RTÉ announced(Wednesday 14th October) an increased investment in animation as well as a brand new RTÉjr schedule across television, radio and online and a new RTÉjr Android app for 0-7 year olds.
RTÉ has announced a number of new initiatives to further strengthen its support and development of the Irish animation sector at all levels.
- Over the next three years, RTÉ has committed to increasing its baseline investment in animation commissions to over €550,000 per annum, calculated across 3 years.
- In addition, a new Animated Shorts for TV Scheme has been established seeking up to five original shorts for TV broadcast. This scheme is aimed at supporting the development of new ideas for broadcast.
- RTÉ has also announced a new scheme to further support Irish animation companies develop International co-production partnerships with a dedicated fund of €100,000 per annum. The new scheme will see RTÉ actively seek at least one opportunity per annum over the next three years to support an Irish animation company collaborate on an International Co-production.
Speaking at the launch Sheila de Courcy, Controller RTÉjr and Cross Divisional Head of Children’s Content said, “There is a wealth of talent in Ireland’s animation industry. Over the past 10 years RTÉ has worked with approximately 15 Irish animation companies on 34 original series. We have watched and supported Irish companies to go out into the global market with their ideas and have seen how their creative and business talents are respected internationally. The new schemes announced today further underline RTÉ’s commitment to support the growth and development of the Irish animation sector, from emerging talent in our new TV shorts scheme, to a focus on international co-production, to increased investment in the commissioning of animation programming. We love having Irish animation on RTÉjr and are proud to play a part in enabling Irish animation to reach Irish and international audiences”
A brand new autumn schedule for RTÉjr, RTÉ’s ad-free tv, radio and online service for 0-7 year olds was also announced, as well as a new RTÉjr Android app further adding to the range of RTÉjr online services.
The new RTÉjr season will debut a range of brand new children’s shows covering themes such as education, wildlife, family, history, culture and art/crafts including new animation series Havananimal and RTÉ’s first radio Arts series for young children, CAKE.
New series Havananimal has been created from songs written by legendary broadcaster and musician Shay Healy, with recordings from Duke Special and animation by award winning director Kealan O’Rourke and Igloo Films.
On RTÉjr radio CAKE, RTÉ’s first radio arts series for young children which beginson October 18thwill be hosted by Abie Philbin Bowman.
In addition, RTÉjr is delighted to announce that its popular RTÉjr app is now available for Android as well as iOS devices. The App which is ad-free and available for free download enables youngsters to watch the RTÉjr TV channel live as well as the best of RTÉjr TV and radio programming available on demand and to download offline.
Sheila de Courcy added, “We are very proud to announce our new programmes for the season, which feature a huge range of strong public service content across many genres. Our new Android app adds to the service we provide for Ireland’s youngest citizens and will further enhance the RTÉjr experience for little ones”.
Click here for a preview of the RTÉjr autumn schedule
The above content is a press release from RTÉ