Disney Exit Threatens Survival Of Australian Animation Industry

SYDNEY (Asia Pulse) – The head of Walt Disney Co's local operations says the company's withdrawal from Australia could be the death knell of the nation's animation industry. But DisneyToon Studios Austra-lia (DTSA) general manager Philip Oakes said he had faith in the local industry and he would set up a new animation business in Sydney. US entertainment giant Walt Disney Co announced its decision to close the DTSA in July, cutting about 250 jobs when the studio closed its doors mid next year. The de-mise of the Australian studio followed Disney's closure of other international facilities in recent years. "But we are still hoping to get something out of this and have the animation industry still continue in Sydney," Oakes said. Oakes, who was continuing with the studio until it closed, wouldn't give too much away about his new animation venture. "It is a world market these days so if a project comes along, we can definitely get it and that is really what I am hoping will happen in the future," he said. Outsourced work from the Walt Disney Co would be an option, he said. The DTSA began operations in Australia in 1988, starting with mostly two dimensional (2D) television cartoons, such as Winnie the Pooh, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop and Aladdin. As technologies advanced and Australian animation staff became more skilled, the studio began working on higher profile projects. The studio's feature films included The Return of Jafar, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and Return to Neverland. This year, the DTSA produced animated movies Tarzan 2, Lilo and Stitch 2 and Bambi 2 and animators were currently working on Brother Bear 2. The studio was due to close after production on Cinderella III. "Frankly we are the best 2D studio in the world without question," Oakes said.