This paper demonstrates how active membership of a particular form of social horizontal network, in the form of a Community of Practice (CoPs) can bring about the creation and accelerated international development of born global ventures serving the global digital animation industry. Community of Practice has been well established as a form of social network and a component of social learning theory (Lave & Wenger 1991). In this study we use a ‘novel’ highly globalized research context - the Irish indigenous digital animation production industry. Through shared passion and interest for cartoon animation, this paper explores the role of community of practice in the creation and international development of Irish Born Global digital animation ventures.