Poster by Kayle Smith
DANCE: A FLOCK Story
Animated Griffith Film School Project 2025
(Producer/Supervisor/script/beat boards)
“War is for the birds…”
“Dance” is a short animated film developed as part of the inaugural Animation Studio stream program run in the Bachelor of Animation degree at Griffith Film School. Preproduction was developed by a small group of students in Animation Studio 1: Associate, over trimester 1, and the group expanded into production and post-production during Animation Studio 2: Intermediate in trimester 2 2025. The project began with a script, and beat boards written and drawn by Studio coordinator Dr. Paul Mason, with the story and characters adapted from Paul's Australian graphic novel FLOCK, published by award-winning publisher Gestalt Comics (ABC's Comic Book Heroes documentary, The Deep, the Indigeverse, Cleverman and many others). From there, the breif was flexible to allow for the students' visual approach to the material to bring the work to life on the big screen.
The aim was to allow 2nd year GFS Animation students the opportunity to apply their developing knowledge in animation filmmaking and design sensibilities to an industry-connected I.P, learn group-based production and navigate strategies, and to add this material to their experience, credits, developing demo reels, folios and CVs. See: production blog.
The film is not only a faithful adaptation of the comic book, but a visual love letter to 1990s anime visual style, with Miyazaki's Porco Rosso in mind. Under supervision of Paul, Dance: A FLOCK Story was directed by Stephen Liu, production managed by Kayle Smith, with art direction by Grace Clay and created by a small but hardworking and talented team of 2nd year Griffith animation students. The film was screened at a private university event in 2025, with the aim to submit to Festivals in 2026.
Duration: 5 min 15 sec
2D Animation 1920 x 1080 Widescreen
Rated M, English.
Synopsis:
Ok, look… It’s World War 1, a bombed-out village in Northern France, and there’s this angry, old Australian digger picking a fight with a young boy soldier who’s just trying to look after his flock of messenger pigeons.
The thing is, the pigeon in question happens to be a 6ft man-pigeon of mysterious origins, and the old Soldier wants him dead.
But deep down, the man-pigeon dubbed ‘War Pige’ just wants to dance...
Adapted for animation by STUDIO_GFS Animation Studio, Griffith Film School, 2nd year class of 2025, based on the FLOCK comic book series published by Gestalt Comics, Australia.
Left: Background concept by lead B/G artist Chun Hsiang Chang
Sample Concepts: Turnarounds and concept art by concept department.
Original Beat Boards: Some of the beat boards provided as early pre-production by Paul Mason.
Director's Statement:
"Working on this film has felt like a migration and a half — I was terrified at first actually, but as I settled I’ve learned a ton of new insights into industry practices and also just the experience itself is extremely meaningful. One cannot learn new things by just hearing, they have to do and they must try. Working with Paul’s personal creative story was such an honour, but also something I just love. Being able to contribute to someone's passion is my passion too. It was definitely a super tough flight, and stretched out for what felt like forever. However in the end I just feel immensely glad that I got to work with so many brilliant individuals.." - Stephen Liu
Production Manager's Statement:
"Working on DANCE has been an incredibly fun, interesting and eye-opening experience. Originally, I had never thought myself to fulfill a position in production; I simply had little belief in my own ability to work on the large scale with others, manage admin work, and push a project forward. Admittedly it has been the unending support of my fellow leads which have kept me sane, but I feel as though I have really come to understand what I enjoy bringing to the table in film. We have had a lot of tight deadlines, long nights and hard days but in the end I have appreciated the work of the crew and the opportunity I have had to support them every step of the way.." - Kayle Smith
The film was directed by Stephen Liu, production managed by Kayle Smith, art directed by Grace Clay, and created by 2nd year GFS animation students as part of Studio_GFS Animation 2025.
CREW LIST:
PRODUCER:
Dr. Paul Mason
STUDIO_GFS ANIMATION
SCRIPT
BEAT BOARDS
DIRECTOR:
Stephen Liu
PRODUCTION MANAGER:
Kayle Smith
ART DIRECTOR:
Grace Clay
BACKGROUND LEAD:
Chun Hsiang Chang
BACKGROUND ARTISTS:
Emily Robertson
Izzy Carrol
CONCEPT ARTIST:
Grace Clay
Stephen Liu
Wren Hayes
Kayle Smith
Chun Hsiang Chang
James Windus
Helena Cartner
LAYOUT ARTIST:
Lachlan Healy
Jaiden Durman
James Windus
George Patterson
Aleisha Stewart
Kayle Smith
Stephen Liu
Grace Mclay
3D MODELLER:
Sasha Firly
2D ANIMATOR:
Grace Clay
Stephen Liu
Kayle Smith
Alice Carter
Claramae Deppe
Elana Partridge
2D ANIMATOR (cont.):
Dilara Arikan
Jess Bogaard
Finn Tayler
Olivia Appleby
Josh Gallimore
Helena Cartner
Jasmine Watson
Olivia McCafferty
Wren Hayes
Audrey McCarthy
Jordan Fechner
Meera Melville
Thomas McDaid
CLEANUP ARTIST:
Lachlan Healy
Jaiden Durman
James Windus
George Patterson
Chloe Wolhunter
Finn Tayler
Aleisha Stewart
Grace Clay
Stephen Liu
Kayle Smith
Alice Carter
Claramae Deppe
Elana Partridge
Dilara Arikan
Jess Bogaard
Olivia Appleby
Josh Gallimore
Helena Cartner
Jasmine Watson
Wren Hayes
Meera Melville
COMPOSITOR:
Cassie Hoang
Chloe Wolhunter
Stephen Liu
Sasha Firly
SOUND DESIGNER:
Kayle Smith
VOICE ACTING:
Zac Hinkins
Liam McMahon
Kayle Smith
Joel Perren
