Aardman Animations head of acquisitions Robin Gladman is exiting the company after more than two decades in order to consult, and he already has Magic Light Pictures lined up as a first client. 

Starting in the new year, Gladman will be working with the London-based studio behind The Gruffalo and Pip and Posy, and he plans to announce other clients and projects soon: “More to come on my plans, but [I’m] excited to be bringing my broad experience across distribution, acquisitions, digital, YouTube strategy, development and brand-building to help other studios and producers navigate these crucial areas.” 

Gladman joined Aardman in 2003 as an interactive manager and was responsible for bringing the studio’s brands into the mobile market. Since moving into his latest position as head of acquisitions in 2022, he has been spearheading global sales, YouTube growth and the company’s third-party distribution business. 

During his long tenure at the studio, Gladman helped to shape distribution strategies for IPs including Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit and Timmy Time. And third-party projects he has shepherded include LoveLove Films’ Pop Paper City (Milkshake!, ABC); Tinker Labs, Grid Animation and Apartment 11’s Interstellar Ella (Warner EMEA); and Beakus, Watch Next Media and Je Suis Bien Content’s Big Lizard (BBC, France Télévisions).