At the end of May, Ireland’s vibrant animation industry gathered in Galway to celebrate its exceptional talent and creativity. This year, the award welcomed a new category, Sustainability Champion of the Year to recognise individuals and teams within studios, going above and beyond to promote sustainable practices at work and for the rest of the community.
The three nominees, from Brown Bag Films, JAM Media and Cartoon Saloon, demonstrate how communities within studios can lead by example and excel in sustainability and contribute to the wider community. Here’s how each nominee is making a difference.
Starting with Enora Le Luherne, Cartoon Saloon;
Nominee Enora Le Luherne is a Background Artist, illustrator and Art Director working for feature films and TV series in the animation industry. Over the past 10 years she has worked across a range of Cartoon Saloon projects including the feature films Puffin Rock and the New Friends, Song of the Sea and the Oscar-nominated Wolfwalkers and The Breadwinner; short films Somewhere Down the Line and the Oscar-nominated Late Afternoon; TV series Pete the Cat and the Emmy-nominated Puffin Rock.
During the pandemic when working from home, Enora discovered a group of feral kittens near her home. When two kittens turned into a small colony, what started as a small rescue turned into a long-term commitment to animal welfare. Enora called Cats Trust to get some advice and established a Trap, Neuter, Release plan to control the cat population in the area.
After successfully tackling this first colony, residents in a nearby estate asked her if she
could do the same with a colony in their area. She has now dealt with eight colonies in total. She started a facebook group to raise awareness about the issue, raise funds for vet bills, find homes for cats and encourage people to neuter their pets. She now has 256 followers on facebook, plus has found volunteer helpers in her local community who work with her to trap, transport and re-home the cats. The Cats Trust also gives her lots of help and support. Her Cartoon Saloon work colleague Niamh Moyles helps out by arranging cake sales and plant sales in Cartoon Saloon during the year to raise funds, and the studio is very happy to support the project by eating cakes! Enora also accepts donations through her facebook page via the Cats Trust online donation process. Since she first embarked on this in 2021, she has neutered and vaccinated 107 feral cats and found homes for 60 of these – incredible!
Jess Patterson and Richard Gordon, JAM Media;
Jess Patterson (Episodic Director) and Richard Gordon (Series Producer) have demonstrated exceptional leadership in sustainability through their work on the hybrid production of, ‘Nova Jones’. Their dual focus on environmental responsibility and community engagement made a significant and lasting impact, both on set and beyond.
Fully aware of the environmental footprint of live-action production, Jess and Richard implemented a robust reclaim–recycle–reuse strategy at every stage of the series’ production. They began by sourcing pre-existing sets and materials from previous productions including modular walls, structures, and props dramatically reducing the environmental cost of building from new materials. At the end of the production cycle, these custom-made units were carefully dismantled and redistributed for reuse across other live-action projects, forming a circular economy model within the local production community.
Working in collaboration with Northern Ireland Screen’s Sustainable Sets and their “Hangout Place” initiative, they further enhanced this impact by integrating sustainable practices into their set design processes. Their approach turned what could have been high-waste environments into meaningful examples of green production.
Costume design and production posed another sustainability challenge due to the show’s
theme, which required an extensive range of bespoke, high-concept fashion pieces. Rather than allowing these elaborate garments to go to waste, Jess and Richard developed a thoughtful reuse strategy. Many costumes were donated to community theatre groups, youth programs, and fashion students, giving these pieces new life, new stories, and new audiences.
Their commitment to sustainability extended beyond production. In July 2024, they organised the Charity Flea event at the new JAM offices, where the remaining costumes, props, and materials were sold off. Promoted online and within industry networks, the event raised awareness of sustainability and social responsibility while generating funds for Cancer Focus, a cause especially meaningful to the ‘Nova Jones’ team.
The donation raised honored the memory of their late Live Action Production Manager, Julie Lillis who passed away during production and had been a passionate supporter of cancer fundraising.
Jess and Richard’s efforts demonstrate how sustainability can be seamlessly embedded into
creative production, while also engaging the broader community and honoring those who inspire us. Their work has set a meaningful precedent for future productions and made a genuine impact, both environmentally and socially.
And the winner is….
The Industry and Community Outreach Committee (ICOC) from Brown Bag Films
Taking home the award is the Industry & Community Outreach Committee (ICOC) from Brown Bag Films. Established in 2024 to bridge gaps identified in the Animation Ireland Skill Gap Analysis report and to support initiatives established by Animation Ireland’s Sustainability & Education & Industry Committee’s and is part of the studio’s wider ESG commitment, the ICOC drives lasting change both within and beyond the studio.
The committee consists of five members with diverse roles across the studio: Aidan Murtagh
(Director of Workplace Operations and Environment), Anahita Tabarsi (Marketing Director, Digital and Social), Darragh O’Connell (Brown Bag Films Co-Founder and Group Creative Director), Matthew Lloyd (Head of Environment, Layout and FX) and Sinéad Costello (Global Learning and Development Manager); the ICOC promotes sustainability, diversity and education through a broad range of initiatives.
Key Achievements include:
- 14 outreach events with over 1,000 attendees, involving over 50 Brown Bag volunteers. By continuing to host impactful events, the committee aims to further drive positive change, encouraging more sustainable behaviors, and building a stronger, more informed creative community.
- Repurposed an unused space in the studio into a dedicated presentation, training and workshop space, named Seomra Glas (Green Room), for use by our staff and for external community events. The space is fitted out with sustainable materials and LED lighting.
- Implemented sustainable event practices, such as paperless communication utilising QR Codes, emails, and social media to share info regarding our events.
- Provide staff and attendees with recycling / composting facilities, vegan food options and sustainable materials.
- Maintain ISO14001 Certification, requiring a commitment to continually improve our
environmental impact.
- Compliance with corporate “Zero Zero” Carbon Reduction initiative goals.
The ICOC has also partnered with leading institutions such as IADT, BCFE, and the Irish Film Institute, while supporting initiatives like Culture Night, All-Ireland Community Games, and Children’s Books Ireland’s Bookbag Project. Their work ensures that future generations of animators are educated, empowered, and environmentally conscious.
The committee also facilitated several other community outreach workshops.
• All-Ireland Community Games
• Culture Night partnered with the City of Dublin
• Family Festival and Careers in Animation partnered with Irish Film Institute
• Children’s Books Ireland for our Bookbag initiative
By championing educational opportunities and showcasing industry expertise, the committee
contributes to developing future talent and enhancing the studio’s community presence while aligning with the principles of Environmental, Human and Social Sustainability.
The introduction of the Sustainability Champion to the Irish Animation Awards is more than just a trophy, it is a way to recognise how the animation industry can lead the way in sustainability, creativity and community impact. Congratulations to the nominees for all their hard work! These champions prove that small actions can lead to big change. Animation Ireland alongside our Sustainability committee are proud to showcase these efforts and will continue to champion sustainability across the sector.
If you have any questions or are interested in how you can be more sustainable within your studio please get in touch with support@animationireland.com