Brighton-based digital-first animation studio Brighton Zoo has appointed George Sawyer as Creative Director, marking a strategic move as the company expands its focus on multiplatform storytelling and content aimed at both younger and young adult audiences.
The studio, which operates within the Blue Zoo group, has positioned itself at the intersection of creativity and technology, with a growing slate spanning animation, live action, interactive and branded content. Sawyer’s appointment is intended to strengthen that proposition, adding creative leadership with experience across multiple formats.
Sawyer is an award-winning writer, director and creative lead, whose credits include Horrible Histories and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. His work spans comedy, children’s TV and digital, alongside projects for broadcasters, studios and brands.
Juliet Tzabar, managing director of Brighton Zoo, said Sawyer’s appointment “allows us to move with greater creative ambition on all fronts. George will lead on our digital-first social video and interactive productions, spearhead our development slate, and push into content for older audiences. This is Brighton Zoo growing into its next chapter.”
Sawyer added: “I love telling stories, and I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to do that. What stood out to me about Brighton Zoo is its innovative, collaborative approach and a true instinct to develop ideas that work across multiple platforms. I want to deliver stories from a diverse range of voices that extend beyond traditional TV.”
A JV between Blue Zoo and Plug-in Media, Brighton Zoo has developed a portfolio that includes two series of Supertato for CBeebies, interactive games for BBC Bitesize and the Tate Gallery, and branded content for clients such as Tonies, Radio Flyer and Fugglers. Its digital content for Fugglers has generated 20m views across YouTube and TikTok, alongside a reported average TikTok engagement rate of 11.68%.
Pictured Juliet Tzabar and George Sawyer
