A Productions Regains Fully Independent Ownership

Award-winning, creative-led animation production studio A Productions (U.K.) has returned to 100% independent ownership, as it marks its 40th year in business. Katherine McQueen and Mark Taylor have reacquired the majority stake that was previously held by Cyber Group Studios. The remaining shares were already owned by the pair.

McQueen will assume the role of sole Managing Director at the end of this year, as Taylor steps back from his joint MD position. He will remain an active shareholder and continue to offer his experience and insight in an advisory capacity. Taylor founded A Productions — originally named A for Animation — in 1985.

“A Productions has a bright, secure and exciting future ahead. With our wonderfully talented team, we will continue to take pride in creating stand-out, beautifully-crafted, authentic content that inspires and delights our audiences,” said McQueen. “We will continue to focus on strengthening our creative vision, ensuring each show has its own unique voice, as well as embracing new opportunities, with some very special projects currently in negotiation. We have a robust pipeline and financial security in place to ensure that we are in a strong position to move forward.”

McQueen joined A Productions in 2002, and has been joint Managing Director since 2019.

A Productions makes children’s content for television and film for audiences in the U.K. and around the world, working with leading broadcasters and streamers including Disney, Netflix, HBO Max, CBeebies/CBBC and Sky. The Bristol-based studio is also developing a portfolio of its own original content.

“We have always been independently run; now we are 100% independently owned once again,” said McQueen. “Our ethos focuses on ensuring A Productions is a diverse, inclusive and enjoyable place to work, where everyone can fulfil their potential. We are committed to nurturing creative talent in communities underrepresented within the industry.”

Taylor commented, “We’ve witnessed extraordinary changes to the industry since those early days, but what hasn’t changed over four decades is the remarkable talent, passion and dedication of the A Productions team, with whom I’m so grateful to have worked alongside. As the studio begins a new chapter, now feels like the right time to step away from my joint MD role, but I will remain a shareholder and a lifelong supporter of the studio.”

The A Productions team is currently working on My Friend Maisy, which stars the globally-loved characters from the bestselling Maisy books by Lucy Cousins and has been commissioned by Sky Kids. BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions and Trustbridge Entertainment are co-producing My Friend Maisy, with animation created by A Productions and Karrot.

A Productions was also recently chosen as the UK producer for The Underglow, a new 2D animated pre-school series all about inspiring curiosity and wonder in children. The studio will be working in partnership with Finnish animation production studio Gigglebug to produce the new series. Created by Tanya Scott and Sam Morrison, The Underglow was developed in partnership with the BBC as part of BBC Ignite, a talent program to find the U.K.’s next animation hit.

Production is also underway on Monster Makes, a creativity-focused preschool show hosted by CBeebies favorite Rebecca Keatley and the lovable Murphi, an animated monster with a penchant for inventive creations. The show is commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education for CBeebies and produced by Terrific Television with animation provided by A Productions.

A Productions invests significantly in its equality, diversity and inclusion program, undertaking regular outreach work and offering free animation courses and an extensive mentoring scheme, among many other initiatives. A Productions was this year named one of the U.K.’s Best Places to Work in TV for the third time, and has racked up multiple award wins and nominations over the years for its shows.

The studio has worked on many notable productions, including JoJo and Gran Gran, produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions in association with A Productions for CBeebies; Love Monster for CBeebies; Sesame Street animated specials Furry Friends Forever: Elmo gets a Puppy and The Monster at the End of This Story, for Sesame Workshop, and segment animations for the Sesame Street series. The team also worked on Pip and Posy Let’s Learn, produced by Magic Light Pictures for Sky Kids with animation services provided by A Productions.

aproductions.co.uk