Screen Ireland Animation Development 2026: Up to €30,000 for Irish Animated TV Series, 30 October Deadline
Irish animation companies can seek concept and script funding
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland lists 30 October 2026 at 1pm Irish local time as its upcoming deadline for Animation Development funding. This is an initiative enabling independent producers in the Republic of Ireland to develop an animated television series through story, design, research and creative preparation. The maximum available development loan is €30,000, but the national screen agency expressly cautions that individual awards are often considerably below the advertised maximum. This is not a £30,000 prize for international animators, and receiving it does not guarantee later series-production funding.
A registered Irish production company must apply
Eligible applicants are independent production companies registered in the Republic of Ireland, with an actual office and staff based in the Republic. They must hold or be able to show clear access to the rights in materials adapted for screen and have an agreement at least in principle with the writer and other creative talent they propose to engage. An individual animation student without an eligible company, or an overseas studio with no Republic of Ireland operation, should not assume it can apply independently.
What the application must contain
Screen Ireland requires a logline and synopsis, a detailed series bible of six to ten A4 pages excluding images, a full draft episode script if one is available, sample visuals, notes on further story and design development, a budget using Screen Ireland's own portal template, and evidence of ownership or control of the necessary rights. For digital animators the visual examples should illustrate consistent characters, environments, formats and target audience, rather than promise a finished series the modest development budget cannot plausibly deliver.
Understand the funding type and project stage
The agency describes this support as an Animation Development Loan, not an unconditional gift with no contractual terms. It covers qualifying work to prepare an animated series for production and is separate from its Animation: Television production support, which has different eligibility and finance requirements. Applicants should consult the current Development Funding Guidelines on Screen Ireland's website to understand recoupment, acceptable development spending, third-party finance and rights arrangements before signing or claiming costs.
Language, national focus and timetable
Projects funded under this programme are generally intended for animated content made primarily in English, Irish, or a combination of the two. The agency concentrates on Irish-originated and managed screen stories. The online portal closes at 1pm on the published 30 October 2026 deadline, rather than the end of the day. Producers who request a postal form must use the contact instructions in the agency's guidance; online applicants should not wait until the final minutes to upload large scripts or audiovisual files.
About Screen Ireland and safe applications
Screen Ireland is the Republic of Ireland's national screen agency, supporting film, television drama, documentary, animation, VFX and games. It has an established public record of funding and presenting Irish animation work, including internationally screened projects. Its own site supplies funding guidelines and application links. The programme is competitive and applications are not guaranteed funding. Validate intellectual-property chain of title, corporate eligibility, contracts and the current guidelines using Screen Ireland's official portal.
Official call and application
https://www.screenireland.ie/funding/development-loans/animation-development-loans