Boyle based animation company “Studio Meala” added to their list of awards last week when they picked up two Irish Animation Awards for the hit TV series Doodle Girl
Dublin actress Aisling Walsh claimed the “Best Voice Acting” accolade over a highly competitive Irish and international field while the company also won the “Kids Choice Award” for Doodle Girl!
In another link to Boyle, local man Paul Young’s Kilkenny based Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon scooped three awards for Best Design and Art Direction and Best Original Score for Star Wars.
The who’s who of Ireland’s globally renowned animation sector gathered at The Galway Bay Hotel, Galway, Ireland on Saturday May 24th for the 2025 Irish Animation Awards. Nominees from Animation Ireland’s member studios travelled from across the country to celebrate creativity and innovation at this year’s ceremony, which was supported by Primary Sponsor Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and opened by Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
More than 328 entries were viewed and considered by an extensive Irish and international jury. Winners in each category received awards created by filmmaker, animator, and illustrator Eimhin McNamara. The statue resembles a Phenakistoscope which was an early animation device used to create an illusion of motion.
The Irish Animation Awards are a biennial event, celebrating more than 2,500 highly skilled animation professionals who make and create across the island of Ireland, from Dublin to Galway, Derry to Cork. Irish animated films and series are enjoyed by children and adults in 182 countries worldwide, with Irish animation studios and their workforces in huge demand internationally, valued for their creativity, craft, professionalism, and commitment.
Previously named “One of the ten rising businesses to watch in Roscommon” by thinkbusiness.ie, Spool Factory based Studio Meala is a creatively led studio that delivers high-end 2D animation. It was founded by Sean Cunningham (Creative Director), Stephen Fagan (Managing Director) and Jerry Twomey (Financial Director).
The company produces content for the global market with clients in Europe, the UK and the US and came first in the Roscommon Enterprise awards 2022. It received a runner-up award at the national Enterprise awards and won best newcomer at the Irish Animation Awards 2021.
