Gutsy Animations taps Edwards in UK

The UK arm of Moominvalley studio Gutsy Animations in Finland has appointed children’s television exec Marion Edwards as MD/executive producer.

Marion Edwards

Edwards has spent the past two years consulting on Gutsy’s hit animated series based on the Moomins IP, which was recommissioned for a third season recently.

Edwards joins Bristol-based Gutsy Animations UK having held roles at numerous children’s companies over the years and after its Finnish parent company received investment from a range of partners.

The exec spent two years at DreamWorks Animation (DWA) after the US studio hired her in 2015 to spearhead its television activities in Europe.

This followed five years at preschool producer Hit, where Edwards oversaw production of Mike the Knight, as well as the CGI versions of classic cartoons such as Fireman Sam and Thomas & Friends.

Prior to joining Hit in 2008, Edwards operated her own prodco, Red & Blue Productions, which coproduced preschool series such as Fun With Claude.

Commissioned by YLE in Finland, Sky in the UK and NHK in Japan, Moominvalley is based on Jansson’s novels and comic strips featuring the Moomin characters.

The series features an all-star voice cast including Kate Winslet, Rosamund Pike, Taron Egerton and Matt Berry, and has been sold internationally to a host of broadcasters.

Gutsy is looking to broaden its slate into adult scripted live-action and new 2D animated kids’ series, both of which will have a strong emphasis on nature and bold female characters, the producer has said.

Its current slate includes Bobble the Little Witch (26×11′), a story inspired by the likes of activist Greta Thunberg and Finnish goddess of the forest Mielikki, which it hopes will encourage kids to connect with the natural world.