Dog Ears: Animation company first in NI to have series on Apple TV

What began as sketches in a school notebook has become the first animated series from Northern Ireland to land on Apple TV.

My Brother the Minotaur, created by Dog Ears alongside Cartoon Saloon, debuted in April and has already been earning critical acclaim.

The fantasy adventure follows a young minotaur – half boy, half bull – who is discovered and raised in the human world.

Alongside his fiercely loyal human brother and a group of friends, he sets out to uncover the mystery of his origins while battling dark forces determined to stop him.

Dog Ears founder John McDaid said the series, which has been years in the making, is “a thrilling mix of folklore, mystery and adventure about a young minotaur – half boy, half bull – found and raised in the human world”.

He said getting the “green light” from Apple brought “many years of development, collaboration, perseverance and passion to the next level”.

At its peak, about 180 people worked on the production.

The series features a high-profile voice cast including Brian Cox and Michael Sheen, alongside a number of emerging talents.