IFB Chief Executive James Hickey Comments On New Irish Animation Production The Happy Hugglemonsters Greenlit By Disney
Disney EMEA today announced that it has green lit a new Irish animated pre-school series, The Happy Hugglemonsters which will be produced by twice Oscar-nominated animation studio, Brown Bag Films in Dublin and was developed with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board (IFB).
Brown Bag Films developed the series from the book "I'm A Happy Hugglewug" created by award-winning Irish author and illustrator Niamh Sharkey, published by Walker Books.
Commenting on the news James Hickey Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board Chief Executive said: "Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board are delighted that ‘The Hugglemonsters', which was developed from on a children's book by Irish author Niamh Sharkey, with funding from the IFB, will now go into production with Disney and Brown Bag Films. IFB investment in projects of this nature allows Irish companies to develop Irish talent which contributes to the long-term stability of Irish companies, creating jobs and enabling these companies to compete and flourish in the international market place".
Author Niamh Sharkey, whose illustrated picturebook ‘I'm A Happy Hugglewug' was published in 2006, says, "I am thrilled to be working with Brown Bag Films to bring my characters to life; the creativity, enthusiasm and care they bring to the project is mind blowing. Making this show for Disney Channel is a dream come true, and to be able to create this show in Ireland together is the icing on the cake. I know my monster family is in safe hands!"
Cathal Gaffney, co-founder and CEO of Brown Bag Films says: "We are delighted to announce the production of this series, it is great to work with home grown talent like Niamh Sharkey and to bring an original idea like this to a global Disney Junior audience is hugely satisfying for all involved. This series will see over 40 additional staff employed full time in Brown Bag Films over the coming 18 months and demonstrates how the creative economy has such an important role to play for Ireland."
Set to premiere on Disney Junior from autumn 2012 and air in more than 150 countries worldwide, the series follows the adventures of fun-loving, five-year-old Henry Hugglemonster, the middle child in a happy, wacky close-knit monster family - The Hugglemonsters.