The Latest News from Kavaleer
‘Garth & Bev’ scores big ratings on CBeebies US Hispanic
September 2, 2010 at 6:08 pm by Andrew Kavanagh
Breaking News! Kidscreen Magazine reports that our show, in it’s Hispanic version ‘El Mundo Mágico de Garth y Bev’ is scoring big ratings on CBeebies US Hispanic, achieving higher ratings than already established shows on the network. Congratulations also to our stablemates ‘Everything’s Rosie’ and ‘Nina & The Neurons’, both shows are also drawing huge numbers in the 4-11 age group. Check out the full article here!
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On The Corkboard This Month!
August 25, 2010 at 5:20 pm by Graham Corcoran
Take a look at some of the latest Kavaleer artwork!
We created the backgrounds & assets for the new iPad game: 'Diner Dash: Grilling Green'
Character design for the band; The Duckworth Lewis Method
Background concept design for our new series; 'So Mortified'
Commercial illustration of a family, their mutt and car!
Concept art for a film we have in development, a Chinese children's tale called 'LeeLee'
Editorial illustration about the Insurance industry!
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From Intern to Employee – The Kavaleer Experience
August 11, 2010 at 12:23 pm by Andrew Kavanagh
Here at Kavaleer we really believe that interning has replaced the traditional job interview, and have many employees that first joined us as interns. After the recent Irish Times article (below) we thought we’d post a wee interview with John McAleer and Shane Reidy, two former interns and now full time Kavaleer staff members about their experiences.
Q. What did you do before you began your internship with Kavaleer Productions?
John: I was a graphic designer for a marketing firm
Shane: I was a student at DCU studying multi-media
Q. How did you come to be an intern at Kavaleer Productions?
Shane: As part of my studies at DCU I completed an internship at Kavaleer Productions. After I graduated I then came back to Kavaleer.
John: I was working in the design industry for nine years and a friend of mine from Kavaleer mentioned they were looking for interns and so I decided that I would go for it. It was something different that I had never done before.
Q. What were your responsibilities as an intern? How have these changed?
Shane: The internship was a great opportunity to show the guys what we could do so anybody that needed help with anything I was there. I have started to work more with V-effects for film since then.
John: I began working with flash animation and learning the INS and outs of e-learning projects. My responsibilities have grown since then.
Q. How did the internship prepare you for full-time employment?
John: I was already in full-time employment before my internship at Kavaleer. But as I had never worked with an animation company, the internship gave me the opportunity to get a wide-scope of the process and the hard work that goes into producing the final product.
Shane: The internship gives you the chance to experience work in a studio first hand. You really get a feel for the smaller aspects of animation that they don’t teach you in college and you also get a much better understanding of the technical aspects.
Q. How important do you think internships are in the current economic climate?
John: I think internships are important in any economic climate and not just during a recession. Internships benefit everybody, the business and the person completing the internship. The business gets to enjoy the benefits of the intern’s skills at no extra cost, while the intern receives the experience that will allow them to further their chosen career. Internships are an investment for both parties.
Shane: Internships really give you a chance to prove yourself and show potential employers what you are really capable of. It is also a low risk investment for the business; they are investing in skills and labour at no extra cost. I think if you prove you are enthusiastic to learn and to make the effort, you will get the most out of your internship.
Q. What advice would you give to somebody hoping to make it in the animation industry?
John: I would recommend that you work hard, put in the hours when required and also remember to stay on top of technological advances. Technology is constantly changing and improving so to be the best in this business you need to be ahead of the game and aware of this.
Shane: It is useful to narrow down what area of animation you are interested in and develop your skills in this area. This will really help you when it comes to selling yourself in a job interview. If you narrow down your niche and work hard to be the best in this area you will be doing well. As John said, keep working hard and always up to speed with changes in technology.
Q. What are your hopes for the future?
John: We are very fortunate in the design industry that we have not been quite so hard by the recession so my hope is that we continue to survive.
Shane: I hope to make a film in the future, a short film about World War II, maybe. At the moment I have very limited time to work on this but that’s the joy of working in this industry, we are doing something we love so when we do it outside of work it doesn’t feel like we are working.
John: That is what I love about this job; work and home blend in together because you enjoy both equally.
Q. What has been your best experience at Kavaleer Productions so far?
Shane: The best moment for me was sitting in the cinema and seeing my name appear in the credits. It feels really rewarding to be acknowledged for your work. It feels great to work on something that you love so much. It doesn’t feel like a job which makes it ten times easier to get up in the morning because you know it’s going to be a good day. Gary and Andrew foster a great working environment and the
Kavaleer studio is filled with community spirit, nobody minds helping each other which you don’t find in many businesses.
John: The best part of this experience was to go from an intern to a designer and then a studio manager. Also to be given the chance to draw again after ten years was great. I really think more companies should look into internships; it really is investing in the future and investing in new resources. If you make an impression, you never know where you may end up working. You could be working your dream job like me and Shane.
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Hasan Everywhere travels Brazil
July 27, 2010 at 6:36 pm by Ciara Gillan
This year’s Anima Mundi festival has finished its run in Rio and is starting in Sao Paulo tomorrow. That section of the festival will run until Sunday, August 1st. It’s very exciting to be getting such a long run at one of the world’s largest festival. While Hasan Everywhere is playing out of competition, there are several other Irish shorts in the competitive category. Two of which I’ve had the pleasure of seeing - Old Fangs and Trolley Boy. The third is called Guns, Bees and Tadpoles, which I’ve heard about but am sorry to say have yet to see. Best of luck guys. I do hope there’s someone down there representing the Irish contigent.
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Bridie on the Film Board Shorts Channel
July 20, 2010 at 4:21 pm by Andrew Kavanagh
The ubiquitous Bridie Gaffney has made another unscheduled appearance, this time on the Irish Film Board’s Shorts Channel!
Featuring the late Gerry Ryan, find out more about Bridie’s ill-fated honeymoon on the Isle of Man (and how much her husband resembles Sean Connery) by clicking here.
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Jobot’s Access All Areas shortlisted for excellence award!
July 9, 2010 at 11:47 am by Heidi Egger
Jobot's Access All Areas
Kavaleer’s flash game “Jobot’s Access All Areas” has been shortlisted for a Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award 2010 in the Outstanding Customer Service category!
Jobot was designed for South Dublin County Council as part of their campaign to promote awareness of accessibility issues for people with disabilities. Big thanks to Selina Bonnie at SDCC and Shane Hogan at Areaman for all their input. Check it out at http://www.sdublincoco.ie/game.aspx
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Hasan goes to Hiroshima
July 6, 2010 at 5:44 pm by Ciara Gillan
Hasan Everywhere has been selected to screen out of competition at this years Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival. Celebrating it’s 25th anniversary the festival showcases a wonderful selection of animated features and short films. Hiroshima prides itself on bringing new and interesting films to the screen and has been doing so for 25 years. For this reason we’re honoured that Hasan has been chosen as part of the animation for peace program.
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The Real Apprentice
June 30, 2010 at 12:06 pm by Andrew Kavanagh
Kavaleer are delighted to be taking on recent ISA graduate and award-winning filmmaker Bruno Palma for a two-week internship as part of the Best In Show inititaive. Check out Kate Holmquist’s article and interview with Kavaleer’s own Gary Timpson in today’s Irish Times!
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Picnic with Short Movies
June 22, 2010 at 11:15 am by Andrew Kavanagh
Just a quick note to say ‘Hasan Everywhere’ will be screening at 7pm this coming thursday as part of the Picnic with Short Movies taking place in the Mad Art Studio & Gallery , 56 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1. Admission is 5 euro and there are lots of great animated shorts showing on the evening. What better way to round off a hot summer’s day than to see some great films in the company of filmakers and movie lovers alike? The event is being organized by Aga Grandowicz of animators.ie, to whom we send a big thank you!
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Irish Animation Series Goes Global
June 15, 2010 at 12:32 pm by Gary Timpson
Kavaleer Productions, based in Dublin, Ireland, are delighted to announce that their animated TV series, Garth & Bev will premiere on CBeebies Mexico and CBeebies U.S Hispanic on June 21st. Broadcast dates are also pending for BBC and CBeebies Africa.
BBC Worldwide has previously distributed the series in Qatar to Arabic Children’s channel, Al-Jazeera, Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong and the Portuguese channel, Radio E Televisao de Portugal.
The series, which is aimed at 4-7 year olds, is produced by Kavaleer Productions’ managing director Gary Timpson. Speaking about the series’ recent success Gary says,
“It’s great to see the series go from strength to strength. A lot of hard work had gone into the into the making of Garth & Bev so it really means a lot to the team when we see how well it is received both in Ireland and internationally.”
Michael O’Keeffe, chief executive of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said,
“The BAI is delighted to be part of the success story that is Garth & Bev. The production of high quality television projects that add to the viewing choice of Irish audiences -in this case young children- is a key objective of Sound & Vision, the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. Garth & Bev is yet another example of how Sound & Vision funding is being used to create exciting animation projects that are set in Ireland.”
Since its debut on, RTÉ Two in November 2009, Garth & Bev has enjoyed great success. The series received a 32% audience share during its two week run on RTÉ Television and subsequently aired on CBeebies and BBC2.
Financing for the series was provided by RTÉ, the BBC, BBC Worldwide, The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland- Sound & vision Fund, The Irish Film Board and the Irish tax incentive schemes, section 481. With the support of the MEDIA Program of the European Union and with the assistance of the Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit & The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. In association with Telefim Canada and Co-produced with Copernicus Studios.
Emma Scott, production executive at the Irish Film Board said:
“The IFB are delighted to support this talented and innovative Irish company. The appeal of Garth & Bev lies in the humour and innovation of the writing and animation talent inherent in Kavaleer. We look forward to seeing Garth & Bev charming and informing young children all over the world, as it has already done in Ireland.”
Sheila de Courcy, RTÉ’s commissioning editor, Young People’s Programmes said:
“Garth and Bev is very successful in bringing youngsters timeless stories in a contemporary style. RTÉ Young Peoples Programmes is delighted to see these concepts presented in the schedule with great success. The series is a real hit with our audience”.
Created & executively produced by Kavaleer CEO, Andrew Kavanagh and directed by Stuart Shankly, Garth & Bev follows the adventures of Garth and his sister Bev who live a long time ago in the beautiful village of Ballybeg. They are no ordinary siblings though! With a little Druid magic from their Grandfather, Lir, they travel through the ‘Time Spiral’ on amazing adventures to find out how behind every great idea.. ‘Nature has all the answers’.
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