Mercury Filmworks, one of Canada’s most prolific animation studios, has joined forces with Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon in a move that will create 140 jobs in the next three years.

Lighthouse Studios will be a collaboration between Canada’s Mercury Filmworks and Kilkenny’s famous Cartoon Saloon.
The plan is to create an all-new 2D-focused animation studio as part of a joint venture.

‘The Irish talent pool has been spilling over into other parts of Europe and North America for years and we look forward to welcoming a lot of that talent home’
^{– PAUL YOUNG}

In the coming weeks, Lighthouse Studios plans to announce development and production projects, as well as a hiring initiative. The new roles will encompass production management, designers, animators, effects artists, compositors, technical directors, 3D modellers, riggers, lighting and texture artists, and IT administrators.
Lighthouse Studios will provide high-quality children’s and family animated content development and end-to-end production services – from scriptwriting, design, storyboard, animation and compositing to post-production services – to a global client base.

Picture house

Utilising the latest technologies and specialising in 2D animation with some CGI integration, the studio’s production pipeline will mirror Mercury Filmworks’ Canadian operation.
Lighthouse Studios will operate autonomously with its own management team, reporting to a board of directors comprised of executives from both Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon.
“Ireland has a strong record in film-making, including animation, and I have no doubt that this partnership between Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon will go from strength to strength,” said Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.
Source: 140 animation jobs to be created at new Lighthouse Studios in Kilkenny