South African animation studio, Triggerfish plans to open studio in Ireland.

South African animation studio, Triggerfish is planning to open its first international studio in Galway, Ireland.

According to a statement by the company, the project is supported by the Irish government through investment agency IDA Ireland and it is expected to create 60 new jobs over the next three years.

The company animated the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation Revolting Rhymes and is currently producing their third feature film, Seal Team, and Netflix’s first African animated TV series, Mama K’s Team 4.

The studio’s first two features, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba are one of the five highest-grossing South African feature films of all time, with nine million cinema tickets sold globally. For this reason, Triggerfish was named the overall Business of the Year in South Africa’s Western Cape province in the year 2015.

CEO of  Triggerfish, Stuart Forrest said to meet with demand, the company started outsourcing work to Irish animators last year and were quickly won over by both the quality of the work and the dedication to the craft by the animators there.

Studio producer Andy Wonnacott, who will be in charge of the Galway branch, said the location “ticked all the boxes” for a European base as it has a similar time zone to South Africa which is very well connected and provides significant business support.

“For us personally, Ireland is our second home, so it will be good to be back with family and friends,” Wonnacott said.

Also, the Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said she was happy to see that Triggerfish has chosen to establish their first international studio in Ireland.

Triggerfish was founded in 1996 by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye but later Forrest and James Middleton bought the two founders out.