Eight local animation studios have been selected to receive support that will boost their productivity and export of their content. The assistance comes from the Business of Sustainable Studios (BOSS) Project, an initiative of the Youth Employment in the Digital and Animation Industries (YEDAI) Project in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), which is managed by JAMPRO and funded by the World Bank. This is the second cohort of animation studios selected by BOSS, as the project aims to support youth employment in the digital and animation industries in Jamaica.

The group of eight companies will be receiving training and the opportunity to attend global markets to promote their content for export.  The first BOSS cohort is currently in the last 6 months of the programme, with the training modules expected to end in September 2019.

Already, 8 studios in Cohort 1 have received support in training programmes focusing on workflow, penetrating new markets, and other skills needed to be successful in the international animation industry.  Two national delegations also participated in entertainment content market MipCom in Cannes, France in October 2018, and Kidscreen Summit in Miami, USA in February 2019.

This has resulted in 2 international animation productions outsourced to local production companies, including a 44-episode project for a Jamaican animation series with Indian studio, Toonz Media. A member of the first cohort – ListenMi Caribbean- has also secured the rights to produce an animated version of the 1980s sitcom Lime Tree Lane, and is set to employ more than 20 persons to work on the series.

Driving success in Jamaica’s animation industry

Ms. Galina Sotirova, World Bank Country Manager, said “I am absolutely thrilled about the award of these two animation production contracts to local studios. The Jamaica Animation Brand is steadily gaining recognition in the international market through the work done under the BOSS programme and the KingstOOn Animation Festival. The YEDAI Project is positioning Jamaica as a potential animation hub for Latin America and the Caribbean. I look forward to more contracts for local studios and the creation of jobs for youths.”

Margery Newland, YEDAI Project Manager said the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) was pleased to see the success of BOSS’ first cohort, noting that the YEDAI Project anticipated greater  achievements from Cohort 2. She said “ Cohort 1 tested the international waters and brought attention to Jamaica’s animators in a more targeted way than has been done before. The lessons learnt from this and earlier efforts are all being brought to bear in preparing the new Cohort for their debut. I am confident that they, and Jamaica, will at the end of the programme, see continued positive response to their efforts and a more consistent flow of work to Jamaica.”

Film Commissioner Renee Robinson said that she was also ecstatic about the project’s success, and she is optimistic about the Jamaican animation industry’s progress, as the programme is achieving its intended goals. She said, “We designed the BOSS programme to target specific enterprise and market access interventions for local productions studios. On the one hand, we see a role in generating commercially-viable local intellectual property and pursuing a value chain for screen-based companies that are building their products along those lines. On the other hand, there are significant global outsourcing opportunities to be pursued, by local companies that have the infrastructure, workflow and human capital to scale up to meet the demands of larger international productions. Both models are covered within the BOSS programme.”

The BOSS partners hope to realize animation’s potential in Jamaica, facilitating contributions of up to US$20 million to the economy and creating at least 500 new jobs on an annual basis. The programme is scheduled to end on December 31, 2019.

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)’s mission is to drive economic development through growth in investment and export. JAMPRO is an Agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

BOSS’ full second cohort includes: Anime Bee,  George Hay Designs, Have a Bawl Productions,  JA Films Limited,  CMills Art & Animation, Ms. Corretta Singer, Freelance Animator, Tide Rising Projects, Ringtime TV Limited

ABOUT BOSS

The Business of Sustainability for Studios (BOSS) Programme, an initiative of the YEDAI Project, OPM which is funded by the World Bank, aims to groom 20 existing animation production studio executives to grow their businesses into sustainable and profitable production and animation entities; support the development of the local Animation industry; and ultimately, transform the landscape in Jamaica to encourage greater local direct investment in the creative economy.