NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • Generate wealth weekly
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Business

Auckland animation company Anim Studio put into liquidation with $1.7m tax debt

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Online Business Editor·NZ Herald·
13 Oct, 2025 10:12 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Mukpuddy co-founder and Anim Studio director Ryan Cooper. Photo / Uptown Business Association

Mukpuddy co-founder and Anim Studio director Ryan Cooper. Photo / Uptown Business Association

The Auckland animation studio behind dozens of Kiwi television titles, including Badjelly, has put one of its subsidiary film production businesses into liquidation.

Mukpuddy confirmed that its subsidiary company, Anim Studio Ltd, had been wound up through a voluntary liquidation.

In a statement, Mukpuddy said: “Anim Studios Limited was set up to service a range of animation projects.

“Unfortunately, due to cash flow issues related to the impact of Covid in 2020, market contraction, and other unforeseen issues, the directors of Mukpuddy Ltd have determined a voluntary liquidation is the best option for this subsidiary.”

Mukpuddy said no employees were impacted by the move and that there were no outstanding or affected projects related to Anim Studio.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It said large animation or film projects are typically structured into stand-alone companies. Anim Studio was responsible for Night Eyes series two, which will be released on TVNZ+ at the end of this month.

Mukpuddy said it “will continue as one of New Zealand’s leading producers of animated television via its other production subsidiaries.”

Renowned writer and director of more than 20 years, Ryan Cooper, was the sole director and shareholder of Anim Studio at the time of its liquidation, according to Companies Office records.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Cooper is also a co-founder of Mukpuddy, along with friends Tim Evans and Alex Leighton.

Cooper, Evans and Leighton started Mukpuddy out of a basement in 2002.

The company produces works including The Barefoot Bandits, The Adventures of TuMeke Space and Pipi Mā​.

Mukpuddy has received more than $5.9m in Government funding from NZ on Air.

Companies Office records show Evans and Leighton were removed as directors of Anim Studio on August 20, the same day Cooper was removed as a director of Mukpuddy Ltd.

Anim Studio Ltd also changed its incorporated name from Mukpuddy Animation Ltd on July 14.

Liquidators Steven Khov and Kieran Jones of Khov Jones Ltd were appointed to Anim Studio on October 6.

In their first report, released yesterday, Khov and Jones said Inland Revenue had commenced liquidation proceedings against Anim Studio.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The company owes Inland Revenue more than $1.7m in GST and employment activities, according to the liquidator’s report.

A further $104,932 in unsecured liabilities is owed to the tax department under the Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBC), which was set up during Covid.

Anim Studio also owes $241,000 in related party loans to Mukpuddy Ltd.

However, the liquidators said the company only has an estimated $104,792 in assets.

In May, Inland Revenue said it was still chasing just over $161m in unpaid SBC loans.

More than 129,000 businesses were issued loans totalling $2.4 billion, with the average amount approved being $17,000.

Businesses had five years to pay off the loan up to June 2025, at which point Inland Revenue said it would charge default interest of 10.88% plus a standard interest rate of 3%.

Cameron Smith is an Auckland-based business reporter. He joined the Herald in 2015 and has covered business and sports. He reports on topics such as retail, small business, the workplace and macroeconomics.

  • Listen and subscribe to the Today in Business podcast – the top headlines from the NZ Herald business team summarised and delivered by an AI voice as an easily digestible recap.
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Business

Premium
Stock takes

Stock Takes: PGG Wrightson’s board shake-up raises questions over shareholders' motives

16 Oct 06:00 PM
Premium
Media Insider

6pm swansong: Simon Dallow set to step down from TVNZ newsreading role; Amazing Race in NZ - with All Black power

16 Oct 04:37 PM
Premium
Opinion

Matthew Hooton: Why Bolger’s legacy still matters for today’s leaders

16 Oct 04:00 PM

Sponsored

You’re probably paying far too much to invest and trade – Tiger Brokers

15 Oct 06:22 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Premium
Stock Takes: PGG Wrightson’s board shake-up raises questions over shareholders' motives
Stock takes

Stock Takes: PGG Wrightson’s board shake-up raises questions over shareholders' motives

Agria and Elders used their combined 56% stake to oust the board leaders.

16 Oct 06:00 PM
Premium
Premium
6pm swansong: Simon Dallow set to step down from TVNZ newsreading role; Amazing Race in NZ - with All Black power
Media Insider

6pm swansong: Simon Dallow set to step down from TVNZ newsreading role; Amazing Race in NZ - with All Black power

16 Oct 04:37 PM
Premium
Premium
Matthew Hooton: Why Bolger’s legacy still matters for today’s leaders
Opinion

Matthew Hooton: Why Bolger’s legacy still matters for today’s leaders

16 Oct 04:00 PM


You’re probably paying far too much to invest and trade – Tiger Brokers
Sponsored

You’re probably paying far too much to invest and trade – Tiger Brokers

15 Oct 06:22 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP