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Boat Rocker extends buying spree

Canada’s Boat Rocker Media has completed its second purchase of a Canuck animation outfit this year with the acquisition of Ottawa-based Jam Filled Entertainment.

Jam Filled is the service animation studio for The Bagel and Becky Show, a series produced by Radical Sheep, the Toronto-based animation firm Boat Rocker acquired in March.

This followed Boat Rocker’s investment in another Toronto-based animation outfit, Industrial Brothers, which was bought as part of plans to expand its kids and animation footprint.

Jam Filled’s founding partners, president Kyle Mac Dougall and creative directors Jamie Leclaire and Phil Lafrance, will remain with the company and retain their current titles.

Jam Filled will continue to operate under its current banner, reporting into Boat Rocker Media’s CEO John Young.

Boat Rocker will provide capital investment and business support to Jam Filled’s senior leadership to grow the studio’s current 2D animation capacity while expanding its capabilities into 3D animation.

Boat Rocker Studios, which is behind The Next Step, also houses Temple Street Productions, producer of BBC America’s Orphan Black, following a restructure towards the end of last year.

Canadian insurance and investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings took a majority stake in Temple Street Productions in July last year.

“With more than 150 outstanding animators, the acquisition of Jam Filled will not only allow Boat Rocker to expand its animation services capabilities, but will also allow us to add to our original programming strength in the kids and family arena, complementing the teams within Radical Sheep and Industrial Brothers,” said Young.

“With these expanded capabilities, Boat Rocker can offer kids and family creators, broadcasters, toy companies and brands one integrated solution, solidifying Boat Rocker’s position as a global leader in the development, creation and production of kids and family animation for all platforms,” Young added.

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