Tim Brooke Hunt has been named president of Flying Bark Productions, re-joining the Australian animation studio where he spent nearly 10 years in the 1990s.
Formerly ABC Television’s controller of children’s content, he will work closely with Jim Ballantine, general manager and executive producer of Flying Bark’s TV and feature film projects.
He’s also been appointed as advisor to the board of directors of Flying Bark’s parent, Belgium's Studio 100 Group. Hans Bourlon, CEO of Studio 100 Group, said: “His wealth of experience will help take Studio 100 to new international markets and help us continue to build a sustainable business.”
Flying Bark is producing three TV series- Tashi, Heidi and Vic the Viking- and the feature films Blinky Bill and Maya the Bee. In development are two TV series, Skippy and Lulu.
Directed by Alexs Stadermann, Maya the Bee Movie features a voice cast headed by Jacki Weaver, Noah Taylor, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Roxburgh, Justine Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
“I am delighted to assist the Studio 100 Group in their ambitious plans in animation and to be associated once again with the studio at which I worked throughout the 1990s, and to guide the talented team at Flying Bark,” Brooke-Hunt said.
“Under the leadership of Jim Ballantine, Flying Bark has become recognised internationally as a producer of quality animation, and I look forward to helping to consolidate and extend the company's position."
He served as executive producer, company director and director of marketing for Flying Bark’s predecessor, Yoram Gross Film Studios, from 1990 until 1999. He was EP on numerous projects including Blinky Bill, Tabaluga, Skippy, Flipper & Lopaka, Dumb Bunnies and Old Tom.
For six years he was head of children's content for ABC TV and controller of channels ABC3 and ABC4Kids. He stepped down last September and was succeeded by Deirdre Brennan.
He launched his own banner, Pacific Vision, providing consulting and executive producer services. He is also a founding director of the Asian Animation Summit.
His roles at Flying Bark/Studio 100 are part-time. "I will continue my involvement with the Asian Animation Summit and I'm in discussions with an interesting Australian company for another consulting arrangement," he tells IF from New York, where he is attending the Kidscreen Summit.