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