from broadcasters and investors.”
RTÉ wins ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ accolade
Other tributes at the event include Broadcaster of the Year for RTÉ and Investor/Distributor of the Year, which was awarded to Irishwoman Julie Fox, who is based in France.
This year, more than 765 broadcasters, investors, producers and distributors caught a sneak preview of the latest European animation projects for television and new media platforms.
The Cartoon Forum recognises companies that have had a positive influence on the European animation industry over the last year. Monster Animation is an independent and award-winning animation studio established in 1995.
Its focus is creating and producing original projects, as well as working on international co-productions. The company has a fully equipped digital 2D studio in Dublin which has a crew of 18 people. PUNKY was developed by the IFB and produced with funding from the BAI and RTÉ.
