26-05-2025
Dublin studio Turnip + Duck lead Irish Animation Awards
Dublin Studio Turnip + Duck led the 2025 Irish Animation Awards with four wins for their series Maddie + Triggs.
The animated series, which follows the adventures of a curious little girl and her doggy best friend, bagged the awards for Best Animated Preschool Series (up to 6 years old), Best Original Song, Best New IP and Best Innovation.
Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon took home three awards for Best Design and Art Direction, and Best Original Score for the Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 episode Screecher's Reach and Best Storyboarding for Silly Sundays.
Galway's Moetion Films took home two Irish Animation Awards for The Magic Reindeer Saving Santa's Sleigh, including Best Feature Film or Special, while fellow Galway studio Triggerfish Animation also bagged two awards on the night for their animated TV series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.
Roscommon's Studio Meala also bagged two awards for the hit TV series Doodle Girl, with one going to young Dublin actress Aisling Walsh who claimed the Best Voice Acting accolade.
Dublin studio Kavaleer Productions was honoured with two gongs for their series Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, winning Best Animated Kids Series (over 6 years old), and scooping the Kids Choice for Best Animated Kids Series (over 6 years old) as voted by the children of Hazelwood Integrated Primary and Nursery in Belfast.
Dublin's Brown Bag Films came out tops in the Best Script for a Feature Film or Special category for Lu and the Bally Bunch, while also winning the Sustainability Champion 2025 Award.
Best Animated Short Film - Ireland went to Retirement Plan directed by John Kelly, with a script co-written by Tara Lawall and John Kelly. The film is voiced by Domhnall Gleeson.
Japanese animator Saki Muramoto took home Best International Animated Short Film fo r A Night at the Rest Area.
Ronan McCabe, CEO of Animation Ireland, said: "It's been a challenging time for the industry since we last got together in 2023 and whilst we remain conscious of the difficulties facing our members, it is important that we celebrate and showcase the work and creativity of our professional Animation, VFX and Gaming communities.
"We only get to do every two years so it's with gratitude that we come together, with our friends and colleagues from this island and beyond, to share and celebrate the best our industry has to offer. Well done to all the nominees and congratulations to the winners."
Desiree Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the primary sponsor of the awards, added: "Screen Ireland is proud to support the 2025 Irish Animation Awards - an important opportunity to highlight the outstanding Irish animation sector and the range of creative vision and talent it represents.
"Our congratulations and best wishes go to all of the nominees this year, whose stunning work continues to connect with audiences worldwide."
The Irish Animation Awards are a biennial event, celebrating more than 2,500 animation professionals who make and create across the island of Ireland.
