"Blue-Zoo" redirects here. For the New Wave band, see Blue Zoo. For the American restaurant, see BlueZoo. For the Australian children's television show, see Blue Zoo (TV series).
Blue Zoo Animation Studio
IndustryAnimation
Television production
Advertising
Founded2000[1]
FoundersOli Hyatt
Adam Shaw
Tom Box
Websitewww.blue-zoo.co.uk
Location countryLondon, England
Subsid
  • Brighton Zoo
  • Kazoo Animation

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,[1] 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. Blue Zoo later opened a second studio in Brighton called Brighton Zoo in 2022, in the partnership with Plug-In Media, and is 'dedicated to episodic 2D animation'.[2][3]

In 2021, the company became the first major animation studio in the world to achieve B Corp certification.[4]

History

In December 2009, Blue Zoo Animation Studio entered the video platform service by partnering with animator Junior Jesman and distributor Cake Entertainment to develop and produce an animated web series entitled If I Was... for French streaming network Dailymotion with Blue Zoo providing and developing animation services and Cake Entertainment distributing the series online.[5]

In April 2014, Blue Zoo and a Dutch company Mercis BV collaborated on the production of Miffy animated CGI series, which was released one year later.[6]

In 2019, Blue Zoo strengthened its position as a world-class production company with the expansion into the rights management and distribution activities by launching its rights division dedicated to its own and third-party IP named Blue Zoo Rights with Alison Warner heading the new rights division.[7]

During the annual Cartoon Forum held in September of the same year, Blue Zoo partnered with Belgian production company Studio 100, through the latter's distribution arm Studio 100 Media and its subsidiary m4e, to produce an CGI-animated preschool series entitled Monika's Garden, but no news for that series was made since.[8]

In 2022, Blue Zoo and Brighton-based producer Plug-In Media established a joint-venture regional animation production and interactive studio called Brighton Zoo, based in Brighton, South England. Their first collaboration and animated production was Supertato.[9][10] Later in the same year, Blue Zoo expanded into the French production business by partnering with Paris-based animation production studio Samka Productions to launch an animation studio and post-production company called Kazoo Animation.[11]

In 2024, the company's show Numberblocks reached 10 million subscribers on YouTube.[12]

List of long form productions

Television

TitleYearsNetworkNotes
The Story Makers2002–2004CBeebiesAnimation services for Blue Cow segments only, produced by BBC Children's Production
Tikkabilla2002–2007Animation services for animated segments and Sami's Worlds only, produced by BBC Children's Production
Those Scurvy Rascals2005–2006Nickelodeon UKco-production with Entara
Doodle Do2006CBeebiesAnimation for Sandworm segments only, produced by BBC Children's Production
Kerwhizz[13]2008–2011Co-production with BBC Children's Production and Studio 100
Stitich Up Showdown2009Nickelodeon UK
Alphablocks2010–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
Olive the Ostrich[14]2011–2014Nick Jr. UK
Tree Fu Tom[15]2012–2016CBeebiesAnimation services only, produced by BBC Children's Production and FremantleMedia Kids & Family, owned by Boat Rocker Studios since 2018.
Q Pootle 52013–2014co-production with Snapper Productions and ZDF Studios
Miffy's Adventures Big and Small[6]2015–2017Tiny Pop[16]
KRO-NCRV (Netherlands)		co-production with Mercis BV and Telescreen
Go Jetters[17]2015–2020CBeebiesAnimation services from season 2 to season 3, co-production with BBC Studios and BBC Children's Production
Digby Dragon[18]2016–2018Nick Jr. UK & Channel 5co-production with Aardman Animations
Mac & Izzy[19]2016YouTubeCo-production with WGBH Boston and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, owned by HarperCollins since 2021.
Numberblocks[20][21]2017–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
The Adventures of Paddington2019–2025Nick Jr. UK
Gulli, M6 & Piwi+ (France)
Nickelodeon (international)		co-production with StudioCanal, Heyday Films and Superprod Animation
It's Pony[22][23]2020–2022Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon/Nicktoons (United States)		co-production with Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Pip and Posy[24][25]2021–presentSky Kids, Channel 5 & Nick Jr. UKco-production with Magic Light Pictures
Millie & Lou2022YouTube
Big Tree City[26]2022Netflix
Supertato2022–presentCBeebies
Tencent Video (China)		Under Brighton Zoo, co-production with BBC Studios Kids & Family
Lego City: No Limits[27][28]2023–presentITVX
YouTube		co-production with The Lego Group
Mojo Swoptops[29]2024–presentCBeebiesco-production with Tararaboom
Wonderblocks2025–presentCBeebiesco-production with Alphablocks LTD
Untitled Doctor Who spin-off[30][31][32]2027–2029CBeebies

Television shorts

TitleRelease dateBroadcasterNotes
Superworm2021BBC Oneco-production with Magic Light Pictures
The Smeds and the Smoos2022

List of awards and accolades

|- ! scope="row" | 2006 | Children's BAFTA | Animation | Those Scurvy Rascals | |- ! scope="row" | 2008 | Children's BAFTA | Short Form | Stitch Up Showdown | |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | Children's BAFTA | Short Form | My Favourite Bedtime Story | |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | Children's BAFTA | Breakthrough Talent | Adam Shaw | |- ! scope="row" | 2010 | Children's BAFTA | Learning - Primary | Alphablocks | |- ! scope="row" | 2010 | Children's BAFTA | Short Form | My Favourite Bedtime Story | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | Children's BAFTA | Pre-School Animation | Tree Fu Tom | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | Children's BAFTA | Independent Production Company | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | |- ! scope="row" | 2014 | Children's BAFTA | Short Form | Gumball Song | |- ! scope="row" | 2014 | Children's BAFTA | Independent Production Company | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | Children's BAFTA | Independent Production Company | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | |- ! scope="row" | 2017 | Children's BAFTA | Learning | Numberblocks | |- ! scope="row" | 2017 | Children's BAFTA | Independent Production Company | Blue Zoo Animation Studio | |- ! scope="row" | 2018 | BAFTA Films | Short Film | Mamoon | |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | Children's BAFTA | Pre-School Animation | Digby Dragon | |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | Children's BAFTA | Pre-School Animation | Numberblocks | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | Annies | Best TV/Media - Preschool | The Adventures of Paddington | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | Annies | Best Voice Acting - TV/Media | It's Pony | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | Annies | Best Production Design - TV/Media | The Adventures of Paddington | |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | PromaxBDA UK | Best Direct Response Promo | Bitesize | |- ! scope="row" | 2015 | PromaxBDA UK | Best Channel Identity | Nick Jr Rebrand | |- ! scope="row" | 2015 | PromaxBDA UK | Best Sponsorship Package | LEGO Star Wars Rebels | |- ! scope="row" | 2021 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Series | The Adventures of Paddington | |- ! scope="row" | 2021 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing for a Pre-School Animated Program | The Adventures of Paddington | |- ! scope="row" | 2021 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Pre-School Animated Program | The Adventures of Paddington | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | British Animation Awards | Children's Choice | Lego City: No Limits[33] | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | British Animation Awards | Best Cutting Edge | Silly Duck[34] |

References

  1. ^ "Growth capital: Blue Zoo are a trio who got animated about a venture into cartoons". Evening Standard. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  2. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (2018-12-19). "'Blue Zoo Opens New 2D Animation Studio in London". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  3. ^ "Blue Zoo and Plug-In Media partner on new studio". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. ^ televisual.com (2021-09-29). "Blue Zoo gets B Corp status". Televisual. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  5. ^ Adams, Cathy (10 December 2009). "Cake surfs Dailymotion for new series". C21Media
  6. ^ "Miffy gets CGI reboot". C21Media. April 4, 2014.
  7. ^ "Blue Zoo launches new brand rights company with Alison Warner at the helm". UK Screen Alliance. July 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "6 UK Projects To Watch Out For At Cartoon Forum 2019". Skwigly. 17 September 2019.
  9. ^ Miligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Blue Zoo & Plug-In Media Join Forces as Regional Creative Powerhouse". Animation Magazine
  10. ^ Miligan, Mercedes (October 24, 2022). "Blue Zoo & Plug-In Media Launch Regional Studio Brighton Zoo". Animation Magazine
  11. ^ "Kazoo Animation"
  12. ^ "Blue Zoo Animation"
  13. ^ Castlemann, Lana (April 14, 2009). "Studio 100 snags another CBeebies deal". Kidscreen
  14. ^ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (February 10, 2011). "UK students tapped to illustrate new TV series". Kidscreen
  15. ^ "CBeebies Commissions 'Tree Fu Tom' Series". Animation Magazine. April 4, 2011.
  16. ^ Franks, Nico (August 20, 2015). "UK network adds Miffy toon". C21Media
  17. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (June 9, 2015). "CBeebies Commissions 'Go Jetters'". Animation Magazine
  18. ^ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (October 8, 2013). "UK creatives give life to Digby Dragon". Kidscreen
  19. ^ Whyte, Alexandra (November 18, 2016). "YouTube Kids bows HMH original". Kidscreen
  20. ^ "CBeebies Grown-Ups 🎉 (@CBeebiesHQ) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Archived 2024-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  21. ^ White, Alexandra (January 20, 2017). "CBeebies bows new Numberblocks series". Kidscreen
  22. ^ "Nickelodeon Greenlights Original Animated Comedy Series Pony". Nickelodeon. March 6, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020. – via The Futon Critic
  23. ^ Mercedes Milligan (March 6, 2018). "Nick Upfront 2018: Original Pony, Loud House Spin-Off, Blue's Clues Remake Coming Soon". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "ViacomCBS and Sky take up Magic Light Pictures' pre-school animated series, 'Pip and Posy". Animation Xpress. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  25. ^ Whyte, Alexander (25 February 2019). "Magic Light goes long with Pip & Posy". Kidscreen. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  26. ^ Foster, Elizabeth (October 1, 2021). "Netflix orders four new preschool series". Kidscreen
  27. ^ "New Lego City – No Limits animated series officially revealed". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  28. ^ "LEGO City Animation | Longform & IP | Blue Zoo"
  29. ^ "Home grown talent, animations and culturally relevant co-productions lead the way as BBC Children’s announce new commissions". BBC. October 16, 2023.
  30. ^ Hibbs, James (17 December 2025). "New Doctor Who spin-off series gets major update from BBC following "exceptionally competitive" bidding process". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  31. ^ Kahn, Ellie (17 December 2025). "Blue Zoo lands CBeebies Doctor Who animation". Broadcast. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  32. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (12 June 2025). "'Doctor Who' Animated Preschool Series Sets Coordinates for CBeebies". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Children's Choice"
  34. ^ "Best Cutting Edge"