About Daniel Bays | Manchester | Lightning Sprite Media

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

Bitz_and_Bob_hero_cast_created_by_Daniel

Bitz_and_Bob_YCDIT_Creator_Daniel_Bays.j

[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.

Find out more about Bitz & Bob

Tree_Fu_Tom_group_Creator_Daniel_Bays.jp

[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

2014-2016 - Ran the CBeebies and Fremantle Media Kids & Family co-development slate.

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.

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

Cartoon 360 - (Expert, Speaker & Advisory Panel 2016, 2017, 2018)
Cartoon Springboard - (Expert & Speaker 2016, 2017, 2018)
Kidscreen - (Session Producer & Speaker 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Cartoon Business - (Speaker 2013)
Animation POW-WOW, Helsinki - (Speaker 2017)
Children’s Media Conference - (Speaker 2011, 2012, 2014)
ComKids, Sao Paulo - (Speaker)
Salford University - (Speaker)

OTHER TOP FACTS:

Graduated in Biology (2:1) from the University of York

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)

Spent 4 years making documentaries and factual telly for grown-ups at the BBC

OTHER MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS:

Self-shooting on an ambulance for 3 months for Trauma;

Filming a giraffe having his toenails cut (with a chainsaw) for Super Vets;

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

Swimming with dolphins with Professor Lord Robert Winston for Human Instinct

Working on Tomorrow's World - the UK’s number one technology show for 38 years - a personal goal since the age of 10.