Yoram Gross

(1926 - 2015)

Yoram Gross was a Polish-born Australian film producer, director, and screenwriter renowned for his contributions to children's animation. Born in Kraków, Poland, he survived the Holocaust by frequently changing hiding places during World War II. After the war, Gross studied music and musicology at Jagiellonian University and began his film career in 1947. He initially worked as an assistant to Polish directors and later moved to Israel in 1950, where he produced and directed documentaries and feature films. In 1968, Gross emigrated to Australia, where he founded Yoram Gross Film Studios, later known as Flying Bark Productions. He gained international acclaim for animated films such as Dot and the Kangaroo (1977) and Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala (1992), which adapted beloved children's characters into animation. Gross's storytelling was characterized by its non-violent themes and universal appeal, earning him over 80 international awards. In 1995, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the film industry.