Second Series of Henry Hugglemonster!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Disney has greenlit a second Series of Henry Hugglemonster! Our Roarsome crew are back together in Brown Bag Films cooking up new stories and adventures that will be ready by Autumn 2014. 

Nancy Kanter, Executive Vice President Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide comments: “The incredibly talented team at Brown Bag Films has created an engaging series for Disney Junior that delivers everyday life lessons and models positive family and community relationships that are relatable to audiences around the world. A second season will build off of this terrific start and create even more connections with kids and families.”

Beth Gardiner VP of Production Disney UK, comments: “We are thrilled to be reunited with our ‘roarsome’ Brown Bag crew, and look forward to more stories about HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER and his monstery family."

Cathal Gaffney, Executive Producer & CEO, Brown Bag Films adds: "This second series sees Brown Bag Films create a further 30 jobs bringing us to 150 full time staff in our Dublin studio. Knowing that children around the world continue to watch and love HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER, which was originated, designed and animated in Ireland makes us all very proud."

Full Press release here. More news check out Brown Bag Films blog here. 
News on RTE here

Hugglemonster Monster Maker

Have you played the Hugglemonster Monster Maker yet over on Disney Junior Canada? Let me know what you think!

Making Monsters Move...

Fantastic interview over on the OFFSET blog today with Norton Virgien director of Henry Hugglemonster.

Hugglemonster Giveaway

It's today Henry Hugglemonster official Launch day! I feel like a nervous parent sending my monster out into the world!

To celebrate the launch of Henry Hugglemonster today on Disney Junior I have 5 signed copies of my book 'I'm a Happy Hugglewug' to give away on my new Niamh Sharkey Illustration Facebook page.  Winners will be announced on Monday 11th February. Good luck everyone!

Have a Happy Hugglemonster Day!

Henry Hugglemonster

One week to go to the official launch of Henry Hugglemonster on Disney Junior UK. We are going to have a Huggleparty at Brown Bag Films with some monster munch to celebrate!

Henry Hugglemonster sneak peek on Disney Junior UK!

It's been a long journey from sketch to screen... but today, at last there's a sneak peek of Henry Hugglemonster at 5.50pm on Disney Junior.  It has been wonderful working and collaborating with Disney, Norton Virgien (Director) and Sascha Paladino (Story Editor) and the ROARSOME team at Brown Bag Films in Dublin to bring Henry Hugglemonster to life. The love, care and unbelievable creativity they have all brought to the project blows me away every day. I just can't wait for children all over the world to meet Henry and his Hugglemonster family!

I was really over the moon to have Brenda Blethyn, Brian Blessed and Geri Halliwell join the cast of Henry Hugglemonster too.

  Brenda Blethyn stars as Ernestine Enormomonster

Brian Blessed as Eduardo Enormomonster

Geri Halliwell stars as Isabella Roarson

Say hello to Henry Hugglemonster!

There will be a sneaky peek of Henry Hugglemonster this Friday 25th of January on Disney Junior UK at 5.50pm. The show launches on February 8th at 5:50pm. Come say hi this Wednesday on the Disney Junior Facebook Page from 1.30-2pm. I'll be doodling live and chatting about how I made Henry Hugglemonster with Disney and the amazing Brown Bag Films!

Huggletastic Holidays!

Hope you all had really Huggletastic holidays? It's going to be a busy few months; there's a sneaky peek of my show that I've been making with Brown Bag Films, Henry Hugglemonster in January on Disney Junior. Henry Hugglemonster officially launches in February, I will post up dates as soon as I can.

Some great Laureate events lining up for 2013; I will be touring with Pictiúr an exhibition of Irish Picture Book Art throughout Europe and I'm also really excited about appearing at Offset 2013 in April.  In meanwhile I'd love to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Laureate na nÓg!

My lovely medal

Happy Niamh!

I am thrilled and honored to announce today that I am to be the new Laureate na nÓg! It will be a day that I will always remember. Surrounded by friends and family I was inaugerated by President of Ireland in the Arts Council Offices this morning.

Heres what is in store for me... Mags Walsh, Director of Children’s Books Ireland said: “In the two years since its establishment, the position of Laureate na nÓg has been able to highlight and celebrate the incredible talent and passion which exists in the Irish children’s books community. By bringing national and international attention to Irish children’s books, Laureate na nÓg has demonstrated the central role that books can play in every Irish childhood.”

Mu publisher Deirdre McDermott said: “Walker Books are so pleased and honoured that Niamh Sharkey has been appointed the second Laureate na nÓg. We have worked with Niamh since 2004 and have made five picture books with her, the most recent On the Road with Mavis and Marge winning the 2010 Irish Book Award. During her tenure, Siobhán Parkinson has done a tremendous job of establishing the role of Laureate na nÓg and promoting Irish children’s literature abroad. I know that during Niamh’s laureateship she will be also be the perfect ambassador for Irish children’s books and will particularly bring attention to Irish picture book makers worldwide. We couldn’t be more delighted!”

And I said... 'It is a great honor to be chosen as the next Laureate na nOg. I am a picture book maker so my focus as Laureate will certainly be visual as well as literary. I am going to get to do even more of what I love most – promoting quality children’s literature and encouraging children to read, write and draw. I have lots of ideas that I hope will inspire creativity in children of all ages. I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started!’

You can find our more about my exciting new role here. You can hear all about my day on the Laureate's Blog! Some lovely coverage from Children's Books Ireland, The Arts Council, Inis, Illustrators Ireland, Brown Bag Films and a clip from new Today on RTE Player and we made the six one and nine o clock news too! 

Into the Greenwood Deep

I was really honoured to be asked to open Phil Mc Darby's first solo show at The Copperhouse Gallery last Thursday. His work is truly magical and leaves me almost lost for words (I did manage to find some on the night!) I work with Phil in Brown Bag Films, and it was fantastic on the night to see so many friendly Brown Bag faces in the crowd. If anyone has a direct contact to the film-maker Peter Jackson DO get in contact with me... he needs to see this exhibition in the next two weeks. 

Into The Greenwood Deep is open everyday so make sure to pop along to see it, childrens are particular welcome at Les and Maureen's AMAZING Gallery. Phil will also be giving an artist talk where he will shed some light on how he makes his amazing images on May 3rd, details here. 

WOW! 

Some more of Phil's Amazing work

PJ Lynch and Phil Mc Darby

Me and Phil Mc Darby

Me and my hero PJ Lynch!

The Happy Hugglemonsters meet Deirdre!

Loved having my wonderful publisher Deirdre Mc Dermott from Walker Books visit The Happy Hugglemonsters at Brown Bag Films last week. Deirdre got to see lots of behind the scene sneaky peeks at what we've been working on at Brown Bag.  It's so exciting... I can't wait to show you soon!

The Morning Show on TV3

Here's the link of me, The Hugglemonsters, Director Norton Virgien and Lead Writer Sascha Paladino on TV3's The Morning Show with Martin and Sybil. You can scroll to 16:20 to get straight to it. And a great photo from Darragh of the Brown Bag gang tuning in to watch the show at work this morning! 

Hugglemonsters on TV3

The Happy Hugglemonsters visit TV3 in the morning. Myself, director Norton Virgien and lead writer Sascha Paladino will be on The Morning Show tomorrow with Sybil and Martin to talk about our new show we are making for Disney just after 11am with Henry Hugglemonster and his family!

News Updates for The Happy Hugglemonsters

For Press requests with Niamh Sharkey please contact Brown Bag Films on
+3531 8721608 Official Disney Press Release here.


Some news updates on The Happy Hugglemonsters!


Kidscreen
Animation World Network
The Irish Film and Television Network
C21media
Televisual
Hackett Flynn Publishers' Agency
Business Post
Animation Magazine
Cartoon Brew


Irish Media-
RTE2LateNews-Skip ahead to 12:30
Irish Times
Evening Herald
theJournal.ie
Belfast Telegraph
The Examiner
Ray Darcy Show fast forward to 9:15

Disney greenlights Happy Hugglemonsters from Brown Bag Films

I am thrilled to announce that Brown Bag Films have begun production on a new animated series ‘THE HAPPY HUGGLEMONSTERS’ for Disney Junior based on my book! 


It is the latest series to be developed and produced by Disney’s London based production hub, and will premiere on Disney Junior blocks from Autumn 2012, airing in over 150 countries worldwide. The 52 x 11 minute series will be produced in Brown Bag Films’ Dublin-based studio.
Cathal Gaffney, co-founder and CEO of Brown Bag Films said, “We are delighted to announce the production of this series, it is great to work with home grown talent like Niamh Sharkey and to bring an original idea like this to a global Disney Junior audience is hugely satisfying for all involved.”
Beth Gardiner, Vice President, Production & Development, Disney Junior EMEA added, “We are thrilled to welcome The Happy Hugglemonsters to the Disney Junior fold. Seen through our five year old hero Henry Hugglemonster’s eyes, the series delivers comedic and emotional storytelling with a monstery twist that pre-schoolers can really relate to; perfect for Disney Junior.”
Henry, the star of “The Happy Hugglemonsters”, is a young monster growing up in a bustling house with three siblings; older brother Cobby, slightly older sister Summer, and baby brother Ivor.  Henry knows a lot about the emotional ups and downs that preschoolers face in their daily lives, and in “The Happy Hugglemonsters” he is your guide to preschool life, monster-style.
Author Niamh Sharkey, whose illustrated picturebook, ‘I’m A Happy Hugglewug’ was published in 2006, says, “I am thrilled to be working with Brown Bag Films to bring my characters to life; the creativity, enthusiasm and care they bring to the project is mind blowing. Making this show for Disney Channel is a dream come true, and to be able to create this show in Ireland together is the icing on the cake. I know my monster family is in safe hands!”
“The Happy Hugglemonsters” was developed with support from the Irish Film Board/Bórd Scannán na hEireann.  For the Walt Disney Company’s full press release including press contacts please visit www.niamhsharkey.com and www.brownblogfilms.com

23 Degrees 5 Minutes

Brown Bag Films animator extraordinaire Darragh O’Connell has been making a new short ‘23 Degrees 5 Minutes’ and here's a sneek peek. It's Brown Bag Films first short since Darragh and Nicky Phelan were shortlisted for an Oscar for ‘Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty’ last year. Original score by super talented Darren Hendley, guaranteed to give you shivers. It will also feature the voices of John Hurt and Stuart Townsend. I can't wait to see the rest now!

23 degrees will premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this summer. Go have a look at Darragh's excellent behind the scenes making of 23 degrees over on The Brown Bag Blog.

Oscar Time!

I am delighted that my friends over at Brown Bag Films have been nominated for an Oscar for Granny O'Grimm!

If you haven't seen it yet do so here, it's fantastic!
She has a message for Oscar here.

Granny O'Grimm hits the big time!

Irish animation company Brown Bag have been shortlisted for an Oscar for Granny O’Grimm! I am developing one of my picture books I'm a Happy Hugglewug with Brown Bag Films into a preschool animation series and having great fun doing it. They are a super dooper bunch of incredibly talented people, check out their website here.

They have sucessfully brough a new look to Noddy and the infamous Olivia. The Olivia title sequence is my favourite preschool opener.