BBC Children’s and Education has announced that the Ignite Animation Programme will return for a second round, with a new search for the best animation talent the UK has on offer. Applications open today (Wednesday) and run until Thursday February 8, 2024.
The BBC is once more on the lookout for fresh, bold and innovative animated TV series ideas for a fully funded development opportunity.
Successful creators will receive funding to co-develop their idea in partnership with the BBC, developing it into an industry standard proof of concept which will then be considered for a potential commission.
Open to all, the BBC is on the lookout for UK-centric ideas that appeal to children of all ages from sole creators over the age of 18, collectives, animation studios, production companies or anything in-between.
Ignite was launched in 2021 as the BBC’s biggest solo initiative open to any and all animation talent from across the UK, offering the chance to create a brand-new project from scratch. The BBC called on talent from both established independent production companies, BBC in-house production and talented individuals looking for their first break and received over 1,000 ideas.
The initiative yielded three animation projects including Duck and Frog, Captain Onion’s Buoyant Academy for Wayward Youth and The Underglow, all of which are currently in the commissioning process.
Patricia Hidalgo, director, Children’s & Education, said: “Whether you’ve been in the industry for years or just starting out, the beauty of Ignite is that it is open to anyone. We saw so many great ideas from the first initiative, we know the talent is out there and we’re really proud that we can facilitate the development and offer opportunity to new talent from across the whole of the country. We need a buoyant children’s sector and it is critical that there is more culturally relevant content for UK kids on our screens. Ensuring that happens is a key priority of mine and the BBC’s.”
