Expressway & Brown Bag Films Collaborate on Cartoon Coach

Give Up Yer Aul Sins, Granny O’Grimm and Doc McStuffins are just some of the colourful characters on board Expressway’s latest collaboration as part of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015). 

The Brown Bag Films team pictured with their bus wrap in association with Expressway & ID2015. Photo: Anthony Woods

Oscar-nominated Brown Bag Films – the Irish company behind a number of majorly successful animations including Octonauts and Henry Hugglemonster – are the latest designers to feature across the huge canvas of an Expressway coach. Familiar characters, such as Disney’s Doc McStuffins and Henry Hugglemonster, Silvergate Media’s Peter Rabbit and Captain Barnacles and Acamar Films’ Bing and Flop - from the company’s co-productions - are ‘seated’ along the bus exterior. 

Bus Éireann’s Expressway service and Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) have collaborated with celebrated Irish designers to create six unique bus wraps for ID2015, the year-long Government-backed initiative promoting and celebrating Irish design in Ireland and internationally. 

Brown Bag Films Art Director Andrew Hamilton  pictured with the Brown Bag Films bus wrap in association with Bus Eireann & ID2015. Photo: Anthony Woods

The Brown Bag Films wrap is the fourth to enter service - along with three others already servicing inter-city routes -  which have been designed by top Irish talents including Orla Kiely, Kevin Thornton and Maser.  

Brown Bag Films were delighted to get on board with the concept, as it afforded the opportunity to showcase their creations in a playful and unusual way. The bus wrap was designed by several artists from each production, with art direction by Andrew Hamilton (pictured in the second image attached) who is also art director on Disney’s Henry Hugglemonster. Brown Bag Films recently announced 50 new jobs are to be created at the company, following their acquisition by 9 Story Media Group. 

“The most animated bus in the world” 

Brown Bag Films' CEO, Cathal Gaffney, said: “Brown Bag Films are delighted to be part of Irish Design 2015, and loved working with Expressway on this exciting project. All of the studio are very proud to see our animated character designs celebrated on what has to be the most animated bus in the world.” 

Expressway Product Manager Sean Forde said that supporting Irish design, in such a public way via the company’s new luxury coaches, is a fitting partnership: “These buses will be travelling tens of thousands of kilometres across Ireland over the next few months, so these specially designed wraps will receive great exposure. As a major Irish brand, Bus Éireann’s Expressway is delighted to be involved in ID2015 as official transport partner, which is all about showcasing the best in Irish design, and Brown Bag Films are a fitting example of that.”

Laura Magahy, Executive Chair of Irish Design 2015 added: “Through the ID2015 programme we want to highlight the importance of design in enhancing our lives, our environment and our society while promoting Irish design and designers. We are delighted to be working with Expressway on this exciting project showcasing contemporary Irish design in an innovative way across their extensive network.”

Thursday, 10th September, 2015