South African animation powerhouse Triggerfish has announced a new studio in the United Kingdom, marking a significant expansion of its European footprint. The move aims to strengthen the company’s presence in feature films, TV specials, and series, and taps directly into the UK’s deep talent pool, favorable tax incentives, and thriving creative industry.
Why UK, Why Now?
According to Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest, the UK has long played a central role in the studio’s work. Many of Triggerfish’s collaborators are based in Britain, and establishing a UK hub is “a natural next step” for its European business. The new base will allow Triggerfish to build “local hubs for training and community,” while offering global-level projects that draw on the UK’s animation ecosystem.
The studio is already recruiting for multiple roles, including a Head of UK to steer operations and creative output from Britain. Triggerfish also plans to staff a TV special from its UK office, underscoring its potential as a production hub.
Triggerfish’s Growth From Cape Town to Europe
This UK expansion comes after several years of steady growth for Triggerfish across Europe. The studio already has established hubs in South Africa and Ireland, the latter based in Galway, which opened in 2020. That Irish studio was launched to tap into European talent and support a growing slate of international and co-produced projects.
Triggerfish’s collaboration track record is impressive, spanning major partners like Netflix (on Supa Team 4), Disney+ (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire), and Magic Light Pictures (on specials such as Stick Man and The Snail & the Whale).
How This Ties into the UK’s Animation Momentum
The launch of a UK studio by a respected global player like Triggerfish shows how the UK is reasserting itself as a major player in animation. The country’s tax incentives for animation, strong creative networks, and skilled talent have made it an attractive destination for international studios. By planting roots in the UK, Triggerfish is not only growing its production capacity but also aligning with broader trends in the global animation industry.
For UK animators, this expansion could bring more job opportunities, cross-border collaboration, and access to large-scale international projects. It also signals that the UK continues to be a creative center that global studios value in a post-Brexit industry landscape.
What This Means for Animation Fans and the Industry
- For creators, Triggerfish’s UK studio offers a major bridge between British talent and global animation workflows.
- For audiences, this may bring more high-quality Triggerfish productions, potentially developed in part by the UK team.
- For the UK animation ecosystem, it’s validation that international studios continue to see the country as a place for serious creative investment.
Triggerfish’s UK launch is a strategic bet on global, distributed animation production. With its track record and ambition, this new studio could usher in a fresh wave of work that blends the best of British creativity with Triggerfish’s signature storytelling.
