Flying Bark Productions

Flying Bark Productions is an Australian animation studio and entertainment production company based in Sydney. It operates as a full-service production facility, developing and producing animated feature films, television series, specials, web content, and other digital projects. The company is best understood as the successor to Yoram Gross Film Studios, the studio founded in 1967 by filmmakers Yoram Gross and Sandra Gross. Its historical identity is closely associated with Australian animation, children’s entertainment, and properties such as Dot and the Kangaroo and Blinky Bill. The business changed ownership and identity several times. In 1996, Yoram Gross Film Studios entered a partnership with Australian media group Village Roadshow, leading to the name Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow and an expansion of television production. The studio subsequently worked with German media company EM.TV & Merchandising, which acquired Village Roadshow’s interest in 1999 and renamed the company Yoram Gross-EM.TV. During this period, the company broadened its production and distribution activities and established a licensing division for its own programs and related children’s programming. In 2004, the company expanded its United States production-services and distribution presence through Yoram Gross USA, formed with Coote/Hayes Productions. In 2006, EM.TV acquired the remaining interest held by Yoram and Sandra Gross and obtained full control. Later that year, the business was restructured and rebranded as Flying Bark Productions, while its distribution arm became Flying Bark Distribution. The rebranding reflected an intention to broaden the studio’s portfolio beyond its established children’s properties and into additional animation categories, including adult-oriented projects. Studio 100 acquired Flying Bark Productions in 2008 as part of its purchase of EM.TV’s children’s and entertainment operations. The transaction made Flying Bark Studio 100’s Australian animation subsidiary and gave Studio 100 access to the Yoram Gross programming library, including Blinky Bill. Studio 100 Media subsequently handled distribution for the catalogue and future programming in relevant markets. Flying Bark has continued to develop an international production model. It announced plans for a Los Angeles branch in 2019, with Ian Graham appointed to lead its creative direction there. In 2022, the company created After Bark as a production arm for adult animation and other scripted and unscripted projects aimed at mature audiences. In 2023, former Nickelodeon Australia television director Hugh Baldwin joined After Bark to lead development as executive producer. In 2024, Flying Bark expanded into Europe by opening an animation studio in Madrid and partnering with Spanish animation supervisor Ramon Giráldez to lead the operation. Today, Flying Bark’s business spans original development, commissioned production, co-production, production services, and exploitation of an established intellectual-property catalogue. Its positioning combines Australian animation expertise with the international financing, distribution, and production network of Studio 100. The company’s work has historically focused on family and children’s entertainment, while its newer operations indicate a broader strategy covering adult animation and mature-audience content.

Flying Bark Productions traces its origins to 1967, when Yoram and Sandra Gross established Yoram Gross Film Studios in Australia. The studio became one of the country’s notable animation producers, creating feature films and television programs for children and families. Its early film catalogue included the Dot series, beginning with Dot and the Kangaroo, as well as other productions such as The Little Convict, The Magic Riddle, and Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala. These works established a durable Australian-oriented identity built around locally recognizable characters, natural environments, and family storytelling. The company entered a new corporate phase in January 1996, when it announced a partnership with Village Roadshow. Village Roadshow acquired an interest in the studio through its motion-picture production activities, and the business was renamed Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow. Executives associated with Village Roadshow Pictures, including Greg Coote and Graham Burke, joined the studio’s board. The company also agreed to produce a substantial slate of animated television series with Village Roadshow’s television division. This relationship gave the previously independent animation studio additional corporate resources and a stronger route into international television markets. In October 1997, Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow entered a co-production arrangement with German media and distribution company EM.TV & Merchandising. The two companies jointly handled television productions, while EM.TV provided an increasingly important European and international distribution connection. Village Roadshow later sought to leave television production, and in 1999 EM.TV acquired Village Roadshow’s interest. The company was renamed Yoram Gross-EM.TV, and EM.TV became responsible for worldwide distribution of the studio’s programs. In late 1999, the group also established YG-EM Licensing, an in-house licensing operation intended to manage the exploitation of its own productions and related programming assets. The studio expanded its North American activities in 2004 by joining with Coote/Hayes Productions to establish Yoram Gross USA in Los Angeles. The subsidiary handled the company’s programs in the United States and Latin America and pursued distribution arrangements, including a home-video agreement involving Flipper and Lopaka. That same period saw Guy Gross, Yoram Gross’s son and a film composer associated with the studio’s productions, appointed producer and director for the company’s production projects. In January 2006, EM.TV completed its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent interest held by Yoram and Sandra Gross. This gave EM.TV’s entertainment division full control of the Australian animation group and its catalogue. Later in 2006, the company underwent a restructuring and was renamed Flying Bark Productions. Its distribution operation was renamed Flying Bark Distribution. The new identity was intended to support a broader production strategy that included both children’s animation and potential adult-oriented work. Management changed during the following year. Managing director Geoff Watson departed Flying Bark after a decade with the Australian animation company, while Canadian producer Michael Hefferon became managing director. Watson continued to lead the group’s New Zealand audio-production subsidiary, Trackdown Digital, in a managing-director capacity. In 2007, EM.TV announced plans to exit the children’s entertainment business and put Flying Bark and the associated programming catalogue up for sale. Zee Telefilms submitted a bid in 2008, but Studio 100 ultimately acquired Flying Bark and EM.TV’s entertainment operations in May of that year. The purchase made Flying Bark Studio 100’s first animation studio outside Belgium and brought properties such as Blinky Bill into Studio 100’s wider catalogue. Studio 100 Media assumed distribution responsibilities for the relevant library and future programming. Flying Bark continued to develop its executive and international footprint under Studio 100. In 2014, Tim Brooke-Hunt returned to the company as president after serving in senior children’s-content and production roles elsewhere in the Australian industry; he also became an adviser to the Studio 100 board. In 2019, Flying Bark announced plans for a Los Angeles branch, appointing storyboard artist and director Ian Graham as chief creative director. This move strengthened the company’s access to North American development, talent, and commissioning relationships. The studio further diversified in 2022 with the launch of After Bark, a production arm focused on adult animation and scripted and unscripted projects for mature audiences. Amy Noble and Kate Andrew were appointed to senior creative and legal/business-affairs roles in the new unit. In 2023, Hugh Baldwin joined After Bark as executive producer of development. In June 2024, Flying Bark expanded into Europe through the opening of a Madrid-based animation studio, with Spanish animation supervisor Ramon Giráldez involved in leading the new operation. These developments show the company evolving from a principally Australian children’s-animation studio into a distributed international production organization covering family, children’s, adult, and digital entertainment.

1. 2024Madrid studio opened

   Flying Bark establishes its first European animation studio in Madrid.

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2. 2022After Bark launched

   The company establishes a unit dedicated to adult animation and mature-audience scripted and unscripted projects.

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3. 2008Studio 100 acquisition

   Studio 100 acquires Flying Bark and the associated EM.TV entertainment operations.

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4. 2006Flying Bark name adopted

   After EM.TV acquires the founders’ remaining stake, the company is restructured and renamed Flying Bark Productions.

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5. 2004Yoram Gross USA established

   A Los Angeles-based subsidiary is created to support United States and Latin American production services and distribution.

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6. 1999EM.TV takes control of Village Roadshow’s interest

   The company becomes Yoram Gross-EM.TV, with EM.TV distributing its programs internationally.

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7. 1996Village Roadshow partnership

   Village Roadshow acquires an interest in the studio, which is renamed Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow.

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8. 1967Yoram Gross Film Studios founded

   Yoram and Sandra Gross establish the Australian animation studio that later becomes Flying Bark Productions.

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An internationally oriented animation production studio rooted in Australian children’s entertainment and supported by Studio 100’s global production and distribution network.

• Dot and the KangarooAnimated feature film1977

  A landmark Yoram Gross animated feature and the starting point for the long-running Dot film series. The film centers on a young girl’s journey through the Australian bush and helped establish the studio’s signature combination of family adventure, Australian settings, and environmental themes.

• Dot film seriesAnimated feature films1977

  A collection of animated features following Dot through encounters with Australian animals and landscapes. The series includes titles such as Around the World with Dot, Dot and the Bunny, Dot and the Whale, Dot and the Smugglers, Dot Goes to Hollywood, and Dot in Space.

• Blinky BillAnimated feature and television property1992

  A major Australian children’s entertainment property associated with Yoram Gross and later Flying Bark. The character appeared in feature and television productions, including Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala and Blinky Bill’s White Christmas, and became part of Studio 100’s catalogue after the 2008 acquisition.

• Flipper and LopakaAnimated television and feature property

  An animated children’s property set in an underwater world. It formed part of the studio’s television output and was also developed as Flipper and Lopaka: The Feature. The property received international distribution support, including a home-video arrangement for North American markets.

• After BarkAdult animation and mature-audience production2022

  A Flying Bark production arm created to develop adult animated programs as well as scripted and unscripted projects aimed at mature audiences. Its formation represents an expansion beyond the company’s long-standing family and children’s focus.

• The EggspertsWeb series2014

  A digital animation project listed among Flying Bark Productions’ web-series work, reflecting the studio’s activity beyond conventional feature-film and television formats.

• 2024Expand into MadridStrategy

  Flying Bark pursued a wider international production footprint and entry into European and Spanish animation markets.

  What changed. The company opened an animation studio in Madrid and partnered with Ramon Giráldez to lead the Spanish operation.

  Aftermath. The Madrid operation became Flying Bark’s first European studio and extended its production network beyond Australia and North America.

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• 2022Create After BarkStrategy

  Flying Bark sought to extend its production activities beyond children’s and family entertainment.

  What changed. The company launched After Bark as a unit for adult animation and scripted and unscripted projects intended for mature audiences.

  Aftermath. The new arm broadened the group’s development scope and created a distinct label for mature-audience projects.

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• 2008Sell Flying Bark to Studio 100M&A

  EM.TV’s parent group was exiting children’s entertainment and animation to focus more heavily on sports activities.

  What changed. Studio 100 acquired Flying Bark, its programming library, and the associated entertainment operations.

  Aftermath. Flying Bark became Studio 100’s Australian animation subsidiary, while Studio 100 Media took on catalogue and future-program distribution.

  Reported transaction value. €41 million (2008 transaction)

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• 2006Rebrand as Flying Bark ProductionsStrategy

  EM.TV obtained full ownership after acquiring the founders’ remaining interest and reorganized the Australian animation business.

  What changed. Yoram Gross-EM.TV was renamed Flying Bark Productions, and Yoram Gross Distribution became Flying Bark Distribution.

  Aftermath. The new brand was intended to support a broader portfolio spanning children’s and adult animation.

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• 1999EM.TV acquires Village Roadshow’s interestM&A

  Village Roadshow was seeking to leave television production while EM.TV had an established European media and distribution network.

  What changed. EM.TV acquired Village Roadshow’s interest, renamed the studio Yoram Gross-EM.TV, and assumed worldwide distribution responsibilities.

  Aftermath. The company added an in-house licensing division and operated as part of EM.TV’s broader entertainment business.

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• 1996Partner with Village RoadshowM&A

  Yoram Gross Film Studios sought additional corporate and television-production capacity through a relationship with Village Roadshow.

  What changed. Village Roadshow acquired an interest in the studio, which became Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow and agreed to produce animated television series with Village Roadshow Television.

  Aftermath. The partnership introduced a succession of later ownership and distribution arrangements involving EM.TV.

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• 2024Madrid animation studio opens

  Flying Bark expanded into Europe by opening an animation studio in Madrid and partnering with Ramon Giráldez to lead the Spanish operation.

  Product launch
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• 2023Hugh Baldwin joins After Bark

  Former Nickelodeon Australia television director Hugh Baldwin joined After Bark as executive producer of development.

  Leadership change
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• 2022After Bark adult-content arm launched

  The company created After Bark to develop adult animation and scripted and unscripted projects for mature audiences.

  Product launch
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• 2019Los Angeles branch announced

  Flying Bark announced plans to establish a Los Angeles branch and appointed Ian Graham as its chief creative director.

  Leadership change
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• 2008Studio 100 acquires Flying Bark Productions

  Studio 100 acquired Flying Bark Productions and the related EM.TV children’s entertainment operations, making the Australian studio part of its international group.

  M&A
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• 2006Company rebranded as Flying Bark Productions

  Following EM.TV’s acquisition of the remaining founder-held interest, Yoram Gross-EM.TV was restructured and renamed Flying Bark Productions.

  Leadership change
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• 2004Yoram Gross USA established

  The company expanded its North American production-services and distribution operations through a Los Angeles-based subsidiary formed with Coote/Hayes Productions.

  Other
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• 1999EM.TV acquires Village Roadshow's interest

  EM.TV acquired Village Roadshow’s interest and renamed the company Yoram Gross-EM.TV, taking on a larger role in worldwide program distribution.

  M&A
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• 1996Village Roadshow partnership established

  Yoram Gross Film Studios formed a partnership with Village Roadshow, which acquired an interest in the studio and helped expand its television production activity.

  M&AOther
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1. Flying Bark Productions