UK animation indies Komixx Entertainment and Mackinnon & Saunders have partnered to launch a new digital 2D animation studio.

Mackinnon & Saunders Digital will be based in Manchester, UK, and potentially create up to 40 production jobs. Work has already begun on pre-production of its first TV series, the partners said.

Komixx is best known for Channel 5 preschool series Toby’s Travelling Circus and its joint venture with Random House Children’s Publishers UK. It has offices in Sussex, London and LA and another joint venture, with the US-based Gotham Group.

The Mackinnon & Saunders studio has worked on TV shows such as Bob the Builder and Postman Pat and feature films Corpse Bride and Fantastic Mr. Fox. More than 20 years old, it has more recently moved into IP development, coproducing RaaRaa the Noisy Lion with Chapman Entertainment for CBeebies and Frankenstein’s Cat for CBBC.

Mackinnon & Saunders Digital director Peter Saunders said: “Komixx Entertainment is a rising star in the world of multi-media children’s entertainment and we have been very impressed by their dynamic approach to the development of children and family entertainment.”

Andrew Cole-Bulgin, Joint CEO and Head of Film & TV, added: “With such a wealth of talent available in this country and the opportunity that the Government’s new animation tax credit affords, it was not a difficult decision to approach such a world class studio as Mackinnon & Saunders to create this new business.”