LONDON — Animation studio Nexus (www.nexusproductions.com), here, has entered into a partnership with animation producers Claire Jennings, Christopher O’Reilly and Charlotte Bavasso to develop and produce original animated features. Nexus’s credits include short films, series and commercials. It’s work on This Way Up was garnered an Oscar nomination.
Claire Jennings’s career spans both sides of the Atlantic. Her producer credits include the Oscar and BAFTA winning feature film Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit and the Oscar nominated, BAFTA winning feature film Coraline. Alongside her feature work, Jennings produced several award winning short films. including the Oscar and BAFTA winning Father and Daughter, the Oscar and BAFTA nominated Jolly Roger, and the Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning Canterbury Tales.
From 2000 to 2001, Jennings oversaw creative development of HIT's PINGU franchise. Then, during her tenure as president of entertainment from 2009 to 2011 at Laika, she oversaw creative development and managed all early development and pre-production on the feature film Paranorman.
Nexus bring its extensive studio and creative facility to the partnership. The London facility is home to 110 seats. The studio also brings interactive and cross-platform resources through its digital division, Nexus Interactive Arts.
The partnership is off to a good start as they received one of the recently announced BFI Vision Awards. The slate development award gives Nexus two years of funding towards its film development activity. Jennings will collaborate with Nexus founders Christopher O'Reilly and Charlotte Bavasso to develop a slate of animated features.