Cantilever Media (The Amazing Maurice, pictured above) has just scored US$673,000 in investment capital from non-profit org Creative UK’s Creative Growth Finance fund. 

The studio plans to funnel the money into growing Kazoo Films, a distribution arm it set up more than a year ago to distribute films in the UK and Ireland. This funding will give Cantilever a leg up to expand operations and support more theatrical releases.

Kazoo Films specializes in selling independent animated films for kids, spanning both its own in-house features as well as third-party films. Last year, for example, it picked up and staged releases for horror-comedy Night of the Zoopocalypse (Copperheart Entertainment) and the sporty flick Grand Prix of Europe (Mack Magic).

Securing this funding is a well-timed win, given that Kazoo is juggling a fast-growing slate of projects from Cantilever. Earlier this month, the company signed a three-film book adaptation deal under a co-pro agreement with HarperCollins Productions and Viva Pictures. And Cantilever is also working on an Amazing Maurice sequel, Sky Original Bollywoof and a ReDefine co-pro called Bird Brain—its first project that will be sold internationally through a new distribution joint-venture with Architect. 

“At a time when funding for creative businesses is difficult to secure, Creative UK was able to look at the overall business structure and plans for Cantilever and Kazoo, and support our vision for a thriving UK-based independent animation studio,” said Andrew Baker, director at Cantilever Media.