Canadian animation producer Mercury Filmworks is to establish a European beachhead with a new production studio in Dublin, Ireland.

Mercury Filmworks Europe is set to open in fall 2014.

There’s no word on initial projects out of the Irish operation.

But Ottawa-based Mercury has also named former Teletoon executive Alan Gregg as president of European production.

The Mercury Filmworks Europe expansion aims to cast a wider net for Mercury to snag cartoon-making talent, and lengthen its reach into the European market.

Gregg was previously director of original content at Teletoon Canada, and is originally from Ireland.

He will relocate to Dublin this summer to oversee all creative and business operations for Mercury Filmworks Europe.

Dublin image via Shutterstock