Blue Zoo Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The BAFTA Award-winning animation studio Blue Zoo, which is behind such titles as The Adventures of Paddington and Numberblocks, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Founded in 2000 by a group of young British university graduates, Blue Zoo now has over 300 staff, five BAFTA Awards and a client list that includes the BBC, Disney and Nickelodeon. Further, in 2008, Oli Hyatt, who co-founded Blue Zoo with Tom Box and Adam Shaw, helped create Animation UK, a collective that champions the cultural and economic significance of animation.

Hyatt said, “Animation UK, the tax reliefs and the BFI YAC Fund have ignited the U.K. animation industry. This is currently one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, with new shows being commissioned by channels like Nickelodeon, Netflix and more, which will be written, animated and produced in the U.K.”

Due to the company’s continued success, Blue Zoo is on the hunt for new talent, with business going on as usual despite the ongoing pandemic, almost entirely remotely.

Box said: “At Blue Zoo, we pride ourselves on the highest quality of animation and storytelling. Now in our 20th year, we are more ambitious than ever. It is our intention to bring new business to the U.K. film industry by making our first feature animated film.”