Brown Bag Films

Brown Bag Films, or Brown Bag, is an Irish computer animation studio, based in Dublin, Ireland with a newly opened 2D facility based in Manchester, UK. Best known for its character CGI-animated television series' and short films, including the Oscar nominated Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty.^[2] Brown Bag Films was established in 1994 by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell and garnered a number of awards, including nominations for Academy Awards (Best Animated Short Film 2001 for Give Up Yer Aul Sins and 2010 for Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty), three Emmy Award wins in Outstanding Individual Achievement for Peter Rabbit and a host of BAFTA, Emmy and Annie nominations for their shows Bing, Octonauts, Doc McStuffins and Henry Hugglemonster.^[2]

Brown Bag Films produce high-profile international TV series, including Acamar Films and Tandem Films co-production Bing for CBeebies, Disney Junior's Doc McStuffins and Henry Hugglemonster, Silvergate Media's Octonauts for CBeebies and Emmy Award winning Peter Rabbit for Nickelodeon, Chorion's Olivia for Nickelodeon US, Wobbly Land for Hit Entertainment/Nickelodeon UK, the animated teenage soap Crap Rap for RTÉ and the remake of Enid Blyton's Noddy in Toyland for Chorion/FIVE UK.

Current productions include new seasons of BAFTA and Emmy-nominated series Octonauts for BBC, Doc McStuffins and Henry Hugglemonster for Disney US, Peter Rabbit for Nickelodeon US and BBC. Brown Bag Films have a slate of original children's and family feature projects in development and are also engaged in international co-productions.^[3]

Give Up Yer Aul Sins was nominated for Best Animated Short Film in the 2001 Oscars.^[4] The short film Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, directed by Nicky Phelan and produced by Darragh O'Connell, was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2009.^[5]

History

Brown Bag Films was established in 1994 by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell, who set up the company on a shoe-string budget and produced their first series 'Peig' for RTÉ using hand-painted acetate cells shot on 35mm film.

In 1995, Brown Bag Films moved to the first floor of an old Georgian house off Gardiner Street. Where they produced a few commercials and illustrations.

In 1996, Brown Bag Films produced service animation for ITV series Wolves, Witches & Giants.

In 1997, with a staff of 7, Brown Bag Films moved to a new premises in Dublin city centre and established Ireland's first digital ink-and-paint workstation. They work on the Warner Bros feature film The King & I, coordinating European animation with LA via the internet (a 56K modem!). Barstool and Taxi are produced for RTÉ and they begin to grow their commercials service.

In 1998, Brown Bag Films produce the series 'Why?' for RTÉ which sold in over 100 countries worldwide.

In 1999, Brown Bag Films release their short film The Last Elk, directed by Alan Shannon. The film goes on to win numerous international awards.

In 2002, Brown Bag Films was nominated for its first Oscar, Give Up Yer Aul Sins, directed by Gaffney and produced by O'Connell and the company grew to a staff of 22.

In July 2007, Brown Bag Films moved to a new studio in Smithfield Square, Dublin, designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, and began production on their first animation series, Olivia, for Nick US. In the same year development began on Noddy in Toyland. In 2008, the studio began working on Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, directed by Nicky Phelan, landing a second Oscar nomination. In 2009, Brown Bag Films delivered 20 hours of animation to international broadcasters and was awarded European Producer of the Year at Cartoon Tributes, Norway. The studio has grown to more than 160 people and is equipped with a high-definition picture and 5:1 audio post production facility.

In July 2010, the company established an office in Los Angeles to produce animated feature films. In March 2012, Doc McStuffins premiered on Disney Junior, breaking rating records for the most watched preschool première ever.

Brown Bag Films currently have five network series in production, Henry Hugglemonster, Doc McStuffins, Peter Rabbit, Octonauts and Bing, with more than 160 people working in the studio.

Awards

In the 2014 Emmy Awards, Brown Bag Films bagged three daytime Emmys and scored another five nominations, earning the most nominations for an animated show this year. All nominees were for the series Peter Rabbit.^[6]

The 42nd Daytime Emmy Nominations announced on March 31st 2015 and Brown Bag Films received nominations for both Peter Rabbit and Doc McStuffins. The Outstanding Individual Achievement Award in Animation has been awarded to Storyboard Artist Mårten Jönmark for Peter Rabbit for the second year in a row. Two further nominations have been received for Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program for Peter Rabbit and Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program for Doc McStuffins.

Productions

Brown Bag Films have produced a number of TV series and short films including:

• "Trouble in Paradise" (2014–present). Online series created and directed by Shane Collins.
• "An Ode To Love" (2014, 7.5 mins). Short film written and directed by Matthew Darragh.
• "Bing" (2013-2014, 78 x 7 mins) for CBeebies. Series directed by Nicky Phelan.
• "Anya" (2013, 5 mins). Short film written and directed by Damien O'Connor in collaboration with To Russia With Love charity organisation.
• "Henry Hugglemonster" (2013-present, 52 x 11 mins) for Disney, created by Niamh Sharkey. Series directed by Norton Virgien.
• "Peter Rabbit" (2012, 52 x 11 mins & 2 x 22 mins) for Nickelodeon (US) and BBC. Series directed by David McCamley.
• "Bird Food" (2012, 5 mins). Short film written and directed by Richard Keane.
• "Doc McStuffins" (2012-present, 52 x 11 mins) for Disney, created by Chris Nee. Series directed by Norton Virgien.
• "Octonauts" (Season 1, 2010, 52 X 11 mins and Season 2, 2012, 22 x 11 mins) for Silvergate Media/BBC, created by Meomi Design. Series 1 directed by Darragh O'Connell, series 2 directed by Nicky Phelan.
• "23 Degrees, 5 Minutes" (2011, 10 mins), directed by Darragh O'Connell.
• "Noddy in Toyland" (2009, 52 x 10 mins) for Chorion/FIVE UK, created by Enid Blyton. Series directed by David McCamley.
• "Olivia" (Season 1, 2009, 52 x 10 mins and Season 2, 2010, 52 X 11 mins) for Chorion/Nickelodeon US, created by Ian Falconer. Series 1 directed by Darragh O'Connell, series 2 directed by Tim Bjorklund.
• "Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty" (2008, 6 mins), directed by Nicky Phelan.
• "Grabby Bag" (2007, 12 x 5 mins) for RTÉ, created and directed by David McCamley.
• "Teenology" (2007, 30 × 1 mins) for RTÉ, created and directed by Bronagh O'Hanlon.
• "Wobbly Land" (2007, 26 x 5 mins) for HIT Entertainment and Nickelodeon UK. Created and directed by Cat Little.
• "Crap Rap" (2007, 20 × 4 mins) for RTÉ, created and directed by Nicky Phelan.
• "Im an Animal" (2006, 52 × 2 mins) for RTÉ and the Irish Film Board.
• "Ding Dong Denny's A History of Ireland" (2006-2007, 5 mins). Short film directed by Cathal Gaffney.
• "Give Up Yer Aul Sins" (2000, 6 × 5 mins, 1 X 26 mins) documentary for RTÉ/Irish Film Board, short film directed by Cathal Gaffney, Series directed by Darragh O'Connell.
• "The Last Elk" (1998, 7 mins). Short film directed by Alan Shannon.
• "Barstool" (1996, 7 × 4 mins) for RTÉ, created by Paul Young.
• "Peig" (1994, 7 × 3 mins) for RTÉ, created by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell.

See also

• List of animation studios
• Academy Award for Animated Short Film

References

External links

• http://www.brownbagfilms.com
• Brown Bag Films at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• "Give Up Yer Aul Sins" Video on YouTube
• http://www.rte.ie/tv/ttv/craprap/index.html