Snipple Launches Original Content Division

The Philippines-based animation studio Snipple Animation is launching a new division, Snipple Originals, devoted to the development of long-form animated content for global audiences.

The initial slate includes Peeled Prawn & Shaved Sheep, a comedy action-adventure series aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. The show centers on a sheep and prawn combo who join forces to fight crime in Thousand Island City.

Snö is a magical adventure series for 4- to 7-year-olds set in the far far North.

Cassidy’s Castle is a metaphysical mystery series for 6- to 12-year-olds about dreams, doors and destiny.

Wise Island Woohoos is an environmental edu-tainment series aimed at 3-6-year-olds.

Trippin’ is an 18+ comedy series based around a high octane and extremely offensive U.S. road trip.

The operation will be led by award-winning producer Karina Stanford-Smith, appointed as animation development director. Stanford-Smith’s 30 years’ experience includes working with industry giants Disney, Nickelodeon, Amazon, CBBC, CITV, Zodiak Kids, Milkshake! and The Jim Henson Company.

Vincent James has been appointed as creative director. His experience includes BBC, Nickelodeon, ITV, Children’s TV Workshop and DreamWorks.

Simon Godfrey joins as creative development producer, having worked with companies including Amazon, Coolabi, The Jim Henson Company and Zodiak Kids.

Additionally, Snipple has secured a £6 million investment from BGF, which takes a minority share in the company.

Stanford-Smith said: “It is so exciting to draw on the huge talent and expertise of Snipple and to have the freedom to create and develop homegrown ideas. We have the perfect team in place to produce high-quality global hits that audiences will love!”

She added: “The Snipple Originals development team have been working together for 30 years in various guises. We have a chemistry that has allowed us to hit the ground running; now bringing a varied slate of projects to the table.”

Snipple Group CEO, Kaine Patel, said: “It has been a dream for me to expand Snipple into the world of original content. It’s the perfect expression of our creativity and heritage as a studio. Animation is really having a moment right now and I can’t wait to start talking to potential broadcast partners and bring them on our journey.”

Tom McDonnell, investor at BGF, said: “As a rapidly growing and highly profitable animation production business, Snipple is well-placed to capitalize on significant and increasing demand for new content from the likes of Netflix, Disney and Amazon. We’re thrilled to be investing in the business and have been particularly impressed by the strength of the management team and the creative caliber of its new hires. Animation has proved particularly resilient to the headwinds of Covid and this represents an exciting opportunity to invest in a business competing on a world stage.”