Yoram Gross
Yoram Gross was a Polish-born pioneer of animated films in Australia. He founded Yoram Gross Film Studios in 1968 and produced 16 animated features and 12 animated television series, many of which were also released in the U.S. His best known character was Blinky Bill, a lovable koala bear.
The character came about in the 1992 film Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala. It became a worldwide hit, and the character was given his own 1993 television series The Adventures of Blinky Bill, the 1995 series Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion, the 2004 series Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Balloon Adventure and the 2005 television special Blinky Bill's White Christmas. The latest iteration was a CGI feature, Blinky Bill the Movie, and was released in Australia by Flying Bark Productions just a week before Gross’s passing.
His first feature was also a success, 1977’s Dot and the Kangaroo, which was made using a special aerial image technique of drawings over live-action backgrounds. The Dot character was carried on in the feature films Dot and Santa Claus, Dot and the Bunny, Dot and Keeto, Dot and the Koala, Dot and the Whale, Dot Goes to Hollywood, Dot and the Smugglers and Dot in Space.
His other work in television included the series Big Bag, Flipper & Lopaka, Flipper & Lopaka: The Search for Neptune's Trident, Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown, The Dumb Bunnies, Tabaluga, Fairy Tale Police Department, Old Tom, Bambaloo, Staines Down Drains, Master Raindrop, Zeke's Pad, Dive Olly Dive! and The Woodlies.
Yoram Gross was a Polish-born pioneer of animated films in Australia. He founded Yoram Gross Film Studios in 1968 and produced 16 animated features and 12 animated television series, many of which were also released in the U.S. His best known character was Blinky Bill, a lovable koala bear.
The character came about in the 1992 film Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala. It became a worldwide hit, and the character was given his own 1993 television series The Adventures of Blinky Bill, the 1995 series Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion, the 2004 series Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Balloon Adventure and the 2005 television special Blinky Bill's White Christmas. The latest iteration was a CGI feature, Blinky Bill the Movie, and was released in Australia by Flying Bark Productions just a week before Gross’s passing.
His first feature was also a success, 1977’s Dot and the Kangaroo, which was made using a special aerial image technique of drawings over live-action backgrounds. The Dot character was carried on in the feature films Dot and Santa Claus, Dot and the Bunny, Dot and Keeto, Dot and the Koala, Dot and the Whale, Dot Goes to Hollywood, Dot and the Smugglers and Dot in Space.
His other work in television included the series Big Bag, Flipper & Lopaka, Flipper & Lopaka: The Search for Neptune's Trident, Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown, The Dumb Bunnies, Tabaluga, Fairy Tale Police Department, Old Tom, Bambaloo, Staines Down Drains, Master Raindrop, Zeke's Pad, Dive Olly Dive! and The Woodlies.
Gross was born in Krakow, Poland, to a Jewish family in 1926. He grew up during World War II, and his family was on Oskar Schindler’s famous list, moving hiding places 72 times as they made their escape. He later studied music at Krakow University, and then film at the Polish Film Institute. After moving to Israel he worked as a cameraman, then an independent film producer. He relocated to Australia with his wife and their children in 1968.
In 1996 Gross sold a 50-percent stake in the company to Village Roadshow Ltd., which was acquired by EM.TV in 1999. EM.TV later bought out Gross’s remaining stake and renamed the company Flying Bark Productions.
In 1995 he was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the nation's film industry. Additionally, the Sydney Film Festival’s annual prize for best animated feature was named the Yoram Gross Animation Award.
Gross died September 21, 2015, in Sydney, Australia. He was 88.
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