Economy Minister visits Belfast animation studio to celebrate local talent and global success

Date published: 23 June 2025

With support from Northern Ireland Screen through its 'Stories, Skills and Sustainability' Strategy, Paper Owl Films continues to develop ambitious international projects while nurturing a home-grown workforce.  Notable working practices include bespoke talent initiatives and Pablo’s Academy, which offers neurodivergent people work experience, and employee access to a neurodivergent consultant to support them in the workplace.  

During the visit, Minister Archibald toured the new 5,000 square foot facility; watched a live voice recording session of Lí Ban, a Celtic inspired anime available in both the Irish and Welsh language; and met with creatives working on Pablo: Next Level, a sequel to the award-winning Pablo series, a trailblazing series for autism representation.

Scheduled to air in March 2026, the Minister also recorded a line to feature in the upcoming Pablo: Next Level series, co-produced with Cake Entertainment in association with Crayola for BBC Children’s and RTÉJr.  

The Minister said: 

“The north has established itself as a leading global location for film and TV production and its fast-growing interactive sector.  One of my Department’s seven priority areas, it is an exciting and thriving sector which is critical to delivery of my economic plan.

“It was great to visit the new office space to witness first-hand how Paper Owl Films delivers real economic impact through innovation, inclusion, and international collaboration.  It is particularly inspiring to see how this studio is championing indigenous talent as well as providing opportunities for neurodivergent creatives, creating good jobs and supporting careers here at home.”

Gráinne McGuinness, Co-founder and Creative Director of Paper Owl Films commented: 

“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to our new offices.  It’s a space we are very proud of as it supports our team to create work that has the power to enable understanding, inspire change, and connect people of all ages and backgrounds. We’re proud to be growing our studio here in Belfast, nurturing diverse creative talent, and telling stories that travel far beyond these shores. To compete globally, it’s essential that we continue to attract and retain world-class talent — and create the kind of inclusive, inspiring workplace where that talent can thrive.”

To find out more about Paper Owl Films and the content produced for local and international platforms including CBBC, CBeebies, RTÉjr, TG4, CBC, Netflix and NBC Universal, visit Paper Owl Films - Inspiring audiences to see the world in different ways.