Production duo Andrew Pearce and Paula Bird, former leadership of Axis Studios (Eyes of Wakanda; Love, Death + Robots; Secret Level), have launched Zaratan, a production company specializing in older-skewing animation. The new shingle is hung in Glasgow, U.K.
“The genesis came from our love of animation and genre storytelling,” said Pearce. “Older-skewing animation is a constant discovery. We were searching for an icon that encapsulated that sense of adventure and exploration, and we found it in the cryptid zaratan — the stuff of stories.”
Bird added, “Our new approach balances creative flexibility and stability. Flexibility means assembling bespoke, world-class creative teams for each project – artists and storytellers who are not only masters of their craft but are also genuine fans of the content we’re creating. Stability comes from rigorous production methodology, and our strategic partnership with Aniventure.”
Zaratan hits the ground running with a boost from its partnership with Aniventure. The studio behind Paws of Fury, Hitpig!, Stitch Head and Andy Serkis’ upcoming Animal Farm brings an established animation infrastructure, built over 10 years of operation, as well as a first-look service deal with Cinesite to the team-up.
“The future of older-skewing animation is extremely exciting, we want to work with the most talented people in the space,” said Adam Nagle, CEO of Aniventure. “Zaratan was a perfect opportunity for us.”
Zaratan enters the market as both production partner and as a developer of IP. The company is hitting the ground running, already in pre-production with India-based Arka Mediaworks on an unannounced film project. They have also partnered with France’s Fédération Studios, Guillaume Lemans (Mayhem!) and Antoine Charreyron (The Prodigies, Batwheels), Florent Auguy (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Dorian Marchesin (Legends of Runeterra) of Alcyde on a new series IP.
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