Quick on the draw... new animation centre set for Kinsale
THINGS are getting animated in Kinsale – and jobs also on the way.
Plans are in place to create a permanent animation centre in the Co. Cork town, creating up to 30 jobs after the recent success of a production space used in the making of a new animated feature film
The space was used to make Sgt. Stubby: An Unlikely Hero which will arrive in cinemas on August 10 and features the voices of Helena Bonham Carter and Gerard Depardieu.
Investors in Cork raised €3million to finance the movie which tells the true story of a stray dog who rose to the rank of Sergeant in US Army during the First World War. Much of the editing work, post-production work and pre-production work was all carried out in studios in Kinsale.
Tom Sheehan, executive producer of the film, said: ‘It’s a rare thing to have the chance to be involved in something as heart-warming as Sgt. Stubby. I was thrilled to have the opportunity of being involved with an Irish production company in telling this story through animation and in helping to raise funds for the production.’
Speaking about the future of the Kinsale studio, Mr Sheehan said: ‘The Kinsale studio will be a research space, will be engaged in pre-production, storyboarding, post-production and editing. It will employ talent from Ireland and particularly will be a base whereby animation graduates can be trained by the very best in the industry.’
Sgt Stubby was produced by Fun Academy Media Group which was set-up in Cork by filmmaker Richard Lanni. Speaking about his involvement in the movie, Mr Sheehan said: ‘When I heard the story of Stubby I was mesmerised. It was a story of rags to riches, bravery, courage, friendship, loyalty etc. We were just coming out of a terrible recession in Ireland, and I believed that this story would warm everybody’s heart, and offer hope. I wanted to be involved in telling something positive.’
The dog at the centre of the movie, Stubby, was a stray dog who was rescued from the streets of Connecticut.
He is recognised as the most decorated dog in history and the first dog promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the US Army.