Boulder Media profits rise on back of ‘Danger Mouse’ reboot

Dublin-based animation studio Boulder Media, which is behind the 2015 reboot of the much-loved 1980s animated television series Danger Mouse for CBBC, saw profits rise last year on the back of a number of new project wins.

Set up in 2000 by Emmy-nominated director Robert Cullen and producers Anne Tweedy and Peter Lewis, the company's client list includes Disney, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

According to recently filed accounts, Boulder saw profits rise from €392,170 in 2013 to €454,459 last year.

Staff numbers rose from 60 to 99 last year with related costs, including directors’ remuneration, jumping from €2.3 million to €3.1 million. Headcount has increased further since the end of 2014 with some 150 employees now working at the firm’s studio on Hawkins Street in the centre of Dublin. It is currently recruiting for a number of roles including 3D lighters animators, compositors and harmony animators.

“We’ve got three projects going on in the studio at present. Previously we usually only worked on one at a time but in recent years we’ve expanded significantly due to an increase in job offers that have come our way,” Mr Cullen said.

“We’re always looking to expand if the project is right but we don’t want to scale to a point that would jeopardise the work. We want to make sure that even though we’re now a medium-to-large company that we have a boutique feel still about us because that handmade feel is what gets us the gigs,” he said.

One of Ireland's largest animation studios, Boulder has garnered several awards and nominations over the years for its projects, which include Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and The Amazing World of Gumball.

"This year we worked on the reboot of Danger Mouse for CBBC and Freemantle and are currently also working on a show called Wander Over Yonder for Disney and also our very first computer-generated project called Go Jetters for CBBC," said Mr Cullen.

“Most of these shows will keep us going for most of next year and we’re currently scoping out additional projects and are looking to develop our own shows and bring them to market as well.”