Animation Industry Accounts for Half of Production Spending in Ireland

Screen Ireland has revealed that animation now accounts for almost 50 percent of all TV and film production spending in Ireland.

New figures on projects that received Section 481 tax relief in 2019 show that there were 39 animation projects that received the relief in 2019, with a total value of €372 million ($401 million). Animation Ireland Chief Executive Ronan McCabe commented: “The figures on spending in 2019 once again highlight the amazing growth of the animation industry in Ireland over the past five years. To put these figures into context, in 2014 animation projects that received Section 481 support were valued at €85 million ($92 million), which was 20 percent of the total. In just five years this has grown by 438 percent.’’

McCabe added: ‘’The Screen Ireland figures show that Ireland is now a major global player when it comes to animation production, and this is something we should all be extremely proud of. The creativity, talent and expertise we have on this island is extraordinary. We have been saying for years that the Irish animation sector has enormous potential and these figures back that up.’’

Film had 38 projects that received the relief, with a value of €151 million ($163 million)—20 percent of the total. There were 21 TV drama projects, with a value of €220 million ($237 million)—29 percent of the total. The doc arena saw 26 projects, with a value of €17 million ($18 million—2 percent of the total.