Industry pays tribute to former ABC children’s head Tim Brooke-Hunt

The kids content champion who produced some of Australia's most beloved animated programming, including Blinky Bill and Yakkity Yak, has died after a long illness.
September 24, 2024

Tim Brooke-Hunt, former ABC head of children’s and a founding partner of Kidscreen’s Asian Animation Summit event, has died after a long illness.

Brooke-Hunt joined the ABC in 2007 as executive head of children’s content for ABC TV and then became controller of children’s in 2010. During his tenure, he spearheaded the launch of ABC3 for school-age kids and the relaunch of preschool channel ABC4Kids. Brooke-Hunt also oversaw the ABC’s educational programs and online content for children, including two dedicated portals.

Teen series Dance Academy, historical drama My Place and hybrid preschool series Giggle and Hoot were among the ABC shows Brooke-Hunt commissioned before leaving the ABC in 2013. Other hit shows he executive produced throughout his career include Blinky Bill, Yakkity Yak, Old Tom, L’il Horrors and Dennis & Gnasher.

After qualifying as a chartered accountant in London and graduating from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business with an MBA degree, the UK-born executive moved to Australia in the mid-1970s. He got into the film and TV industry in 1983 and was heavily involved over the next 20 years in financing and producing animation.

Prior to joining the ABC, Brooke-Hunt served in senior leadership roles at Australian production companies Beyond International and Yoram Gross Film Studios (now Flying Bark Productions) before co-founding Sticky Pictures in 2002. 

Not long after leaving the ABC, Brooke-Hunt was appointed as board president at Flying Bark (Maya the Bee) and began guiding the company’s animation business development.

He was also a founding director of Kidscreen’s Asian Animation Summit event, for which he was instrumental in championing new kids projects from the region and mentoring producers and students.

Our condolences go to Tim’s family, friends and colleagues,” said the ABC in a statement. Other industry vets and friends paying tribute include Michael Carrington and Libbie Doherty, both former heads of ABC Children’s.

Tim was more than a brilliant industry colleague—he was a friend, and we shared an incredible journey through children’s TV together. I first met him during my time at the BBC when he was at Yoram Gross Films, and I was immediately struck by his authenticity and passion for animation. Shows like Blinky Bill and Old Tom thrived under his guidance,” posted Carrington on his LinkedIn account. “His influence didn’t stop at Australia’s borders—Tim played a key role in international collaborations through his work as a founding director of the Asian Animation Summit, where he mentored countless producers, always with patience, kindness and an unrelenting belief in creative potential.”

Doherty also paid tribute to Brooke-Hunt on LinkedIn: “Tim’s passion was animation, and I always enjoyed talking with him about the shows that inspired us as children, and informed the humans we became. He played a huge role in keeping Australian creators front and center on the international market. His legacy lives on wonderfully in the children who watched the content commissioned under his tenure at the ABC.” 

Kidscreen’s publisher Jocelyn Christie had this to say about the passing of her longtime AAS collaborator and friend: “Tim’s passion for supporting and nurturing animation talent in the Asia Pacific region was inspiring, as was his uncompromising commitment to excellence and professionalism. We will deeply miss his involvement in AAS and the world of children’s media in general.”

About The Author
Jeremy is the Features Editor of Kidscreen specializing in the content production, broadcasting and distribution aspects of the global children's entertainment industry. Contact Jeremy at jdickson@brunico.com.

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