TWO IRISH ANIMATION outfits have picked up awards for their work at a prestigious French film festival.

Television episode The Amazing World of Gumball – The Quest, which was co-produced by Dublin company Boulder Media, was handed Best TV Production in the TV and Commissioned Films section of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival over the weekend.

And Santa’s Apprentice which was co-produced by Cartoon Saloon, a firm based in Kilkenny, was recognised with a Unicef award for the animated programme which most reflects the aims of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Amazing World of Gumball, which airs on Cartoon Network, chronicles the adventures of Gumball the blue cat and a cast of various animals. Santa’s Apprentice follows a seven-year-old boy, Nicholas, as he deals with the trials and tribulations of being a retiring Santa’s successor. It has been a success in several international markets including the US, where it was picked up by the Weinstein Company.

Peter Lewis, a producer at Boulder Media, told TheJournal.ie: “We’re absolutely thrilled. It’s always nice to be able to work on this kind of show, but when they do so well and get this kind of attention it’s fantastic. It’s great for the crew to get that kind of recognition.

“The show has premiered already in the UK, it’s running in the States right now and doing quite well, and it’ll go pretty much everywhere Cartoon Network have broadcasting customers. Which is almost globally these days.”

The Irish Film Board also welcomed the awards. Production executive Emma Scott said: “It’s great to see continued international recognition for the work the Irish animation industry is producing.”

Take a look at the winning work:

The Amazing World of Gumball (clip)

Santa’s Apprentice (trailer)