“Animation Power Move! Nora Keely Joins Paper Owl Belfast as Head of Production Amid Studio Boom”
Paper Owl Films, the BAFTA-nominated indie production studio, has made a major leadership move with the appointment of Nora Keely as Head of Production for its newly launched Belfast studio. This expansion comes with support from the UK Global Screen Fund, financed by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media & Sport and administered by the BFI.
A New Era for Paper Owl Films
In her new role, Keely will oversee all productions at Paper Owl, strategically managing the studio’s growing slate of projects, which includes both original IPs and co-productions. Her leadership is set to play a crucial role in shaping the company’s future as it continues to gain momentum in the international animation industry.
Bringing Global Experience to Belfast
Keely is making the move from Toronto to Northern Ireland, bringing with her over 25 years of experience in animation and the arts. She has worked on some of the most beloved animated series, including:
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
- Wild Kratts
- Blue’s Clues & You!
- PAW Patrol
- True & the Rainbow Kingdom
- The Breadwinner (Oscar-nominated feature)
Before joining Paper Owl, she served as SVP of Production at 9 Story Media, overseeing the Toronto studio’s entire production pipeline. Prior to that, she was Director of Production at Guru Studio, where she played a key role in various stop-motion and theatrical productions.
Paper Owl’s Expanding Slate of Projects
Founded in 2012 by Gráinne McGuinness, Stephen Petticrew, and Gavin Halpin, Paper Owl Films has gained international recognition for projects like:
- Pablo – A groundbreaking preschool series representing autism.
- Sol – A short film exploring grief through a child’s perspective.
Currently, the studio is in production on:
- Pablo: Boy Meets School – A spinoff aimed at kids 5-8, co-produced with BBC Children’s, Crayola Studios, RTÉJr, and CAKE.
- Nikhil & Jay – A preschool animated series with King Banana and CAKE for CBeebies.
- Lí Ban – A Celtic-inspired anime series airing on Cúla4/TG4 (Ireland) and S4C (Wales), with 52 more episodes in development.
Industry Support for Paper Owl’s Growth
“This is an exciting time of renewed energy and expansion at Paper Owl Films following the opening of our new studio,” said Gavin Halpin, the company’s Managing Director. “We are so grateful for the support of the UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development Award, which has enabled us to appoint such an experienced Head of Production.
We also want to recognize Northern Ireland Screen, whose visionary support in production, development, and talent management has been a key driver in our continued growth.”
What’s Next for Paper Owl?
With Keely at the helm of production, Paper Owl Films is gearing up for an exciting phase of creative expansion, international collaborations, and innovative storytelling. The studio’s commitment to inclusive, thought-provoking animation continues to push boundaries and resonate with audiences worldwide.
With a packed production pipeline and a strengthened leadership team, Paper Owl is set to make an even bigger impact in the animation industry in the coming years.
