NEW YORK CITY — Jelly (www.jellyny.com), the London-based animation, design and production company, has launched a full-time presence in New York, which will be led by senior creative producer Eri Panasci, who will serve as executive producer. The studio opened in London in 2002 and functions as both a production company and artist management agency.
Panasci’s move to New York is bit of a homecoming. The Connecticut native and graduate of Boston University has worked in New York, as well as San Francisco and London, for such media and advertising companies as McCann and Vice Media. She joined Jelly in London in 2016, overseeing design and production assignments for such clients as Virgin Media, Google, Nespresso, McDonald’s, and Bombay Sapphire.
“We’ve been thinking about this and talking about it for some time,” says Jelly co-founder and partner Chris Page about the move to New York. “We’ve been eager to collaborate more fully with our American network and to be able to bring our roster of amazing talent and bullet-proof project management to work with them more effectively.
“The fact that we have an American as part of our management team who wanted to lead the charge – and who could reconnect with her American network of clients and colleagues in the process – made it an easier decision. We felt it was a fantastic opportunity to be in our clients’ backyard.”
“One of the things I’ll be able to do is provide a deeper level of service for our US clients from New York versus London,” adds Panasci, “and meld that with the Jelly model and culture. And being able to put a face to a name is always good, especially when you’re dealing with someone who understands the American market and its expectations.”
The studio has lined up US representation with James Bartlett of Mr. Bartlett, whose initial brief will be to handle the East Coast.
Panasci describes the Jelly approach as “playful yet competent.” She adds: “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but on the other hand we get shit done, and we do it well. We’re known for craft and solutions, and famously for not saying the word ‘no’ - unless we really have to!”
Panasci says the focus of Jelly’s US operations will initially be motion work, but adds their illustration talents will also be available, and they’ll be showing print portfolios along with showreels when meeting with agencies and clients. Jelly’s head of illustration, Nicki Field, will accompany Panasci in March to kick off the New York presence with a series of meetings and screenings.