Animation Ireland chair John Phelan delivers keynote address at annual meeting that included representatives from 22 of Ireland’s top studios.
Animation Ireland, the trade association for the Irish animation sector, held its annual general meeting in Dublin on January 31st, which included representatives of Ireland’s top 22 studios.
Giving the address, Animation Ireland chairperson John Phelan outlined the significant activity for the trade association in 2016 including the organization’s formal launch in September addressed by RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes, showcasing Ireland’s potential to international investors at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse in France, the appointment of an external advisory board and finally the exceptional acquisitions, investment and partnerships between studios and investors in Irish animation.
“Animation Ireland has been at the forefront of new global opportunities for animation production,” commented John Phelan, speaking at the AGM. “Netflix and Amazon Prime are the latest models of disruption in a traditional marketplace. We have visibility on immediate job creation and predict substantive jobs growth in the animation sector. With this growth, we place great onus on the education sector to assist us in developing industry-ready students with a natural talent for production. Presently this sector is under-utilized as further development support is needed from Government agencies.”
Representative members of Ireland’s top studios, which employ over 1,000 people, also outlined their long-term focus on maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders and increasing public and international investment for the sector. The new external advisory board includes Paul Allen & Associates Public Relations, Eileen Bell of Enterprise Ireland, Russell Boland of Google, Brian Gormley of Philip Lee solicitors, Gareth Lee of Animation Skillnet and James Morris of the VFX Association of Ireland.
Source: Animation Ireland
