Sminky Shorts creator signs with talent agency as TV show beckons
London-based United Agents represents Ricky Gervais, Richard Attenborough, Sophie Dahl, David Dimbleby, Clive James, and Kate Humble.
The agency has now added Jason Sullivan to its stable of clients after his animation series was featured in the Irish Examiner.
The agency spotted the article in August and approached Jason a week later. Following a series of meetings, Jason confirmed last night he has agreed to sign up with them.
The 27-year-old from Kanturk in Co Cork, who produces the quirky and irreverent Sminky Short animations under the pseudonym Andrew James, said the fact the agency also represents the global online cartoon smash hit Simon’s Cat — which has an audience of some 250m people — clinched the deal for him.
“They told me that Sminky Shorts is going down well in England,” Jason said. “They’ve told me that they see huge potential for it. But it could be in a different format, like an episodic thing.
“It could be tailored to suit various audiences but if you start worrying about your audience too much, it can kind of backfire on you. I have loads of material ready to go, and loads of ideas for TV shows.
“I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. It seems to be working. And if it works, it works. If is doesn’t, then it doesn’t.”
It is understood his agent is in talks with several producers behind top shows on RTÉ, Channel 4, the BBC, and Sky about opportunities.
The self-taught animator, who is studying multimedia in CIT, created his first Sminky Short cartoon in his bedroom about three months ago.
Thanks to YouTube and Facebook, it was an instant hit and he was encouraged to do more.
The shorts went viral after he produced ‘I Can’t Do It’, featuring a horse with a voice remarkably like Roy Keane.
There are now 11 Sminky Shorts on a dedicated YouTube channel that have recorded over 3.5m views.
Jason is expected to produce a new cartoon for a special ‘Best of Sminky Shorts’ screening in the Pavilion bar and nightclub in Cork on Saturday as part of its first birthday celebrations for its Crucial Party night. Doors open at 10pm with free admission before 11pm.
