DANIEL BAYS
(Founder & Creative Director)
Show-runner
Creator
Head Writer
Animation Producer
Digital & Games Producer
Lightning Sprite Media was founded in February 2016 by Creator and Show-runner: Daniel Bays
Dan is an avid gamer, technology nut, animation collector and inquisitive, curious, ideas thinker-upper, developer and producer and writer of award-winning multi-platform wonderments.
HIGHLIGHTS
[All rights owned by CBeebies & BoatRocker]
BITZ & BOB (42 x 11min) - Creator, Development Producer & Writer
Landmark, multiplatform CG animated series 'Bitz & Bob' and mixed-media companion show, 'Bitz & Bob: You Can Do It Too'. Both launched on CBeebies in 2018, immediately entering the Top 10 most popular CBeebies shows and sold in 150+ territories. Dan created, developed and pitched the shows; secured finance; Produced and Script Edited 10 scripts (+ wrote 1 script); ran tender for animation studio; Produced all design and promo; helped to build and handed over to Production Team.
[All rights owned by CBeebies & BoatRocker]
TREE FU TOM (72 x 22min) - Creator & Show-Runner (3 seasons)
Twice BAFTA-nominated, physically interactive, international hit preschool animated series and immersive companion games suite, produced in parallel as a multiplatform production. Produced in-house at CBeebies and broadcast on CBeebies and in 150+ territories (CBeebies & BoatRocker own all rights).
OTHER STUFF
Multi-Platform Development Producer
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2014-2016 - Ran the CBeebies and Fremantle Media Kids & Family co-development slate.
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2006-2008 - Worked as part of a multi-platform development team in CBBC, winning a number of major TV, Digital and Games commissions, including Serious Explorers which ran to three series.
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2000-2001 - Founding member of BBC Factual's new ‘Ideas Lab’ – creating and developing shows for grown-ups and families in BBC Science and BBC Factual Entertainment.
Speaker, Expert and Mentor
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Cartoon 360 - (Expert, Speaker & Advisory Panel 2016, 2017, 2018)
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Cartoon Springboard - (Expert & Speaker 2016, 2017, 2018)
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Kidscreen - (Session Producer & Speaker 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
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Cartoon Business - (Speaker 2013)
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Animation POW-WOW, Helsinki - (Speaker 2017)
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Children’s Media Conference - (Speaker 2011, 2012, 2014)
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ComKids, Sao Paulo - (Speaker)
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Salford University - (Speaker)
OTHER TOP FACTS:
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Graduated in Biology (2:1) from the University of York
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Worked at the BBC for 15 years - including 10 years in BBC Children's (developing and producing ideas and making games and digital products in both CBBC and CBeebies)
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Spent 4 years making documentaries and factual telly for grown-ups at the BBC
OTHER MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS:
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Self-shooting on an ambulance for 3 months for Trauma;
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Filming a giraffe having his toenails cut (with a chainsaw) for Super Vets;
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Convincing the women of a Linconshire village to leave for seven days to film what happened to the men for The Week The Women Went
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Swimming with dolphins with Professor Lord Robert Winston for Human Instinct
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Working on Tomorrow's World - the UK’s number one technology show for 38 years - a personal goal since the age of 10.