The cartoon creator behind hits like Danger Mouse is coming home to Manchester and creating scores of jobs in the process. Staff from animation studio Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment are moving into The Towers business park, near Didsbury.
Managing Director Simon Hall said 40 jobs, for animators or graphic designers, have been generated immediately, with a further 70 to follow in the next six months. CHF, formerly Cosgrove Hall Productions, was reformed in 2011, having been shut down by owner ITV in 2009.
The firm, which boasts Sir David Jason, the voice of Danger Mouse, as a non-executive director, has been searching for a Manchester base ever since. Mr Hall, who lives in Macclesfield, said he was delighted to be moving into the Towers and is excited about the future after investing £10m to create two animated programmes. He said: “It's a grade-II listed building and basically looks like Toad Hall – it's perfect and we are just finishing off wiring the place. Our new animators will be working there from early October. It's great we are coming back to our roots and will be just next door to our old home in Chorlton.”
He added: “We are aiming to bring British humour back to the screen and are looking forward to bringing new people in. All the jobs are listed on our Facebook page.
“We are all about quality storytelling. The north west of England, especially with MediaCity, has a huge talent pool of trained people so it ticks all the boxes. Our shows will sell around the world which will provide revenue streams for the area. And we are forecasting £50m turnover in the next four years.”
The company already has offices in London and New York and currently employs 36 people.
Source: Manchester Evening News
