A BOOMING IMPACT FOR VICTORIA’S ANIMATION SCENE

In a rapidly evolving landscape, staying up to date with the latest systems can be a big challenge for Australian animators.

In a bid to provide upskilling opportunities for local animators, independent Melbourne-based studio 12field and Media World Pictures partnered to deliver a training initiative for Victorian animators to become proficient in the world leading 2D animation production system Toon Boom Harmony.

The two week training package was supported through Film Victoria’s Key Talent ABC program, and supported 13 designers and 13 animators to learn the Toon Boom software and apply it as the backbone of the children’s animation series The Strange Chores.  

The Strange Chores is an ABC ME animated comedy series and brought about the first partnership between independent production houses Media World Pictures and Ludo Studio. It follows two teenage wannabe warrior heroes and a super-high spirited ghost girl mastering the skills they need to replace the world's greatest and oldest monster hunter by doing his strange, supernatural chores.

Comprised of three stages, the intensive training was attended by 36 trainees and focused on the software interface, drawing tools, basic rigging techniques and frame by frame animation.

A.J Cote with animator Dom Aldis demonstrates Harmony animation techniques at 12field Animation. Design Supervisor Vikki Ong pictured in background.

Studio manager and training facilitator Megan Nairn said: "I recently returned to Melbourne after five years working overseas, mostly in Los Angeles at Cartoon Network Studios. I wholeheartedly believe we have incredible animation talent here in Victoria that’s on par with artists in the LA scene. I’m so glad that Film Victoria recognised that and was so willing to nurture our local talent by funding initiatives like these.

A.J Cote demonstrating Harmony to freelance animator Joel Williams at RMIT.

Rolling straight onto production after the training with Toon Boom providing professional support, the artists on The Strange Chores continued to refine their skills beyond the basics in a short amount of time.

The Strange Chores animator Milo Gluth reflected on his experience, saying: “The training was absolutely crucial. I'm still learning the software daily, but the kick start was very important. I could begin focusing on the actual animation earlier rather than getting bogged down in the slow self-teaching or technicalities of the system.

“I was wading into a new program and new stylistic features of The Strange Chores so some of the concepts were a bit foreign. Having a person in the room to assure you that it'll all make sense was one of the most important aspects of persisting and having a positive experience. The training helped me transition from being an animation graduate to a paid animator.”

Animator Milo Gluth using what he’s learned about Toon Boom Harmony on The Strange Chores production.

12field in collaboration with RMIT and Toon Boom Animation also provided an intensive 4-day Toon Boom introduction for 10 animation lecturers in Victoria from RMIT, VCA and Swinburne.

Photo credit: Xavier Irvine