Yoram Gross
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2021) |
Yoram Gross Sydney, Australia | |
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Occupation(s) | Animation director and founder of Flying Bark Productions |
Years active | 1947–2015 |
Spouse | Sandra Gross |
Yoram Jerzy Gross
He was known for his adaptation of children's characters from books and films, and best known for the production of the films Dot and the Kangaroo and Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala.[1][2]
Early life
Gross was born in Kraków,[3] Poland to a religious Jewish family and was the brother of the film director Natan Gross.[3]
Gross endured
Gross studied music and
Early career
Gross began his career as an assistant to Polish directors Eugene Cenkalski and Leonard Buczkowski as well as the Dutch director Joris Ivens and studied script writing under Carl Foreman.
In 1950 Gross moved from Poland to Israel, where he worked as a newsreel and documentary cameraman.[3] He then became an independent film producer and director and began winning prizes at international film festivals.
His full-length feature,
Australian career
In 1967 Gross, his wife Sandra and young family migrated to Australia and lived in Sydney. They established Yoram Gross Film Studio in their house, as remote workers. Gross continued to make experimental films and to win awards. He originally produced film clips for the popular weekly television music program
Animated films and TV series
After 1977 Gross devoted his energies to animated films and series, but maintained an interest in experimental films with awards to assist young filmmakers including the Yoram Gross Award for Best Animated Film at the Sydney Film Festival and the Yoram Gross Best Animation Award at the Flickerfest International Film Festival. Gross wrote a book on making animated films, titled The First Animated Step (1975) and produced a film of the same title.
Dot series
The first animated feature film produced by the Yoram Gross Film Studio, called Dot and the Kangaroo (1977), used a special aerial image technique of drawings over live action backgrounds. The film was based on an Australian classic best seller by Ethel Pedley, and was described by ABC film critic John Hinde as a "brilliant technical success and the best cartoon film originated in Australia". It won Best Children's Film in Tehran and also won a Sammy Award for the Best Animated Film at the 1978 Australian Film Institute Television Awards.
Gross went on to produce, direct, and script a total of 16 feature films for 19 children. Eight films featuring the adventures of Dot from the original film Dot and the Kangaroo.
Coinciding with the release of the films, Gross also published books based on the films Dot and the Kangaroo, The Little Convict and Save the Lady.
Magic Riddle
Gross's 1991 animated film The Magic Riddle was based on an original story and is a mixture of fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and others.
Blinky Bill
In 1992 Gross released Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala, based on the Australian children's classic by Dorothy Wall.[3] This film featured an Australian koala and introduced Blinky Bill to an international audience. Blinky Bill generated one of Australia's most successful merchandising programs, bringing in millions of dollars in export earnings.
In 1993 Yoram Gross Film Studio diversified into animated series for television. The first two of the Blinky Bill series,
After Blinky Bill, Gross co-produced the series
Later career
In March 1999, EM.TV a 50% share ownership in Yoram Gross Film Studio acquired from
In the following year the studio worked with the Canadian Nelvana to plan an animated adaptation of Dav Pilkey's Dumb Bunnies.
The new millennium cemented Gross and EM.TV's position as the number-one family entertainment business in the Australian country and supplier of quality children's content to the world. The studio completed a second series of both Tabaluga and Flipper and Lopaka, as well as a brand new series, Old Tom.
The Seven Network programmed a dedicated block of television produced by Yoram Gross – a fulfilment of its commitment to screen quality 'C classified' drama for children. Gross and EM.TV also launched the Junior TV channel in Germany, but shut down in many years later.
Gross's autobiography, My Animated Life, was released in April 2011.[5][6]
Death
Gross died in Sydney at the age of 88 on 21 September 2015.[4]
Honours and recognition
Gross won more than 80 international awards for his various films.[4]
Gross was honoured in the 1995 Australia Day Honours with a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Australian film industry, particularly in animation techniques.[7]
Gross celebrated his 60th anniversary in the film industry in May 2007. To celebrate the milestone, the
For users in four countries: Australia, Greece, Germany, and Israel, a Google Doodle was made for what would have been his 95th birthday to celebrate his life and works.[8]
Filmography
Feature films
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1962 | Joseph the Dreamer | |
1964 | One Pound Only | |
1977 | Dot and the Kangaroo | |
1979 | The Little Convict | AKA Toby and the Koala |
1981 | Around the World with Dot | AKA Dot and Santa Claus |
1982 | Sarah | AKA Sarah (The Seventh Match) and Sarah and the Squirrel |
1983 | Dot and the Bunny | |
1984 | The Camel Boy | |
Epic | AKA Epic: Days of the Dinosaur | |
1985 | Dot and the Koala | |
1986 | Dot and Keeto | |
Dot and the Whale | ||
1987 | Dot and the Smugglers | AKA Dot and the Bunyip |
Dot Goes to Hollywood | ||
1991 | The Magic Riddle | |
1992 | Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala | |
1994 | Dot in Space | |
1999 | Skippy Saves Bushtown | |
2005 | Tabaluga and Leo | |
Blinky Bill's White Christmas
|
||
2006 | Flipper and Lopaka: The Feature | |
2007 | Gumnutz: A Juicy Tale | |
2010 | Santa's Apprentice | |
2011 | Blinky & Me | |
2015 | Blinky Bill the Movie |
TV series
- Bright Sparks (1989)
- The Adventures of Blinky Bill (1993)
- Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion (1995)
- Samuel and Nina (1996–1997)
- Tabaluga (1997–2004)
- Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown (1998–1999) (also known as Skippy: Adventures in Bushland)
- Dumb Bunnies (1998–1999) (with Nelvana)
- Flipper and Lopaka (1999–2005)
- Fairy Tale Police Department (2001–2002)
- Old Tom (2001–2002)
- Bambaloo (2003–2004) (with The Jim Henson Company)
- Art Alive (2003–2005)
- Seaside Hotel (2003–2005)
- Blinky Bill (2004)
- Dive, Olly, Dive! (2005) (with Mike Young Productions)
- Deadly (2005–2006)
- Staines Down Drains (2006–2011)
- Master Raindrop (2008–2009)
- Legend of Enyo (2009–2010)
- Zigby (2009–2013)
- Zeke's Pad (2010)
- Vic the Viking (2013–2014)
- Tashi (2014–2015)
- Heidi (2015) (final project)
Short films
- Chansons Sans Paroles (1958)
- Song Without Words (1958)
- Hava Nagila (1959)
- We Shall Never Die (1959)
- Bon Appetit (1969)
- Barry Crocker's Danny Boy (1970)
- Janice Slater's Call It What You May (1970)
- John Farnham's One (1970)
- The Politicians (1970)
- To Nefertiti (1971)
- Seasons (1972)
- Sun (1975)
- Professor Filutek (1999)
- The Naked Tree (2003)
- Autumn in Krakow (2007)
- Fuchsia Ballerinas (2007)
- Young Musicians (2007–2008)
- Don't Forget... (2010)
- Why... (2010)
- Forest Holocaust (2011)
- Sentenced To Death (2011)
- The Liar (2012)
- Kaddish (2013)
References
- ^ a b c "Lifetime of cartoon heroes". Jewish News. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ "Marsupial Madness: The Success of Yoram Gross". Animation News Network. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ Encore. Archived from the originalon 19 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Herald-Sun, Film producer Yoram Gross has died at age 88
- ^ "My animated Life". SBS. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ "Blinky Bill's animator pens his own story". ABC. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ It's an Honour: AM. Retrieved 22 September 2015
- ^ "Yoram Gross' 95th Birthday". www.google.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.