The 2021 recipient of the Murakami Award was Robert Cullen, founder and creative director of Boulder Media.
The Murakami Award recognises significant achievement in the field of animation.
The award was presented to Robert by Ethna Murakami at Animation Dingle’s first virtual festival, with the awards ceremony streamed live on YouTube on the 25th March.
Since its inception in 2000, Boulder has grown to become one of Ireland’s largest animation studios.
Robert has worked as a Director and Animation Director on shows such as Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball and Wander Over Yonder and was instrumental in the reboot of 80’s classic, Danger Mouse for CBBC and went on to direct 72 episodes.
In 2015 Robert, wrote and directed the award winning ‘Fresh Cut Grass’ which won Best Animated Short at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Robert is currently directing his first feature film based on the universally loved My Little Pony franchise which is set to be released on Netflix in Autumn 2021.
Past recipients include:
Nora Twomey, Co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon, Darragh O’Connell and Cathal Gaffney, founders of Brown Bag Films; Aidan Hickey; Don Bluth & Gary Goldman; Oscar winner Richie Baneham Avatar; Oscar nominated Tomm Moore, Song of the Sea; Oscar nominated Jimmy T. Murakami, The Snowman.