Bristol-based animation studio A Productions has hired a former supervisor from Disney to ramp up its original IP business.

Katie Barba joined this month as a development producer and is charged with expanding the studio’s scope of work beyond animation production and services for third-party partners, which include BBC Studios Kids & Family (JoJo & Gran Gran) and Sesame Workshop (Bea’s Block).

Barba will oversee an expansion of original content in the studio’s pipeline, as well as developing relationships with animation talent. She is looking for pitches on shows and co-pro opportunities from the industry. In her new roles, she’s also working closely with Mark Taylor, the founder and joint managing director of A Productions. 

Taylor says this hire comes at a “pivotal time”. Cyber Group Studios bought a majority stake in the studio last year, and A Productions is currently producing original CG-animated series Digital Girl (26 x 22 minutes). Cyber Group will distribute the tech-focused show for six to 10s globally, and it’s on track to deliver in late 2024. 

Featuring a superhero concept in a futuristic setting, Digital Girl scored a commission from BBC in the UK last year. Super RTL (Germany) and Discovery Kids Latin America have also pre-bought the project, which explores themes of futurism and ecology.

Barba worked at Disney in London for more than five years as a development and production supervisor. Her credits include 2D-animated series 101 Dalmatian Street and this year’s sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.