Two independent animation studios with reputations for high-quality work are joining forces to launch a new 2D-focused animation studio in Ireland, Lighthouse Studios.
Lighthouse, which is expected to create over 140 jobs in the next three years, is a partnership between Ottawa, Canada’s Mercury Filmworks, and Kilkenny, Ireland-based Cartoon Saloon. The new studio will also be located in Kilkenny, which now makes the small town of 25,000 something of an animation hub, with two significant animation studios.

Cartoon Saloon is the company behind the Oscar-nominated films The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, and is currently wrapping up on its next feature, The Breadwinner. Meanwhile, Mercury has made its reputation in recent years as Disney TV’s go-to service provider for top-shelf productions, among them The Lion Guard, the Mickey Mouse shorts, and the upcoming Tangled series. The studio recently spearheaded its own series Atomic Puppet, now airing on Disney XD.