Tom Payne is building the kind of animation studio he wishes had existed when he started out in digital in 2008. As Managing Director and co founder of Spud Gun Studios, he is focused on creating bold, funny, culturally sharp animation for young adult audiences who live online.
Through Mashed, which reaches over 7.5 million followers worldwide, Tom and his team develop original series and creator led IP designed specifically for platforms like YouTube, not retrofitted from traditional broadcast thinking. The studio also collaborates with some of the world’s biggest video game companies, blending comedy, storytelling and fandom into work that genuinely connects.
A BAFTA nominated Creative Director and Executive Producer, Tom has spent his entire career in digital, building audiences from the early days of online video to today’s creator economy. He is passionate about proving that independent studios can own their ideas, grow sustainably and compete globally without losing their edge.