Triggerfish, the award-winning South African animation powerhouse, is making major moves again this time with a brand-new studio in the United Kingdom.
Known for putting African animation on the global stage, the company is now expanding its European presence with plans to deliver even more feature films, TV series, and specials. It’s rise from a local startup to an international player highlights a journey of innovation, partnerships and storytelling excellence.
A Quick Look Back: Who is Triggerfish?
Founded in 1996 in Cape Town, Triggerfish started out as a small animation outfit before skyrocketing into one of Africa’s most successful animation studios. Over the years, they’ve collected Emmys, Annies, and a shelf of international awards, proving that African studios can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
The studio is led by CEO Stuart Forrest, who has been at the helm of its global growth. Alongside him are a powerhouse team:
- Mike Buckland (Director of Production) – steering the technical excellence.
- Anthony Silverston (Director of Development) – shaping creative direction.
- Chris Cunnington (Head of CG) – driving cutting-edge digital animation.
- Cathy Bradley (Head of Talent) – building teams of world-class animators.
- Aibe Mawu (Head of Academy) – leading Triggerfish Academy’s training and mentorship initiatives.
With this leadership, Triggerfish has moved from producing local projects to becoming a go-to partner for Disney, Netflix, the BBC, Lucasfilm, and Sony Pictures Animation.
Strategic Expansion: Why the U.K.?
In September 2025, Triggerfish announced the launch of a new studio in the United Kingdom, strengthening its European footprint and bolstering its production capacity.
This move complements the studio’s existing hubs in South Africa and Ireland, and underscores a strategic push to be closer to key creative partners and clients.
The UK expansion is driven by practical advantages – access to Britain’s top animation talent, generous tax incentives and a thriving creative ecosystem – all of which will help Triggerfish deliver premium animation services on a global scale.
By establishing a London studio, Triggerfish aims to tap into the UK’s pool of experienced animators and technical staff. The company is actively recruiting for multiple positions, including a new UK head to lead projects from the London office.
As CEO Stuart Forrest explains, the UK has always been “central to our story many of our most talented collaborators are based here”.
In Forrest’s words, expanding in the UK is “a natural next step in growing our European business,” reflecting Triggerfish’s vision of a “global by design” animation studio model.
Projects That Put Triggerfish on the Map
From Netflix’s “Supa Team 4” to Disney+’s “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire”, Triggerfish has delivered stories that resonate globally while staying true to African voices. Their work on six BBC Christmas specials, including “Stick Man”and “The Snail and the Whale”, has been praised for its artistry and charm.
Supa Team 4 (Netflix) – A comedic animated series featuring a team of superheroes.
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+) – An anthology of African sci-fi stories curated by Triggerfish.
Magic Light Specials (BBC) – Animated TV specials including Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale, and Tiddler.
By showcasing such a varied slate of projects, Triggerfish demonstrates its versatility across genres and formats. Its track record of award-winning content makes the studio a sought-after partner for major franchises and studios around the world.
Leveraging Technology and Remote Collaboration
Part of Triggerfish’s growth strategy is leveraging cutting-edge production technology and remote workflows. In recent years, the studio has fine-tuned a distributed pipeline that connects artists across continents.
For Disney+’s Kizazi Moto, Triggerfish coordinated over 1,500 crew members spanning nine studios on three continents, proving the strength of its remote-friendly operations.
The studio’s next-generation CG pipeline, built around USD (Universal Scene Description) integration, has been designed to streamline production and reduce friction in international collaboration.
This system was stress-tested on Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Visions – Aau’s Song, enabling real-time cooperation between teams in different countries.
By combining such technology with local UK and global talent, Triggerfish ensures that creative work flows smoothly across time zones, a model that Stuart Forrest envisions as “the animation studio of the future”.
Beyond Production: Building the Future of Animation
Triggerfish isn’t just about making films; they’re about building the industry. Through the Triggerfish Academy and Foundation, they’ve trained and mentored hundreds of upcoming animators across Africa, often in collaboration with Disney, Netflix, GIZ, and the Goethe-Institute.
The new U.K. studio will likely mirror this model serving not just as a production hub, but also as a training ground and creative community for animators.
What’s Next?
With Africa at its core and the world in its sights, Triggerfish’s U.K. expansion marks a bold step into the future. They’ve gone from a Cape Town startup to a global African leader in animation, and now, they’re bringing that same spirit to London.