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 2 26 x 30 mins - 3 years to make 45 AW staff

The New Adventures of Ocean Girl 2D hand drawn characters 3D digital backgrounds 3 years to make 55 AW staff

John Callahan’s QUADS! 40/60% Co-production Flash Series One x 30 mins 18 months to make Perth / Toronto – 30 AW staff Series Two x 30 mins 12 months Perth / 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

SWOT Strengths 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

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!

SWOT Threats 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