Company wins work from LA and Canada Dinamo Productions
22 Feb 2007
From Left to Right: Owen Stickler Dinamo, Cheryl Bass Venture Wales and Aron Evans Dinamo
Dinamo draws up plans for global market
THE Welsh animation sector is brimming with talent – but must look beyond these shores if it is to thrive.
These are the views of Aron Evans, managing director of Cardiff-based Dinamo Productions.
The company has ventured outside the domestic market and attended landmark industry events in Cannes and Toronto. Its staff of 20 are now working on special effects for a Los Angeles-produced horror film and have signed a deal with a Canadian distributor for an animated series about a crime-fighting moose.
Father-of-four Mr Evans said, “The most important thing is for us not to be scared by the international market – get your faces known. It’s very important to get to meet buyers; it’s such a huge global market now.”
Notable Welsh animation success stories include The Miracle Maker – portrayal of the life of Christ – and iconic children’s series SuperTed.
However, in recent years the industry experienced a lull. The founding of Dinamo was a deliberate effort to push the development of the industry further to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Mr Evans is convinced the sector has a unique opportunity to establish itself on the world stage.
He said, “There’s no end to the talent base here in Wales. The most difficult thing in the international market is the lack of skilled animators but that isn’t a problem in Wales.”
He added, “The Welsh animation sector is relatively small and we, alongside our competitors, are constantly striving to create a larger, globally recognised industry. To do this we all work closely together, providing support in different areas of expertise from cartoons, TV series, feature films, computer games, short films, commercials and web-based animation.”
Dinamo is based in the same building as Calon, whose team pioneered programmes such as SuperTed and Fireman Sam.
Both companies have received major investments.
As reported in the Western Mail yesterday, Calon has secured £600,000 from the Assembly Government subsidiary Finance Wales. With the help of business support agency Venture Wales, Dinamo has received £200,000. International Business Wales subsidised their travel to Cannes and Canada, and they are now pursuing an Assembly Investment Grant. In five years time, Dinamo aims to have turnover of between £6m and £8m.
“We have the capability to do that,” Mr Evans said.
Dinamo was formed in 2004 by Mr Evans and fellow managing director Owen Stickler, who had been a friend since primary school.
Last year the team of artists and designers won a contract with S4C for 20-episode children’s cartoon Happy Valley/Cwm Teg.
Praising the Calon team, Mr Evans said, “They have been around for years and years and years. There are basically three medium-sized animation companies in Wales.”
The third is Griffilms, led by Hywel Griffiths, famed for its computer animation.
Predominantly Welsh-speaking Dinamo plans to recruit further staff and targets students at the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport.
Mr Evans said, “We are successfully competing with the best in Wales by employing only highly experienced, trained staff who are specialists in traditional animation, digital 2D design, computer generated imaging and special effects.”
Dinamo is now in the process of raising further capital for a purpose-built studio to house all employees and equipment.
Cheryl Bass, their business advisor and Venture Wales mentor, said, “Being able to provide secure employment for upwards of 20 people in the creative media industry in only two years is phenomenal.
“Wales is really holding its own when it comes to tourism, food, music and the arts, and with animation taking off here too, there are huge opportunities for Dinamo to expand both in Wales and internationally.”
She added, “It’s easy to see their passion and drive for success and we will be doing all we can to make sure they go all the way.”
