Irish animation producer Lighthouse Studios (The Bob’s Burgers Movie, The Cuphead Show, El Deafo, Little Ellen) has promoted finance director Marc Jordan to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer. Jordan will help shape the company’s financial strategy and operations, including the financial management of co-productions.
The first such co-pro is a new children’s animated adventure series, Showtime (previously known as Stage Struck). Award-winning French studio Gao Shan Pictures is joining the original project as co-production partner, alongside previously announced partner Dog Ears in Northern Ireland. The announcement was made today by Claire Finn, Managing Director, Lighthouse Studios.
As CFO and part of Lighthouse Studios’ executive team, Jordan will develop and implement the company’s financial strategy and will oversee all financial aspects of co-productions; identifying and securing funding opportunities for co-productions and other projects; and collaborating with production partners. He joined Lighthouse Studios as Financial Controller when the company was founded in 2017, and for the past four years, he has served as its Finance Director. Jordan began his career in practice, gaining considerable experience working with clients across a broad range of industries. He currently serves as a Board Member of Animation Ireland.
“Marc has been a pivotal member of our team during his tenure at the studio,” commented Finn. “His promotion to CFO is well-deserved, and he will be instrumental in collaborating with our esteemed production partners to continue delivering the first-class animation we have been known for since our inception.”
“The past seven years have provided a tremendous opportunity to work with Claire and the team to grow from primarily an animation service provider to expanding into original content, and I am delighted to continue the journey to help further build Lighthouse Studios into a world class animation studio,” added Jordan. “We are also excited to welcome Gao Shan as a co-production partner to work alongside us and Dog Ears on Showtime, a series that celebrates inclusion and kindness, the magic ingredients that help every child to shine, and will encourage kids to get excited about being part of a performance — whatever part they choose.”
Launched in 2017 as a service studio, Lighthouse Studios has produced a prestigious slate of animated content. The company is also moving into original content production, and over the last year has been in development on three projects, one of which is Showtime, based on Tor Freeman’s book Showtime for Billie and Coco. Gao Shan Pictures will co-produce the 52 x 11’ series alongside Lighthouse Studios and Dog Ears. Lighthouse Studios’ award-winning Head Creative Gilly Fogg (El Deafo, Bug Diaries) will direct from scripts written by Sian Ní Mhuirí (Royals Next Door). Finn serves as executive producer; Dog Ears’ Creative Director John McDaid is co-producer; and Gao Shan’s CEO Arnauld Boulard.
Showtime is described as a high-energy comedy series set in a performing arts school. Naturally diverse and inclusive, each 11-minute episode features visual humor for young audiences, character led stories grounded in friendship, and performances galore, as the characters learn about everything from puppetry to ballet, mime, acrobatics, street-dancing, juggling and more!
