Irish animation company JAM Media has been announced as European Producer of the Year at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse this weekend while Monster Entertainment picked up the Best Distributor accolade.
The European Association of Animation Film awarded the tributes to JAM Media and Monster Entertainment who competed with stiff competition from major companies from all over Europe. This is the fourth time Ireland has picked up the Producer of the Year prize with Monster Animation winning last year, Brown Bag in 2009 and Cartoon Saloon in 2008, thus highlighting the strong reputation the Irish animation industry has developed in Europe for original and creative animation work.
The Cartoon Tribute Awards recognize companies that have had a positive influence on the European animation industry over the last year. The Cartoon Forum is neither a fair nor a festival, but rather a co-production forum, where European producers can negotiate financing for new animation projects. The purpose of the Cartoon Forum is to foster co-productions and accelerate financial arrangements.
JAM Media produces a range of shows that air around the world including the twice BAFTA nominated live action-animation mockumentary ROY which broadcasts in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Scandinavia and TILLY & FRIENDS which was adapted from a series of books by Polly Dunbar. Both series were produced with development and production funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board. JAM also produce PICME, a popular cartoon on PBS Kids Sprout in the US, Nickelodeon Junior worldwide and RTE and BABY JAKE a preschool series for CBeebies.
Monster Entertainment is a brand management company with activities encompassing distribution, financing and production of TV programmes. Monster has a wide and varied catalogue, sourcing award-winning programming from all over the world and selling into over 200 countries, including the long-running music themed series ‘Planet Rock Profiles' which has sold to more than 168 countries.
The 800 Cartoon Forum participants selected the winners.