Blue Zoo Animation Studio
{{short description|British animation studio}}
{{redirect|Blue-Zoo|the New Wave band|Blue Zoo|the American restaurant|BlueZoo|the Australian children's television show|Blue Zoo (TV show)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Blue Zoo Animation Studio}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Blue Zoo Animation Studio
| logo = Blue Zoo Animation Studio logo.jpg
| logo_caption= Logo used since 2012
| industry = Animation
Television production
Advertising
| founders = Oli Hyatt
Adam Shaw
Tom Box
| website = {{url|www.blue-zoo.co.uk}}
| location_country = London, England
}}
Blue Zoo Animation Studio is a British animation studio known for producing children's television series, commercials and short films. Founded in 2000 by Oli Hyatt, Adam Shaw, and Tom Box from Bournemouth University,{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/growth-capital-blue-zoo-are-a-trio-who-got-animated-about-a-venture-into-cartoons-8613701.html|title=Growth capital: Blue Zoo are a trio who got animated about a venture into cartoons|work=Evening Standard|date=13 May 2013|access-date=18 September 2022}} the studio has gone on to win numerous BAFTAs and in 2021 won two Daytime Emmy awards. They have also previously won the Best Places to Work in TV survey by Broadcast and Best Companies Group.
Some of the more well-known children's shows the studio has produced are Alphablocks, Numberblocks, Digby Dragon, Miffy's Adventures Big and Small, The Adventures of Paddington, Tree Fu Tom, and It's Pony.
The company operates from a studio in Fitzrovia, London, where they have a team of over 200 artists. It later expanded to a second studio, adjacent to its main studio, that's 'dedicated to episodic 2D animation.'{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/blue-zoo-opens-new-2d-animation-studio-london|title='Blue Zoo Opens New 2D Animation Studio in London |last= Wolfe|first= Jennifer|publisher=Animation World Network|date=2018-12-19|access-date=2018-12-25}} In August 2021, it was announced that they would be opening a new hub in Brighton, initially partnering with Plug-In Media on a new 2D pre-school action comedy series.{{Cite web|title=Blue Zoo and Plug-In Media partner on new studio|url=https://kidscreen.com/2021/08/16/blue-zoo-and-plug-in-media-partner-on-new-studio/|access-date=2021-09-30}}
In 2021, the company became the first major animation studio in the world to achieve B Corp certification.{{Cite web|last=televisual.com|date=2021-09-29|title=Blue Zoo gets B Corp status|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/blue-zoo-gets-b-corp-status/|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Televisual}}
List of long form productions
- The Story Makers (2002–2004, Blue Cow segments)
- Tikkabilla (2002–2007, Animation Segments/Sami's World)
- Those Scurvy Rascals (2005)
- Doodle Do (2006, Sandworms segments)
- Kerwhizz (2008-2011)
- Stitch Up Showdown (2009)
- Alphablocks (2010–2013, 2025)
- Olive the Ostrich (2011)
- Tree Fu Tom (2012–2016)
- Q Pootle 5 (2013–2014)
- Miffy's Adventures Big and Small (2015–2017)
- Go Jetters (2015)
- Digby Dragon (2016)
- Mac and Izzy (2016)
- Numberblocks (2017–present{{Cite news |title=CBeebies Grown-Ups 🎉 (@CBeebiesHQ) on X |url=https://twitter.com/cbeebieshq/status/1718337585469440463 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241202141802/https://twitter.com/cbeebieshq/status/1718337585469440463 |archive-date=2024-12-02 |access-date=2024-12-27 |work=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}})
- It's Pony (2020–2022)
- The Adventures of Paddington (2020–2025)
- Millie and Lou (2021)
- Pip and Posy (2021)
- Superworm (2021)
- Big Tree City (2022)
- Colourblocks (2022–present)
- The Smeds and the Smoos (2022)
- Lego City: No Limits (2023–present){{cite web | url=https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/animation/lego-city | title=LEGO City Animation | Longform & IP | Blue Zoo }}
- Wonderblocks (2025–present)
List of awards and accolades
{{Awards table|5}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2006
| Animation
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| Children's BAFTA
| Short Form
| Stitch Up Showdown
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2009
| Children's BAFTA
| Short Form
| My Favourite Bedtime Story
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2009
| Children's BAFTA
| Breakthrough Talent
| Adam Shaw
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| Children's BAFTA
| Learning - Primary
| Alphablocks
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| Children's BAFTA
| Short Form
| My Favourite Bedtime Story
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| Children's BAFTA
| Pre-School Animation
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| Children's BAFTA
| Independent Production Company
| Blue Zoo Animation Studio
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2014
| Children's BAFTA
| Short Form
| Gumball Song
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2014
| Children's BAFTA
| Independent Production Company
| Blue Zoo Animation Studio
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2016
| Children's BAFTA
| Independent Production Company
| Blue Zoo Animation Studio
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| Children's BAFTA
| Learning
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| Children's BAFTA
| Independent Production Company
| Blue Zoo Animation Studio
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2018
| Short Film
| Mamoon
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2019
| Children's BAFTA
| Pre-School Animation
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2019
| Children's BAFTA
| Pre-School Animation
| Numberblocks
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| Annies
| Best TV/Media - Preschool
| The Adventures of Paddington
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| Annies
| Best Voice Acting - TV/Media
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| Annies
| Best Production Design - TV/Media
| The Adventures of Paddington
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2016
| Best Direct Response Promo
| Bitesize
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2015
| PromaxBDA UK
| Best Channel Identity
| Nick Jr Rebrand
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2015
| PromaxBDA UK
| Best Sponsorship Package
| LEGO Star Wars Rebels
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
| Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Series
| The Adventures of Paddington
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
| Emmy Award
| Outstanding Writing for a Pre-School Animated Program
| The Adventures of Paddington
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
| Emmy Award
| Outstanding Directing for a Pre-School Animated Program
| The Adventures of Paddington
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2024
| British Animation Awards
| Children's Choice
| Lego City: No Limits{{cite web | url=https://www.britishanimationawards.com/the-ceremony/2024-nominees/childrens-choice/ | title=Children's Choice }}
| {{Nominated}}{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.blue-zoo.co.uk Blue-Zoo's website]
- [http://www.vimeo.com/bluezoo Blue-Zoo's Vimeo page]
{{Animation industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Zoo Animation Studio}}
Category:B Lab-certified corporations
Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom