UK animators start tax breaks campaign

A group of animators are aiming to revive the fortunes of the industry in the UK, forming a group called Animation UK to call for similar tax breaks to those currently available for the film sector.

A story in The Guardian said that Aardman, Hit Entertainment, Blue Zoo Productions, Chapman Entertainment and Nickelodeon UK will launch the Save UK Animation campaign in a couple of weeks.

It is planning to lobby the Treasury, plus Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.

While in opposition, both parties championed the need to support the creative industries. Save UK Animation is currently compiling information on the economic value of the industry to aid its case. Bernard Cribbens is a patron of the group.

Oli Hyatt, founder of Blue Zoo, told The Guardian: "Animation UK campaigns for fairer trading conditions for UK animation producers, to help protect or increase the ownership of intellectual property that is of such value to the economy."