An animated series produced in Northern Ireland has debuted on Apple TV, marking the first time a local production has appeared on the platform.

The show, My Brother the Minotaur, was created by Dog Ears in partnership with Cartoon Saloon. It follows a young minotaur discovered and raised in the human world, who sets out with his brother and friends to uncover his origins while contending with dark forces. The voice cast includes Brian Cox and Michael Sheen.

The idea originated from sketches by creator Donal Mangan, who pitched the concept through Northern Ireland Screen’s Creative Animation programme years ago. At its peak, production employed about 180 people. Dog Ears founder John McDaid stated that securing a deal with Apple represented a milestone after extensive development and collaboration.

The series has been shortlisted for an award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. McDaid described the nomination as equivalent to an Oscars nod in the animation industry. A production coordinator who advanced from assistant level during the project expressed pride in the final product.