Studio Profile 3 - ClothCat Animation
After the untimely demise of Dinamo Productions in Cardiff last year, the future of the animation industry in Wales looked bleak. For ten years Dinamo crafted some of the finest childrens television on air. To study at Glamorgan (and to work extremely hard to get somewhere) meant you were more than likely guaranteed some work there. In an industry where getting your foot in the door is essential, this was a decisive factor in choosing the course at Glamorgan (apart from the great teaching).
That abruptly ended during the summer after second year. It was a scary time for all of us who were eager to enter this industry we all love so much; suddenly the future was very uncertain.
Over the past year though a new company formed as a subsidiary of Cardiff visual effects outfit "Bait Studio". That company is ClothCat.
ClothCat has taken up the mantle left behind by Dinamo, but building from the ground up. They've taken on many series left behind from the fallout, and are now onto developing their own IP. Things are picking up nicely because of this, not only for series work but also for interactive (which looks like the new model for most animation studios in Britain today). Whilst we can mourn the demise of Dinamo, we have to realise this is just the nature of the industry. The only way for things to pick is to carry on.