Animation studio Snipple launches UK-based originals division, with $8m Barclays funding

Snö

Philippines-based animation studio Snipple has announced a new UK-based original content division, Snipple Originals, along with its initial slate, with the company receiving £6 million (USD$8 million) backing from Barclays-owned investment company BGF (Business Growth Fund).

Snipple Originals will focus on the creation of new long-form animated content for international audiences, with BGF taking a minority stake. The operation will be led producer Karina Stanford-Smith, who has been appointed as animation development director, while Vincent James has been brought on as creative director.

Stanford-Smith has three decades experience in the sector, including roles at Disney, Nickelodeon, Amazon and The Jim Henson Company. She will report directly to Snipple’s London-based CEO Kaine Patel.

James, meanwhile, has worked for companies including the BBC, Nickelodeon, ITV and Dreamworks. Simon Godfrey also joins as creative development producer, having worked with Amazon, Coolabi, The Jim Henson company and Zodiak Kids.

Patel founded Snipple Animation more than a decade ago, alongside studio director Jonathan Tinsay and creative director Romy Gacia. Its portfolio of animated productions includes Where’s Waldo? Dora And Friends: Into the City! Animaniacs, Green Eggs And Ham, Ducktales, Be Cool Scooby Doo and Phineas And Ferb.

Now making the move into original IP, the company says that it is ready to present its first five shows to potential broadcasters, streamers and IP partners.

Peeled Prawn & Shaved Sheep is a comedy action-adventure series aimed at 6-12-year-old about a sheep and a prawn who join forces to fight crime in Thousand Island City.

Snö is a magical adventure series for 4-7-year-olds set in the far far North, while Cassidy’s Castle is a “metaphysical mystery” series for 6-12-year-olds about dreams, doors and destiny.

Trippin’

Wise Island Woohoos is described as an environmental edutainment series aimed at 3-6-year-olds and Trippin’ is an 18+ comedy series based around a high octane and extremely offensive US road trip.

“It is so exciting to draw on the huge talent and expertise of Snipple and to have the freedom to create and develop home grown ideas,” said Stanford-Smith. “We have the perfect team in place to produce high-quality global hits that audiences will love!”

She added: “The Snipple Originals development team have been working together for 30 years in various guises. We have a chemistry that has allowed us to hit the ground running; now bringing a varied slate of projects to the table.”

“It has been a dream for me to expand Snipple into the world of original content,” said Patel. “It’s the perfect expression of our creativity and heritage as a studio. Animation is really having a moment right now and I can’t wait to start talking to potential broadcast partners and bring them on our journey.”

Tom McDonnell, investor at BGF, added: “As a rapidly growing and highly profitable animation production business, Snipple is well-placed to capitalise on significant and increasing demand for new content from the likes of Netflix, Disney and Amazon.”