The Anifex Key Creatives.

Michael Cusack
Director/Animator

Michael has been directing and animating since 1979. In a previous life he was a director, actor and writer in the theatre. It is this background that has given him an understanding of movement, timing and characterisation which underpins his award winning animation. Michael has developed a great reputation with his ability to bring life and real personality to his animation creations.

In 1985 he started Anifex with business partner Richard Chataway. Since then he has chalked up a vast number of awards and nominations for both his commercial work and his short films including Cannes, The London Internationals, The New York Festival, The One Show, Award pencils, The Australian Film Institute Awards and the IF Awards. Michael has won the Master’s Chair from the AADC on a record four occasions. Together with Richard, he won the President’s Award in 1994 for his contributions to advertising in South Australia. Michael is Anifex’s most experienced director.

Michael’s short films have screened in major film festivals around the world. They include "Waltzing Matilda" which won the AFI Award for best short film, "The Great Detective", a children’s television series in clay animation, "The Rocket", "The Book Keeper",
"( R )Evolution," which picked up the IF award for best animation and he has recently completed work on his latest production, "Gargoyle", which won Best Short Animation at the 2006 AFI Awards. He is currently working on his latest film which has the working title of "Into Africa".

Email: michael@anifex.com.au





Richard Chataway ACS
Producer/Director of Photography

Richard Chataway ACS balances the unusual combination of Producer and Director of Photography at Anifex. His producing skills have seen him working with some of the largest agencies in Australia and the Asian region. He has also produced all of the Anifex short films including "Barflies", "Heartbreak Motel", "The Rocket", "The Book Keeper", "(R)evolution", "Tales From The Powder Room" and "Gargoyle".

Richard is one of Anifex's Directors of Photography. He was awarded his Australian Cinematographers Society accreditation in 1992. Richard has won numerous awards for his cinematography including many Gold ACS awards and Golden Tripods, this is the highest honour awarded for cinematography at the Australian Cinematography Awards.

Email: richard@anifex.com.au





Greg Holfeld
Director/Animator/Illustrator

After cartooning across his Canadian homeland, Greg took his pencil case overseas and animated, illustrated, and scribbled in Tokyo, London, and Sydney before arriving in Adelaide in 1991.

Since then he has animated and directed TVCs and films for Anifex, winning numerous awards including an AFI nomination for the short film “Heartbreak Motel”. That film also screened in competition at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival as have his subsequent films “Sucked in, Mate”, “Love Stinks”, and “Get in the Car”. In 2002 Annecy awarded him Best Educational Film for “Tom's Toilet Triumph!”.

Also a prolific illustrator, Greg works in comics and children's book publishing. He is currently developing a feature project based on his short “Black and White, Red All Over.”

Contact Greg at: Panic Productions





Darren Burgess
Director/Animator

After his role as animation mentor to Adam Elliot on the Oscar-winning short animation film "Harvey Krumpet", Darren came to international notice with his award-winning short film, "Tales From The Powder Room"

Darren has since established himself as a leading international animator and director of animation through his work on prestigious UK series "Creature Comforts" for Aardman Animation as well as "Bob The Builder" and "The Koala Brothers"

He has just finished animating the 2005 release of Aardman Features' "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

Email via: darren@anifex.com.au

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