Most of Ireland’s 30-plus animation companies were established recently – since 1994 and they are doing well. In June 2007, John Rice of JAM Media was nominated for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and the Spiddal (County Galway) -based company Telegael received an Emmy for its cartoon series Tutenstein.

This is good news for Ireland because animation is a big global industry predicted to be worth US $100-billion in the next few years.

Animation is used in music videos and computer games; and blockbuster movies are increasingly experimenting with digital special-effects – look at Lord Of The Rings, Pan’s Labyrinth and A Scanner Darkly.

The rapid advance of technology and innovation in ICT has enabled 24/7 consumer access to the products of animation. Animation also generates major revenue source through associate merchandise – licensed T-shirts, caps, runners etc etc.

Some Irish animation has made international waves. The Oscar-nominated ‘Give Up Your ‘Oul Sins’ came from Dublin company Brown Bag Films, while Monster Animation provided the cartoons of Madonna and Ali G for the video Music.