Sunrise Animation Studios
- Open roles
- 1
- Founded
- 1998
- Employees
- 51-200
- Offices
- 2
About Sunrise Animation Studios
Sunrise Animation Studios is an independent animation company producing character-driven films, episodic series and branded entertainment. Founded in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1998 and subsequently established in Cape Town, South Africa, the company formerly operated publicly as Sunrise Productions. Its work spans family entertainment, original intellectual property and animated characters for professional sports organisations.
The studio’s early filmmaking centred on stop-motion animation. Its debut feature, The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003), used a technique known as “junkmation” and is identified as Africa’s first full-length animated feature. Following that production, Sunrise relocated to Cape Town and shifted its principal production work into 3D computer animation.
Original films and series
Sunrise developed Jungle Beat, a non-dialogue comedy series built around animal characters and visual slapstick. First released in 2003, the property expanded into international television distribution, digital entertainment, spin-off series and feature films. Its related productions include The Jungle Beat Explorers, Munki and Trunk, Jungle Beat: The Movie and Jungle Beat 2: The Past.
The studio also produced the animated biblical musical David, released theatrically in December 2025, and the five-part prequel series Young David. These productions extend its feature and episodic work beyond the Jungle Beat universe.
Production and branded entertainment
Sunrise provides animation production from concept development and storyboarding through modelling, rigging, character animation, lighting, rendering and compositing. Its capabilities also include visual development, texturing, sound design, voice recording and music composition, supporting both original productions and commissioned character work.
Its sports entertainment work combines mascot design with origin stories, animated shorts, stadium content, broadcast packages and merchandising design. Supported clients include South African Rugby, The Sharks, Cricket South Africa, Welsh Rugby Union, England Rugby and Juventus Football Club.
The company serves theatrical film, streaming, broadcast television, children’s entertainment and sports marketing markets. Its production approach combines a physical creative studio in Cape Town with artists working remotely around the world.
More about Sunrise Animation Studios
Founders and corporate leadership
- Phil Cunningham and Jacqui Cunningham founded the business. The research identifies Stuart Gerald William Baxter as a director and executive producer of its UK trading entity; it does not establish a complete current executive team.
Production methods and working model
- The original junkmation process used discarded materials and recycled metal to build characters and sets, responding to material shortages in Zimbabwe.
- Sunrise describes its operating model as remote-first, with its Noordhoek facility serving as a creative home base for Cape Town-based staff.
Collaboration and distribution
- Sandcastle Studios, co-founded by Phil Cunningham and Sanet Kritzinger, became a long-term feature co-production partner.
- Slingshot supplied a production and financing partnership for the biblical animation projects, while Angel Studios provided theatrical and streaming distribution.
- Aardman’s involvement in the television franchise concerns international distribution rather than ownership of Sunrise.
Recognition and milestones
- The Bokkie campaign for South African Rugby won Best Integrated Sports Marketing Campaign at the 2010 Virgin Sports Industry Awards.
- The 2020 Jungle Beat feature premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and was subsequently acquired globally by Netflix.
Notable credits
15 creditsOffices
Where Sunrise Animation Studios is based
- 1 Chapmans Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7806, South AfricaCape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Cape Town office
HeadquartersAbout this office
Overall headquarters and primary creative production facility, with animation workstations, sound recording, music composition and screening facilities.
- 55 Loudoun Road, St John's Wood, London, NW8 0DL, United KingdomLondon, England, United Kingdom
London office
About this office
Corporate and representation office operated through Sunrise Media Group Limited, handling international media representation, commercial distribution and co-productions. The registered office moved here on 7 May 2026.
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