South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation sets up UK base in Bristol

Triggerfish and Magic Light’s Christmas special Stick Man for the BBC

South African animation studio Triggerfish (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire) has opened its recently announced UK base in Bristol, adding to its existing offices in Cape Town and Galway in Ireland.

The Bristol office is led by Natalie Adams, senior VP of business development, who joined Triggerfish last year.

Triggerfish said the studio will serve as a hub for creative development and physical meetings, but most of its UK-based employees will continue to operate remotely, allowing the company to draw on talent from across the country.

“Establishing a base in Bristol was a natural choice given the city’s rich storytelling heritage and longstanding reputation for animation excellence,” said Adams.

“The move strengthens our operations in the UK and reflects our ambition to build a premium animation facility that harnesses the exceptional creative talent based in the city and surrounding areas.”

The opening of the Bristol office also brings Triggerfish closer to creative partners in the UK, including Magic Light Pictures. Triggerfish has animated seven of Magic Light’s Christmas specials for UK pubcaster the BBC, including Stick Man, Zog, The Snail & the Whale, Tiddler and 2025’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding.

As part of its commitment to nurturing British animation talent, Triggerfish has also partnered with the BBC on the second cycle of its Ignite programme, which is designed to discover the UK’s next generation of animation creators.

Through the partnership, Triggerfish is one of a select group of production partners working alongside emerging creators as they progress to the final stage of development.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the west of England, said: “I am delighted to welcome Triggerfish to the west of England, the country’s fastest growing regional economy. The creative industries are a key sector for our future, so an award-winning global studio choosing our part of the world for their UK base is a real vote of confidence in our growth strategy.

“Bristol and the wider west are already world-renowned for animation and, with the support of Invest Bristol & Bath and partners across our region, this is a natural fit for Triggerfish. Working together with the wider cultural sector and investing our £25m [US$33m] Creative Places Growth Fund, we will continue to create new jobs and opportunities for local people.”