Queensland animation studio gets touch of the Irish
One of Australia’s leading independent animation studios is opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland – but its first international project stays true Bluey.
Ireland’s growing animation community was the driving force behind Like A Photon Creative (LAPC) making the decision to open the new office with its chiefs saying it would allow them to make faster and stronger content creation, the business said.
The business said the acquisition was expected to allow the business to run a 24-hour global operation, highlighting LAPC as a key company in the $30m-$40m film market.
LAPC’s first project as an international operation would be providing managed IT and pipeline services to Dino Studios’ upcoming Bluey movie.
Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates, LAPC Co-CEOs, said establishing an Irish base would allow the business to tap into the country’s history of animation excellence.
“By establishing a base there, we can expand our talent pool, strengthen international collaborations, and provide around-the-clock creative and technical services without overextending our Australian team,” Souvlis and Bates said.
Like A Photon Creative’s Legacy
The two founded LAPC in 2015 and have spent the last decade building a reputation as Australia’s only female-led and owned children’s film and television production company. They have worked with global brands including Crayola, Macmillan and HarperCollins to create family-focused films.
LAPC has delivered more than $64 million in Australian production investment and created over 900 local jobs. It has produced original films including The Wishmas Tree, Combat Wombat, ScaryGirl, The Lost Tiger and many more.
The LAPC empire would expand further with its new partnership with Jason Behan from Summer Star Creative. Together, they have formed Apocalypso, a media monetisation and distribution service equipping producers with tools and strategies to navigate the growing global content landscape.
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Souvlis and Bates said their aim with Apocalypso was to take back some control with how their product is delivered into the world.
“We’re so excited to be working with Jason Behan to build Apocalypso to be a voice in the room for producers. Together we are lending our expertise to content of all formats, including scripted and non-scripted, television and feature films,” Souvlis and Bates said.
In the last month, the duo has received the Australian Women’s Film Festival ‘Groundbreaker Award’. They were also named finalists in the QLD Lord Mayors Business Award for Outstanding Small Business’. In 2024 Souvlis took out the First Among Equals Award at the InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards, the program’s highest honour.
The two will attend the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art’s In Conversation event on Saturday September 28 to discuss their story and insights.
