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Flying Bark Productions

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Flying Bark Productions Pty. Ltd.
Flying Bark Productions
Formerly
  • Yoram Gross Film Studios (1967–1996)
  • Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow (1996–1999)
  • Yoram Gross-EM.TV (1999–2006)
Industry
Founded1967; 59 years ago (1967)
FounderYoram Gross
Sandra Gross
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Number of locations
3 studios (2026)
Key people
  • Barbara Stephen (CEO)
  • Alexia Gates-Foale (EVP/Executive Director of Content)
ParentVillage Roadshow Pictures (1996–1999)
EM.TV & Merchandising AG (1999–2008)
Studio 100 (2008–present)
Divisions
  • Flying Bark Productions Sydney
  • Flying Bark Productions Los Angeles
  • Flying Bark Productions Madrid
Websitewww.flyingbark.com.au

Flying Bark Productions Pty. Ltd. (formerly known as Yoram Gross Film Studios, Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow and Yoram Gross-EM.TV) is an Australian entertainment and animation studio that is a subsidiary of Belgian production company Studio 100. The studio acts as a full-service production facility across feature films, television, and an assorted range of digital content. The studio was established by Yoram and Sandra Gross in 1967 as Yoram Gross Film Studios, and its stake was acquired by Australian media group Village Roadshow in 1996 before their stake was sold to German media & entertainment company EM.TV & Merchandising.

History

[edit]

In January 1996, Yoram Gross Film Studios announced they had established a partnership with Australian media group Village Roadshow, with the interest of Yoram Gross Film Studios being sold to them under their motion picture production division Village Roadshow Pictures. The company was later renamed to Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow, with Greg Coote, producer and founder of Village Roadshow's American division Village Roadshow Pictures, and Graham Burke, Village Roadshow's president & CEO, joining the renamed Australian animation studio's board. The studio agreed to produce ten animated series with Village Roadshow's television division.[1] One year later, in October 1997, Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow made a co-production pact with Europe-based German production and distribution company EM.TV & Merchandising AG, with whom they jointly handled television productions.[2] Following this successful partnership, and with Village Roadshow seeking an exit from television production, EM.TV & Merchandising bought out Village Roadshow's interest in Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow in 1999, renaming the company to Yoram Gross-EM.TV. EM.TV was also now distributing the animation studio's programmes worldwide.[1] By December 1999, Yoram Gross-EM.TV launched their own in-house licensing division named YG-EM Licensing to handle their own productions including EM.TV's co-production alongside their Junior programming catalogue.[3]

In March 2004, Yoram Gross-EM.TV expanded into the American production services by joining forces with American production outfit Coote/Hayes Productions (aka Village Roadshow Pictures Television), in order to establish a Los-Angleses based American production subsidiary that handles the Australian animation studio's programming in the United States and Latin America, entitled Yoram Gross USA. This new American production subsidiary signed a home video deal with Miramax to distribute Yoram Gross-EM.TV's series Flipper & Lopaka on DVD for a July release, while Edward Olson had been named president of Yoram Gross USA to oversee distribution of the studios library in those countries.[4][5]

On November 15, 2004, Yoram Gross-EM.TV had appointed Guy Gross, son of Yoram Gross-EM.TV founder Yoram Gross & film composer, previously directed the company's Australian/French series Old Tom and composed all of Yoram Gross-EM.TV's animated series, as producer and director for all of the production projects of the Australian entertainment studio.[6]

In January 2006, seven years after their acquisition of 50% of Yoram Gross EM.TV, EM.TV & Merchandising announced their full acquisition of the remaining 50% stake of Yoram Gross EM.TV from its founders Yoram and Sandra Gross under their entertainment division EM. Entertainment, giving EM.Entertainment full control of the Australian animation and production group.[7] By October 2006 following EM.Entertainment's acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Yoram Gross-EM.TV ten months prior, Yoram Gross EM.TV announced a restructuring and rebranding of the company as Flying Bark Productions, alongside its distribution division Yoram Gross Distribution, which was renamed to Flying Bark Distribution as the rebranded company would start planning to expand its portfolio into the adult-animated and children's genre,.[8][9][10]

In February 2007, a year after the rebranding of Yoram Gross-EM.TV to Flying Bark Productions, the company announced that its managing director Geoff Watson had depatured the Australia animation production company after 10 years with Canadian producer Michael Hefferon had assumed the role of MD while Geoff Watson would continue to lead Flying Bark Productions' New Zealand film & TV audio production subsidiary Trackdown Digital via MD.[11]

In May 2007, Flying Bark Productions' parent EM.TV announced its planning to exit the children's entertainment business through the sale of its Australian animation studio Flying Bark Productions including Yoram Gross' programming catalogue such as Blinky Bill, and its parent EM.Entertainment GmbH.[12] One year later, in May 2008, Indian media conglomerate Zee Telefilms entered a bid to acquire Flying Bark Productions and EM.Entertainment GmbH, the German kids & family entertainment division of EM.Sport Media for $100 million.[13] But on the 30th of that month, Belgian children's production company Studio 100 had acquired Australian animation studio Flying Bark Productions, including the Yoram Gross programming library such as Blinky Bill, and its parent EM.Entertainment GmBH, the children's entertainment division of EM.Sport Media AG announced that they have exited the children's entertainment & animation business with them had sold Flying Bark Productions alongside EM's entertainment division for €41 million in order for EM.Sport Media to focus on their expanded sport activities as EM.Sport Media exited the animation & youth entertainment business, with Flying Bark Productions became Studio 100's in-house Australian animation subsidiary marking Studio 100's first animation studio outside of Belgium while the latter's German distribution Studio 100 Media assuming Flying Bark's catalogue & would distribute the studio's future programming state.[14]

In February 2014, Flying Bark Productions announced that former head of ABC children's content & Sticky Pictures' co-founder Tim Brooke-Hunt (who was Flying Bark's former executive producer & director of the company via its former name Yoram Gross Studios) had returned to the Australian entertainment company as the president and will lead Flying Bark's future development state, meanwhile he also joined Flying Bark's parent Studio 100 as advisor of its board.[15]

In December 2019, Flying Bark Productions announced their plans to open a Los Angeles branch in early 2020, appointing American storyboarder/director Ian Graham as Chief Creative Director of the LA studio[16].

In late-March 2022, Flying Bark Productions increased its adult-animated state with the establishment of its new production arm After Bark, dedicated to adult animated programmes along with scripted and unscripted projects for mature audiences, with Amy Noble and Kate Andrew becoming CCO and head of legal & business affairs of the new production subsidiary.[17]

In June 2024, Flying Bark Productions expanded its production operations into Europe with the opening of a Madrid-based animation studio, marking Flying Bark Productions' first entry into the European and Spanish animation production markets; and partnered with Spanish animation studio supervisor Ramon Giráldez to head the new Spanish animation studio.[18]

Filmography

[edit]

Flying Bark Productions feature films

[edit]
Title Release date Distributor Notes
Gumnutz: A Juicy Tale 24 December 2007 FFC Australia co-production with Bix Pix Productions and ABC Studios
Santa's Apprentice 24 November 2010 Gaumont co-production with Gaumont Alphanim, Cartoon Saloon and Avril Stark Entertainment
The Woodlies Movie[19] 23 February 2013 Seven Network
Universum Film (Germany)		 co-production with Studio 100 Media, Seven Network, ZDF and Telegael
Maya the Bee[20][21] 2014 StudioCanal
Universum Film (Germany)[22]		 also known as Maya the Bee Movie
co-production with Studio 100 Film, Screen Australia, ZDF and Buzz Studios
Blinky Bill the Movie 17 September 2015 StudioCanal co-production with Telegael, Screen Australia, Screen NSW and Assemblage Entertainment
Maya the Bee: The Honey Games 1 April 2018 (Germany)
26 July 2018 (Australia)		 StudioCanal
Universum Film (Germany)		 Sequel to Maya the Bee Movie
co-production with Studio 100 Film, Screen Australia, Buzz Studios and Fish Blowing Bubbles
100% Wolf[23] 29 May 2020 Studio 100 Film co-production with Studio 100 Film, Screen Australia, Screenwest, Lotterywest, Create NSW, Siamese and De-Fi Media
Maya the Bee: The Golden Orb[24][25] 7 January 2021 StudioCanal co-production with Studio 100 Film, Studio 100 Media, Studio Isar Animation and Studio B Animation
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie 5 August 2022 Netflix Animations services only
produced by Nickelodeon Movies
Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia[26][27] 26 May 2022 (Germany)
27 October 2022 (Australia)		 Icon Film Distribution
Constantin Film (Germany)		 co-production with Studio 100 Film, Studio 100 Media, Studio Isar Animation, Constantin Film and Studio B Animation
200% Wolf[28][29] 8 August 2024 StudioCanal
Atlantika Films (Spain)		 Sequel to 100% Wolf
co-production with Studio 100 Film, Screen Australia, Screenwest, Lotterywest, Siamese and Atlantika Films
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender 9 October 2026 Paramount+ Animation services only[30]
produced by Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies and Avatar Studios
Zac Power[31][32] 7 January 2027 (Australia/New Zealand)[33] Paramount Pictures[34] (Australia/New Zealand)
Studio 100 Film (International)		 co-production with Cheeky Little Media,[35] Pixel Zoo Animation Studios, and Australian Children's Television Foundation[36]

TV series

[edit]
Title Years Network Notes
The Adventures of Blinky Bill 1993–2004 ABC/Seven Network co-production with EM.TV & Merchandising, EM.TV Wavery and WDR
Tabaluga 1997–2004 Seven Network
ZDF (Germany)		 co-production with EM.Entertainment, ZDF Enterprises and Victory Media Group
Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown 1998–99 Nine Network co-production with Tele Images Productions
Dumb Bunnies Seven Network
CBS (United States)		 co-production with Nelvana and Scholastic
Flipper & Lopaka 1999–2005 Seven Network
ZDF (Germany, season 3)		 co-production with EM.Entertainment and Animation Filmmakers Corporation
Fairy Tale Police Department 2001–02 Seven Network (Australia) co-production with EM.Entertainment, Talit Communications and Victory Media Group
Old Tom[37] 2002 ABC1
TF1 (France)		 co-production with EM.TV Wavery and Millimages
Bambaloo 2003–04 Seven Network co-production with The Jim Henson Company (season 1)
Deadly 2006 Nine Network Last production under the Yoram Gross-EM.TV name
co-production with SLR Productions
Dive Olly Dive![38] 2006–10 Seven Network
Animania (United States)
KIKA (Germany)		 credited as Yoram Gross-EM.TV for the first 16 episodes; first production under the Flying Bark Productions name
co-production with Mike Young Productions, Taffy Entertainment (season 1), MoonScoop (season 2), GDC International, Atlantyca Entertainment (season 2) and Telegael
Owned by Splash Entertainment
Staines Down Drains 2006–07 Seven Network co-production with EM.Entertainment, Flux Animation Studio, Traction and NZ On Air
Zeke's Pad 2008–10 Seven Network
YTV (Canada)		 uncredited
co-production with Leaping Lizard Productions, Bardel Entertainment and Avrill Stark Entertainment
Master Raindrop 2008–09 Seven Network co-production with EM.Entertainment, Big Communications, Flux Animation Studio and Media Development Authority
Legend of Enyo 2009–10 co-production with Avrill Stark Entertainment and Screen NSW
Zigby[39][40] 2009–11 ABC Kids
Treehouse TV (Canada)
ZDF (Germany)[41]		 co-production with Avrill Stark Entertainment, Thunderbird Films and Big Animation
The Woodlies 2012 Seven Network
ZDF (Germany)		 co-production with Studio 100 Media
Vic the Viking[42] 2013–14 Network Ten/Eleven (Australia)
ABC3 (Australia)
TF1 (France)		 co-production with Studio 100 Animation and ASE Studios
Tashi 2014–15 7TWO co-production with Telegael and Discreet Art Productions[43]
Heidi 2015–19 Nine Network
TF1 (France)
Tiji/Piwi+ (France)
ZDF (Germany)		 season 1 only
co-production with Studio 100 Animation and Heidi Productions (season 1)
Based on the novel Heidi by Johanna Spyri
The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill[44][45] 2016–17 7TWO/ABC Me co-production with Studio 100, Studio 100 Media, Telegael and Giant Wheel Animation
Oh, Yuck! 2017 Seven Network co-production with Silhouette Media Group
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2018–20 Nickelodeon Animation services only
produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Glitch Techs 2020 Netflix
Lego Monkie Kid 2020–23 Peacock co-production with The Lego Group
continued by WildBrain Studios from season 5 onwards
100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone ABC Me co-production with Studio 100 Media and Studio 56
FriendZSpace 2021–22 co-production with Studio 100 Media, Dan Clark Company, Shellnut Entertainment and T&B Media Global
What If...? 2021–24 Disney+ Animation services only
produced by Marvel Studios Animation
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur 2023–25 Disney Channel Disney+ Animation services only
produced by Disney Television Animation, Marvel Animation and Cinema Gypsy Productions
Tales from Outer Suburbia 2026 ABC iview (Australia) and BYUtv (United States) co-production with Siamese and Highly Spirited[46]
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 Netflix Animation services only
produced by 21 Laps Entertainment, Upside Down Pictures and Netflix[47]
Ghostbusters: Night Shift 2027 Animation services only
produced by Netflix Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Animation and Ghost Corps[48]
Untitled Minecraft series Coming TBA Animation services only[49]
produced by Netflix[50]
Untitled Clash of Clans series Coming TBA Animation services only[51]
produced by Netflix[52]

Web series

[edit]
  • The Eggsperts (2014)

Yoram Gross feature films

[edit]

Yoram Gross TV series

[edit]

TV special

[edit]
  • The Adventures of Candy Claus (1987)[53]

Interactive board game

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Muttalib, Bashirah (11 May 2000). "Yoram Gross Studios flips for animated series". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  2. ^ Guider, Elizabeth (7 October 1997). "Yoram Gross, EM.TV pact". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ Dunfield, Allison (1 December 1999). "Yoram Gross-EM.TV branches out with own licensing arm". Kidscreen.
  4. ^ Groves, Don (14 March 2004). "Gross engrossed in co-venture YG USA". Varoety.
  5. ^ DeMott, Rick (15 March 2004). "Yoram Gross Teams Coote/Hayes Prods In New Firm". Animation World Network.
  6. ^ "Yoram Gross EM.TV keeps it in the family". C21Media. 15 November 2004.
  7. ^ Ball, Ryan (11 January 2006). "EM. Ent. Acquires Rest of Yoram Gross-EM.TV". Animation Magazine.
  8. ^ "Yoram Gross-EM.TV Takes Off as Flying Bark Prods". Animation World Network. 9 October 2006.
  9. ^ "New ID for Yoram Gross-EM.TV". Worldscreen. 10 October 2006.
  10. ^ Meza, Ed (22 November 2007). "ORF takes 'Staines,' 'F.T.P.D.'". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  11. ^ Bulpeck, Pip (14 February 2007). "Watskn exits Flying Bark". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. ^ Gordon, Bonnie J. (23 May 2007). "EM.TV's kid unit up for adoption". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ Bhushan, Nyay; Roxborough, Scott (5 May 2008). "Zee eyes German b'caster's entertainment unit". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ^ Bell, Ryan (30 May 2008). "EM.Entertainment Sold to Studio 100". Animation Magazine.
  15. ^ "Tim Brooke-Hunt appointed to lead Flying Bark Productions". Kidscreen. 10 February 2014.
  16. ^ Amidi, Amid (11 December 2019). "Flying Bark Productions Is Opening An L.A. Studio In 2020". www.cartoonbrew.com. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  17. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (28 March 2022). "Flying Bark Launches Older Audiences Arm: After Bark". Animation Magazine.
  18. ^ Frater, Patrick (10 June 2024). "Flying Bark, Australian Animation Indie, Opening Madrid Studio". Variety.
  19. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (14 January 2013). "'Woodlies Movie' To Air on Australia's Seven". Animation Magazine.
  20. ^ Jerry Beck (18 January 2015). "TRAILER: "Maya The Bee"". Indiewire. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  21. ^ Etan Vlessing (8 May 2012). "Canada's Thunderbird Films Steers 'Maya the Bee' into North America". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  22. ^ Zahed, Ramin (8 November 2013). "Universum Buzzes with Studio 100's 'Maya the Bee'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Flying Bark Productions Starts Work on '100% Wolf'". Animation World Network. Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  24. ^ Paul, Sharmindrila (7 August 2020). "'Maya The Bee: The Golden Orb' makers Thorsten Wegener and Tracy Lenon share inputs on the animated film". AnimationXpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Studio 100 Media Enters Production on 'Maya the Bee 3 – The Golden Orb'". awn.com. Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  26. ^ J. McLean, Thomas (1 November 2017). "Studio 100 Film Brings 'Mia and Me' Movie to AFM". Animation World Network.
  27. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (6 November 2017). "AFM: Studio 100 Introduces 'Mia and Me – The Movie'". Animation Magazine.
  28. ^ Spry, Jeff (19 October 2022). "Flying Bark Productions to Unleash '200% Wolf,' Sequel to Animated Pic '100% Wolf'". Animation Magazine.
  29. ^ "Flying Bark Productions' 200% Wolf release date announcement". Facebook. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  30. ^ Slatter, Sean (13 October 2022). "Flying Bark recruiting artists to work on Paramount/Nickelodeon's 2D 'Avatar' film". IF Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Cheeky Little Media Hires Abby Dorrian to Expand Global Production Portfolio". LBB Editorial. 7 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Zac Power — Flying Bark Productions". Flying Bark Productions. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Zac Power | Studio 100 Film". www.studio100film.com. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  34. ^ Apostolou, Natalie (14 October 2025). "Aussie animators Flying Bark, Cheeky Little Media, Pixel Zoo adapt Zac Power books". C21Media.
  35. ^ "Zac Power The Movie (2025)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  36. ^ Knox, David (14 October 2025). "ACTF backs teen spy Zac Power". TV Tonight.
  37. ^ "AAC Kids to distrib Old Tom". Playback. 15 November 1999.
  38. ^ Ball, Ryan (22 September 2005). "Mike Young Plunges into "Dive! Olly! Dive!"". Animation Magazine.
  39. ^ Ball, Ryan (17 February 2005). "Zigby to Earn Stripes from Yoram Gross-Em.TV". Animation Magazine.
  40. ^ Grove, Chris (17 April 2007). "Popular Zigby Making International Move With Co-Prod". Animation Magazine.
  41. ^ "Three New Shows For Germany's ZDF". Animation World Network. 10 April 2008.
  42. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (31 January 2013). "'Vic the Viking' conquers Australia". Animation World Network.
  43. ^ Franks, Nico (22 November 2017). "Dadi picks up Studio 100 toons in China". C21Media.
  44. ^ Wolfie, Jennifer (17 July 2015). "Flying Bark's 'Blinky Bill' Returning to Australian TV". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  45. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (17 July 2015). "'Blinky Bill' Reboot Set for 2016". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  46. ^ "Tales From Outer Suburbia (2025) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  47. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (10 April 2023). "'Stranger Things' Animated Series Coming to Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Flying Bark Boards Netflix & Sony's Animated 'Ghostbusters' Series". Animation Magazine. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  49. ^ "Minecraft Animated Series — Flying Bark Productions". Flying Bark Productions. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  50. ^ Tewksbury, Drew (1 June 2024). "Minecraft the Animated Series is Coming Soon to Netflix - Netflix Tudum". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  51. ^ "Clash of Clans Animated Series — Flying Bark Productions". Flying Bark Productions. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  52. ^ McIlvaine, Brookie (21 May 2025). "Clash of Clans Series Brings the Legendary Supercell Video Game to Life - Netflix Tudum". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  53. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 4. ISBN 9781476672939.
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