UK animation industry veterans Andrew Pearce and Paula Bird have launched Glasgow-based production company Zaratan specializing in animation for older audiences.
The co-founders were previously long-time executives at Axis Studios, where they were involved in productions such as Eyes of Wakanda, Love Death & Robots and Secret Level. They will both be at the Annecy International Film Festival’s MIFA market next week with the new company.
Their new venture has the support of Paws of Fury, Hit Pig and Animal Farm animation studio Aniventure, which is providing support by completing financing for Zaratan’s growth strategy. The company will also be in Annecy for the world premiere of Animal Farm in the presence of director and producer Andy Serkis.
The partnership with Aniventure leverages its animation infrastructure, built over 10 years of operations. It will also see Zaratan included in the group’s first-look service deal with major animation & VFX company Cinesite.
Zaratan will be both a production partner and an IP developer.
In first projects, it is in pre-production with India-based pioneer Arka Mediaworks on an unannounced film project.
The company has also partnered with French giant Fédération Studios, Guillaume Lemans (Mayhem!), Antoine Charreyron (The Prodigies, Batwheels), Florent Auguy (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Dorian Marchesin (Legends of Runeterra) of Alcyde on a new series IP.
Details on both projects will be unveiled at later dates.
“The genesis came from our love of animation and genre storytelling,” said Pearce, who was an executive producer for Axios Studios out of L.A. for more than 10 years.
“Older-skewing animation is a constant discovery. We were searching for an icon that encapsulated that sense of adventure and exploration, and we found it in the cryptid Zaratan – the stuff of stories.”
Bird – who spent close to two decades at Axis Studios, rising to the role of Head of Production, Film & TV – said Zaratan’s approach would balance creative flexibility and stability.
Flexibility means assembling bespoke, world-class creative teams for each project – artists and storytellers who are not only masters of their craft but are also genuine fans of the content we’re creating. Stability comes from rigorous production methodology, and our strategic partnership with Aniventure,” she said.
Aniventure CEO Adam Nagle said Zaratan’s creation came at a time of growth in animation aimed at older audiences.
“The future of older-skewing animation is extremely exciting, we want to work with the most talented people in the space,” he said. “Zaratan was a perfect opportunity for us.”
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