Helsinki-based animation studio Pikkukala is setting up shop in Ireland in order to benefit from access to a strong tax credit, a rich talent pool and proximity to North America.

Lena Byrne, who has 20 years of experience in the Irish animation market, is the studio’s head of script. Her previous jobs include head of scripting at JAM Media, story editor at Turnip + Duck, and script editor at Ireland’s pubcaster RTE. In 2020, Byrne started up the production company Sow You Entertainment in Dublin with several other former JAM execs. Byrne is “a fantastic and highly experienced animation professional with whom we have worked extensively, most recently on the scripts for Taste Buddies, and who knows the industry inside out,” Pablo Jordi, Pikkukala’s co-founder, tells Kidscreen.

Pikkukala already has a satellite location operating in Barcelona, so it will now be able to tap into production financing that includes Finland’s 25% tax rebate, a 30% Spanish incentive and Ireland’s 32% tax credit. All told, this makes it a pretty appealing co-pro partner.

The studio’s existing catalogue boasts several kids series that have sold reasonably well in the market, including 2D-animated series Samuel (Arte, RTVE and TV3 in Spain) and Froggie (Gulli and RTVE). Its latest project for this audience is Taste Buddies, a 2D/CG-animated co-pro it’s making with Ireland’s Ink & Light and Dibulitoon in Spain. It’s been co-commissioned by RTEjr (Ireland), YLE (Finland) and RTVE (Spain), and Serious Kids locked up the worldwide sales and merchandising rights earlier this month.

Ireland is highly regarded in the industry for its strong talent pool (thanks to several top-level animation schools) and compelling tax credit—making the country a go-to place for satellite operations. Triggerfish in South Africa and Australia’s Like A Photon Creative have both opened outposts there since 2020. But the market’s biggest challenge is that there aren’t enough local buyers to support all of the studios trying to set up productions in what has become an animation hotspot.

Pikkukala already has some familiarity with operating in Ireland. The studio previously teamed up with Ink & Light to co-produce the animated kids series Royals Next Door (pictured), which was also picked up by RTE and YLE. Using Screen Ireland’s Animation Concept & Innovation Fund, Pikkukala and Ink & Light then expanded the IP with a YouTube-first companion series called Stella’s Royal Vlog.

The Irish office is the company’s way to develop and produce more original animation and make it easier for it to co-produce in Europe and beyond, says Jordi. “For years, we have been lucky enough to work with Irish partners and teams, and we have been amazed by the creative and technical talent found in Ireland,” Jordi tells Kidscreen. “We are very happy to have the opportunity to work more and more often with our favorite Irish writers, voice actors and artists.”

For more on up-and-coming Irish talent, check out Kidscreen publisher Jocelyn Christie’s recap of the Animation Dingle festival’s Big Pitcher competition, which crowned a new winner last Friday.

Image courtesy of Pikkukala.