Canadian cartoon execs eye Manchester opportunities

A GROUP of cartoon company bosses from Canada were in Salford last week discussing potential tie-ups with the BBC and independent producers.

The trade delegation from Vancouver, British Columbia, met Cheryl Taylor, the controller of CBBC and Alison Stewart, head of acquisitions and animation at Cbeebies, before heading to the Manchester office of Studio Liddell which makes Cloudbabies and Roary the Racing Car.

Vancouver has become a hotbed of animation talent since the Canadian government gave the industry tax incentives.

The visiting group included executives from DHX Media which bought rights to Teletubbies and Rosie and Jim from the BBC and Ragdoll Productions last year.

Robert Wong, vice president of Creative BC, said: “Manchester and Vancouver are cities that have a lot in common. They both attract the best in young creative talent, are famous for their cultural scene, have spectacular scenery on their door-step, and provide a ‘quality of life’ alternative to working in the capital city.

“Manchester, like Vancouver, is creating a successful digital hub with the MediaCity development. We hope that animation companies in our two cities can find ways of collaboration to create the equivalents of Thomas the Tank Engine and Rosie and Jim for the next generation.”