“Establishing a base in Bristol was a natural choice”
Triggerfish, Africa’s leading animation company, is setting up a studio in Bristol. The still is from Aau’s Song, created for Star Wars Visions 2 anthology(Image: LucasFilm)
Bristol’s status as the animation capital of the UK has been given another boost, after Africa’s leading animation studio announced it would be setting up its first UK facility in the city.
Award-winning animation studio Triggerfish, which was founded in South Africa and has created films and series for everyone from the BBC to Netflix and Disney, said picking Bristol for their new studio was a ‘natural choice’.
Bristol is known as the home of animation in the UK after decades with the likes of Aardman Animation, Sun & Moon Studios, Wonky Films, Rumpus Animation and Studio Giggle all based in the city.
The arrival of Triggerfish will bring another big player in the world of animation globally to the city.
The firm has now opened its studio in the Royal Talbot Building, near Bristol Bridge on Victoria Street, with a fully-serviced facility with a state-of-the-art screening room, meeting rooms and community space.
“Establishing a base in Bristol was a natural choice given the city’s rich storytelling heritage and longstanding reputation for animation excellence,” said Natalie Adams, one of Triggerfish’s big bosses.
“The move strengthens our operations in the UK and reflects our ambition to build a premium animation facility that harnesses the exceptional creative talent based in the city and surrounding areas,” she added.
The arrival has been welcomed by West of England metro mayor Helen Godwin. One of the metro mayor’s responsibilities is on jobs and the economy, and she said it was a ‘vote of confidence’ in the city and the wider region.
Triggerfish, Africa’s leading animation company, is setting up a studio in Bristol, in the Royal Talbot Building near Bristol Bridge(Image: GoogleMaps)
“I am delighted to welcome Triggerfish to the West of England, the country’s fastest growing regional economy,” she said. “The creative industries are a key sector for our future, so an award-winning global studio choosing our part of the world for their UK base is a real vote of confidence in our Growth Strategy.
“Bristol and the wider West are already world-renowned for animation and, with the support of Invest Bristol & Bath and partners across our region, this is a natural fit for Triggerfish. Working together with the wider cultural sector and investing our £25 million Creative Places Growth Fund, we will continue to create new jobs and opportunities for local people,” she added.
Triggerfish has animated seven of the award-winning specials, including Stick Man, Zog, The Snail and the Whale, Tiddler and, most recently, The Scarecrows’ Wedding, which drew the highest Christmas Day audience on BBC One over Christmas 2025. Across the slate, the productions have won multiple honours, including two Children’s BAFTAs and two British Animation Awards.