Media World established in 1983 Breakthrough feature film, The Silver Brumby, 1992
The Silver Brumby Animation Series
Animation Works established in 1994 to create an animated series of The Silver Brumby
Series 1 13 x 30 mins - 2 years to make
Series 226 x 30 mins - 3 years to make
45 AW staff
The New Adventures of Ocean Girl
2D hand drawn characters3D digital backgrounds
3 years to make 55 AW staff
John Callahan’s QUADS!
40/60% Co-production
Flash
Series One 199913 x 30 mins18 months to makePerth / Toronto – 30 AW staff
Series Two 2001 13 x 30 mins12 monthsPerth / Melb / Toronto – 30 AW staff
The New Adventures of Ocean Girl Series Two
Proposed second 26 X 30min series unable to secure strong enough International pre-sale commitment.
AW Studio closed 2002 – after 8 years continuous production.
Dogstar
Developed in Perth
2 ½ years, completed 2007
Animation Works WA - 9 staff
Animation Works VIC -10 staff
Satellite companies (square i and Big Kidz) - 20 staff
• Voice record• Series design/fun pack• Storyboard• Animatic• Episode design• Scene breakdown• Animation• Audio • Edit• Visual FX• Online edit• Music• Mix
The Animation Process
The Animator’s Skill Set • Drawing skills• Technical skills for animation:
• design • composition • storytelling• timing • biology / science• characterisation / acting
• Teamwork• Sense of humour
SWOTStrengths• Aust. Recognised as a quality player• Talent base • Cultural diversity – English speaking• Government support – Offset / FFC / Regulation• Co-production Treaties and MOU’s• Ethical Industry
Weaknesses• Start up costs high • Boom Bust cycle • Few companies in regular production • TV Production in decline• Reliance on Government intervention• Investor poor• Finding and training new talent • Increasing costs, rising Aust dollar $
SWOT
SWOT
Opportunities• Growth in non-traditional platforms – including games industry • Early adopters to exploit new processes/technology • Potential to be a real player in content creation • New Co-production opportunities and potential
strategic partners i.e. Asia• Dedicated ABC kids channel – with reservations!
SWOTThreats• Ever reducing traditional TV slots • Ever changing delivery platforms – ongoing convergence• Rising costs compared to competitors• Seen as too expensive and non-creative repetitive work ethic• Lack of depth in skills base – writers/voice artists/audio/storyboard artists/
animators/management • Animation budgets have remained static for the last 10 years. Impacts of this are:
• less funds for training• less people• reliance on technology
• Live action production
Some random ideas…• Be a regional and national leader in digital content partnerships• Attract businesses to WA• World terms – incentives are a comparative advantage - not having them, a disadvantage.• Animation is a high employment based creative industry - yet taxed on success• Animation skills are interchangeable with other digital industries• VIC / NSW / QLD / TAS offer cash incentives• NSW / SA / QLD payroll credits• Potential tax revenues more than the cost to run an incentive program• Cash flow the offset - in digital media projects• Terms of Trade – producer to share from dollar 1• Training – engage with businesses – sandwich courses• Marry investors with the industry whilst in WA boom• Assist in the creation of satellite companies – direct all state govt work to them - close down govt
competition• Support all digital content creation outside of traditional Film & TV environment • Engage the whole film making community towards digital content creation / distribution• Look at supporting digital content distribution companies