Economy Minister Dr has visited
award-winning animation studio Paper Owl Films and praised their
ongoing contributions to the local animation industry.
With support from Northern Ireland Screen through its
'Stories, Skills and Sustainability'
Strategy, Paper Owl Films continues to develop ambitious
international projects while nurturing a home-grown
workforce. Notable working practices include bespoke talent
initiatives and Pablo's Academy, which offers neurodivergent
people work experience, and employee access to a neurodivergent
consultant to support them in the workplace.
During the visit, Minister Archibald toured the new 5,000 square
foot facility; watched a live voice recording session of Lí
Ban, a Celtic inspired anime available in both the Irish and
Welsh language; and met with creatives working on Pablo: Next
Level, a sequel to the award-winning Pablo series,
a trailblazing series for autism representation.
Scheduled to air in March 2026, the Minister also recorded a line
to feature in the upcoming Pablo: Next Level series,
co-produced with Cake Entertainment in association with Crayola
for BBC Children's and RTÉJr.
The Minister said: “The north has established itself as a
leading global location for film and TV production and its
fast-growing interactive sector. One of my Department's
seven priority areas, it is an exciting and thriving sector which
is critical to delivery of my economic plan.
“It was great to visit the new office space to
witness first-hand how Paper Owl Films delivers real
economic impact through innovation, inclusion, and international
collaboration. It is particularly inspiring to see how this
studio is championing indigenous talent as well as providing
opportunities for neurodivergent creatives, creating good jobs
and supporting careers here at home.”
Gráinne McGuinness, Co-founder and Creative Director of Paper Owl
Films commented: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to
our new offices. It's a space we are very proud of as it
supports our team to create work that has the power to enable
understanding, inspire change, and connect people of all ages and
backgrounds. We're proud to be growing our studio here in
Belfast, nurturing diverse creative talent, and telling stories
that travel far beyond these shores. To compete globally, it's
essential that we continue to attract and retain world-class
talent — and create the kind of inclusive, inspiring workplace
where that talent can thrive.”
To find out more about Paper Owl Films and the content produced
for local and international platforms including CBBC, CBeebies,
RTÉjr, TG4, CBC, Netflix and NBC Universal, visit Paper Owl Films -
Inspiring audiences to see the world in different ways.
Notes to editors:
- Founded in 2012 by Gráinne McGuinness, Stephen Petticrew and
Gavin Halpin, Paper Owl Films is a diverse team of storytellers,
film makers, animators and creators. Awards won include
Best Script for an Animated Series - Nikhil and Jay: Messiest
Mango (Irish Animation Awards 2025) and Children's Broadcasting
Award – Sol (2021 Sandford St Martin Awards).
