AFTER its successes with television shows such as Quads, Ocean Girl and the Silver Brumby, WA-based Animation Works is embarking on its latest production with the ABC.
Called Dogstar the program, a children’s comedy show about what happens when a freak accident means that dogs are lost to the world, is expected to air on the ABC in July.
Besides the ABC show, Animation Works is also trying to raise the money it needs to complete a production called 11th Hour based on a book by Graeme Base.
Animation Works director Colin South said the 11th Hour would be using 3D characters.
That project also involves the Canadian-based producers of Quads.
“If we can get it off the ground this project will show that we can bring 3D characters to life,” Mr South said.
“However, we need to raise $8 million for our 50 per cent of the show.”
He said improvements in technology had been a boon for his industry.
When his company did The Silver Brumby for Channel 10 it took four years to hand draw 39 episodes.
With the latest series of Quads, which finished its run on SBS this week, the 13 episodes took just eight months to complete.
However, Mr South said that while technology had been a great help to animators, it would never be able to make up for the need of a good story.
He said WA had great potential to develop as a major player in the global animation industry but funding was a major requirement.
“The moment you start talking animation you’re talking companies such as Disney and Dreamworks and their budgets are bigger than our entire industry,” he said.
p See Media, page 22
