Spiddal studio set for another international big screen success

A new movie – telling the classic children’s story of a koala who wants to become an explorer – is all set to ensure another big screen success for a pioneering Galway animation studio.

Blinky Bill: The Movie, which hit cinema screens in Ireland and the UK last weekend, is co-produced by Telegael, the Spiddal-based film company that enjoyed an international hit with Norm of the North – another feature-length animation – earlier this year.

Their new film is already a hit with audiences in Australia, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea and Turkey – and international sales company Studio 100 Film of Munich has also secured releases in US, Canada, Germany and many other territories.

It is based on the 1930’s Australian book series by Dorothy Wall and is considered an iconic children’s classic.

A small koala with a big imagination, Blinky is an adventurer at heart who dreams of leaving the little town of Greenpatch and following his explorer father’s footsteps.

Blinky embarks on a journey that takes him into the wild and dangerous Australian landscape in his quest to find his missing father.

“We are delighted that Blinky Bill: The Movie is now going on release in Ireland and UK. Blinky Bill is a terrific story played out with amazing characters and stunning visuals,” said Telegael CEO Paul Cummins.

“The action-packed movie is already engaging, inspiring and entertaining audiences around the world and is bursting with fun, comedy and adventure,” he added.

Blinky Bill boasts an all-star cast including Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s “True Blood”) as the voice of Blinky Bill; Robin McLeavy (TV’s “Hell On Wheels”) as Blinky’s best friend Nutsy and Rufus Sewell (A Knights Tale) as the treacherous feral cat Sir Claude.

Starring alongside them are Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine) as two charming yet gossipy emus Sheryl and Beryl, Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage) as the wildly eccentric Wombo and David Wenham (The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King) as the manic but loveable frill-necked lizard Jacko.

CEO Paul Cummins at the Telegael studios in Spiddal.

Following hot on the heels of the release of the big screen version, Telegael and Australia’s Flying Bark are currently in production on Blinky Bill the TV series which comprises 52 quarter hours of television.

The series has already been pre-sold to a host of international broadcasters and Richard Simmons – noted for layout design on Norm of the North and pre-vis on Octonauts and Peter Rabbit – is animation director on behalf of Telegael.

Blinky Bill is one of a large slate of feature films and television series recently produced at Telegael’s Spiddal-based animation and live action film studios.

These productions include the animated feature film Norm of the North which is currently on release worldwide and whose international cast includes Irish actors Colm Meaney and Michael McElhatton.

Telegael started with just three employees but over the years they have invested $15m in studios and facilities.

In 2007 the company acquired the Roger Corman Film Studios located in Tully – and today it employs over 150 people on a wide range of productions.

Over the past 16 years they have co-produced and co-financed productions with an estimate gross budget of €400 million.

That amounts to more than 850 hours of television programming and its projects have been distributed to over 150 countries and translated into more than 40 languages.

Broadcasters include Disney, NBC Universal Sprout, Netflix, BBC, ITV, Discovery, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, ZDF, Channel 5, KiKa, France3, TF1, SuperRTL, HBO, ABC (Aus).

Telegael has also recently completed production on the feature film Out of Innocence which is inspired by the events surrounding the Kerry Babies story.

The studio is also in the final stages of post-production on three films in the Jack Taylor franchise based on the books by Galway author Ken Bruen. Jack Taylor stars Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Cleverman, Resident Evil) and has ZDF Germany as the host broadcaster.

Telegael is also currently in production on several animated projects including the stop motion feature film Morten starring Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Tiernan, Pauline McLynn, Ciaran Hinds and Jason Byrne.

Morten is the first stop motion animated feature film to be produced in Ireland.