News / animation
Award-winning animation studio selects Bristol as UK base
Africa’s leading animation studio, Triggerfish, has expanded its UK operations by choosing Bristol as its base.
The studio’s new facility in the Royal Talbot Buildings in the city centre will serve as a hub for creative development and in-person collaboration, while most UK staff continue to work remotely.
The move is expected to reinforce Triggerfish’s commitment to nurturing British talent through a partnership with BBC Ignite.
The award-winning studio, behind productions including Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire and Supa Team 4, adds Bristol to its existing locations in Cape Town and Galway.
The new studio will be based at the Royal Talbot Buildings in the city centre – photo: Studio Space
The new venture builds on the city’s rich legacy as a centre of animation excellence, which gave the world Oscar-winning shows such as Wallace and Gromit.
Bristol has also been recognised by UNESCO as a City of Film cementing its status as a hub in creative media.
Natalie Adams, senior vice president of business development at Triggerfish, said: “Establishing a base in Bristol was a natural choice given the city’s rich storytelling heritage and longstanding reputation for animation excellence.
“The move strengthens our operations in the UK and reflects our ambition to build a premium animation facility that harnesses the exceptional creative talent based in the city and surrounding areas.”
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, welcomed the move, calling it “a real vote of confidence” in the region’s creative economy and growth strategy.
She added: “Bristol and the wider West are already world-renowned for animation and, with the support of Invest Bristol & Bath and partners across our region, this is a natural fit for Triggerfish.
“ Working together with the wider cultural sector and investing our £25m Creative Places Growth Fund, we will continue to create new jobs and opportunities for local people.”
Alongside its productions, Triggerfish has played a key role in developing new talent through initiatives such as its Academy and Story Lab, helping grow Africa’s animation industry and bring its stories to a global audience.
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, welcomed the move, calling it “a real vote of confidence” in the region’s creative economy and growth strategy – photo: Milan Perera
Originally a small stop-motion outfit, it transitioned into CGI in the 2000s, achieving major success with films like Adventures in Zambezia, Khumba and Seal Team, while building partnerships with industry giants including Netflix, Disney+ and BBC Studios.
Triggerfish already has strong UK ties, collaborating with Magic Light Pictures on BBC One Christmas specials based on books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, several of which have won major awards and drawn large audiences.
“Establishing a base in Bristol was a natural choice given the city’s rich storytelling heritage and longstanding reputation for animation excellence,” said Natalie Adams at Triggerfish – photo: Lucasfilm
The new Bristol office is expected to further strengthen Triggerfish’s international network, reinforcing its presence across the UK and Europe alongside its Cape Town headquarters.
Bristol is no stranger to animation excellence, with studios including Aardman Animations, Rumpus Animation, Sun & Moon Studios, Studio Giggle, CC Animation Studio, Infocandy Animations, Scribble Room Animation and A Productions all contributing to the city’s animation ecosystem.
Main photo: Triggerfish
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
