Big Bad Boo opens a new studio in Vienna

Big Bad Boo Studios launches its European enterprise “Big Bad Boo Vienna GmbH”, based in Vienna, Austria. Co-founders Aly Jetha and Shabnam Rezaei are heading up the expansion to scale their efforts in development, production, and distribution of children’s programming. Having established stakes in key markets such as New York, with a Tribeca location and Vancouver, with the Yaletown studio, the Vienna studio takes the buildout eastward to new markets.

Company co-founder Shabnam Rezaei grew up in Vienna, “It’s a pleasure to set up shop in Vienna and being the process of creating local shows. We have a healthy development slate across three countries now and hope to make great shows with new partners and help bolster the animation industry for the region.” Aly Jetha added, “Vienna is at the heart of Central Europe and a key location for expansion into Europe, the Middle East and Asia.” In January, Austria announced a 35% tax credit incentive for Film and Television, making production competitive and coinciding nicely with the company’s undertaking.

The announcement follows a flurry of activity by Big Bad Boo in the last 6 months around Europe, including presenting at Prix Jeunesse Munich and receiving a nomination for the Special UNESCO Award for “16 Hudson”. Big Bad Boo also competed in the MipJunior Pitch Contest with two ideas “Bad Bunny” and “Ava Under Cover” (winner) and a nomination for “Lili & Lola” in the Mipcom Diversify TV Awards.

Further activity included a pitch at Cartoon Forum Toulouse for “The Last Whale Singer”, a 3D series coproduction with Telescope Germany. This will be Big Bad Boo’s first pan-European coproduction. Big Bad Boo also brought another new show idea entitled “Billy & the Boingo Band” to the Central and Eastern European Animation Conference (CEE) in Pilsen, where they were presented with the Kids Kino Industry Award. This series will be going into development with TVOKids later this year.

The Vienna studio has hit the ground running in developing four new local show ideas, and continuing to work in writing, storyboarding, and voice records across existing shows that the company has in production. Big Bad Boo currently has 6 shows in development and producing climate change series “Galapagos X” (TVOKids), Season 3 of “1001 Nights, and “Judge Jodhi”.