27/09/2022
Dear Ozanimators,
It is with sadness a heavy heart and a whole lot of gratitude that I am announcing that after nearly 13 years of existence, Ozanimate is finally coming to a rest and winding down its operations.
What started as a passion project back in 2009 became the trusted online hub of inspiration, news and resources for the Australasian Animation Industry.
My goal throughout the years was to create something I wish I had access to as an Animation student. What began as a little blog documenting Australian animated content slowly but surely grew into the Ozanimate we know of today with its friendly community at its core and so I feel like today this initial goal was not only achieved but largely surpassed!
Alongside the thousands of written articles around Aussie animated content and newsletters we also launched videos interviews of key animators, filmed festivals and software tutorials, reviewed gear, recorded a podcast and launched Ozanimate Jobs where hundreds of professional artists found work opportunities and advanced their careers.
We also organised in-person events, notably with our Ozanimate picnics at Annecy Animation Festival where Aussies could hang out and meet every year. Perhaps our biggest achievement was in 2017 and again in 2018 when we launched our Industry surveys to help Australian Animation artists finally know their worth and what to charge, in hope to collectively raise our rates and create change and awareness.
I say We because this would not have been possible without a team of contributors that donated their precious time to the cause, so I would like to mention their names and thank them for their amazing contribution over the years:
Phil Willis, Lucie Towers, Megan Nairn, Marianna Shek, Benjamin Drake, Sen Wong, Wayne Chan, Jason Poley, Darren Fisher and a special mention to Alex Grigg who played a key role as an Editor by shaping the direction of the site and by acting as a regular Ozanimate contributor.
There are also (too many) people, studios and companies within the Industry who we can thank for their help and guidance throughout the years:
Andi Spark, Peter Moyes and Griffith University in Brisbane for their help, Simon Ashford and Collarts in Melbourne, Brian Neong San, AFTRS, CG Spectrum, Studios like 12Field, Ludo, Princess Bento, Flying Bark, BES, Cheeky Little, Liquid Animation and the fine folks at Toonboom and Wacom also for their support.
The list is too long and I am worried that I'll forget names, so I'll stop here!
But last and not least to you our readers, listeners and viewers for sticking around, wether you are an animation lover, student or professional. We sincerely thank you for your support and hoped that we managed to help you, if only a just a little bit along your animated journey.
I would also like to personally apologise to the many animators and directors who have sent us their work to share on the site, and that were sometimes left without a reply, not because the work wasn't worthy but because we weren't available on that day to write up about it. For those failures I am deeply sorry!
The good news is that we will keep our social channels open, mainly Instagram and Facebook (along with our Ozanimate Jobs Page) so keep checking these for updates and gigs!
Once again thank you, take care of each other and go make things move!
❤️ Love,
Paul Lalo
