Finnish Animation Producer Gigglebug Opens New Animation Studio In The Canary Islands
Helsinki, Finland-based Gigglebug Entertainment is boosting its 2d production capabilities with the launch of a new studio facility in Spain’s Canary Islands. The two combined studios will eventually have a workforce of around 150 employees.
Here are details on the new studio launch:
- The new studio is located in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and has been operational since earlier this month. Seven Gigglebug veterans have relocated from Helsinki to oversee the company launch. Gigglebug CEO and co-founder Anttu Harlin, creative director and co-founder Joonas Utti, and managing director Beth Parker are in charge of the new studio.
- The two studios have a unified pipeline to handle both original IP and service work. Gigglebug currently operates three parallel production pipelines to support work across features, tv series, and digital content.
- The studio was founded in 2013. Recent projects include The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti and 101 Dalmatian Street for Disney, Best & Bester for Nickelodeon International, The Last Kids on Earth for Atomic Cartoons, and the 2023 feature Merry Little Batman for Warner Bros. Animation. In 2023, Gigglebug launched In Stitches, a sub-label dedicated to the creation of adult animated content. The first project being developed by the adult division is the original workplace comedy Soap.
- Of the new studio, Harlin said in a statement:
We started this company around a tiny character with a contagious giggle, and suddenly we’re becoming this go-to-provider of joyful 2d animation in Europe. To meet our growing pipeline, we conducted a very biased and non-scientific ‘Gigglebug Quality of Life Index Measurement’ and picked the best bits of Europe for animation talent – the Far North and the Far South. Ice and Sun. Helsinki and Las Palmas. You won’t find these two paired in your cookie cutter tourist guide! Alongside the impressive tax breaks for partners, there’s such amazing potential in the Canaries – we’re committed to investing in our people and culture, and creating the best possible experience for every individual working with Gigglebug – now whether that’s in the icy capital of Finland or the glorious sun of Gran Canaria.
Pictured at top: The Warner Bros. Animation production Merry Little Batman, for which Gigglebug was the lead vendor studio.