Vale animator extraordinaire Zoran Janjic – funeral at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 3pm today
Zoran Janjic’s funeral service will be held at Northern Suburbs Crematorium @ 3pm today (Tuesday 20th September), followed by a wake at the Sydney Flying Squadron (AKA The Squaddy), 76 McDougall Street, Milsons Point.
UPDATED – The industry will be saddened to hear of the death of Zoran Janjic, one of Australia’s top animators and one of the best-loved characters of the business, of heart failure at the age of 71.
Janjic was the boss of Hanna Barbera in Australia in the 70s and his own company Zap Productions in the 80s and 90s, which was a major force in the Australian commercials production industry during that period.
Zap created traditional animation as well as being a pioneer in stop-motion animation and computer animation.
Throughout the sixties, Janjic was an animation director at API, which was the major animation studio in Australia producing series work for the Australian Broadcasting Commission and American networks. In 1962 episodes of “Challenge of Flight” and “Challenge of the Sea” were sold to Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain, The Middle East, and Italy. The studio’s most successful series and somewhat of a cornerstone was “King Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table” – syndicated in the U.S. by Twentieth Century Fox and sold to 14 countries. The series was directed by Janjic who had arrived in Australia in 1960 after working in animation at the Zagreb studios.
The strong ties to the American producers continued over the next few years with series work for the children’s toy manufacturer General Mills, realising what was to become known as the “Family Classics” such as “Treasure Island,” “The Legends of Robin Hood,” “Tales of Washington Irving,” “Robinson Crusoe,” “Ivanhoe,” and “Journey to the Centre of the Earth.”
Hanna Barbera also tested the water in Australia by having API produce seventeen half-hour episodes of “Funky Phantom.”
Janjic, along with most of the key staff form API, was lured away to set up a new studio in Sydney for Hanna Barbera in 1972 – a coup from which API was never really able to recover. The manner in which the studio divided has remained a contentious issue to today for those concerned at the time. The arrival of Hanna Barbera had been the biggest single development in the Australian animation industry.
58 Comments
Yo Yo is the name for those that have long enjoyed the of friendship of Zoran.
I am sure that those who have enjoyed his unique company will have many words of kindness to say beyond mine.
At this point I have lost a dear friend at 3 pm today.
A great talent and a great mate who will be missed by everyone who has had the pleasure of his company.
YOU WILL BE MISSED
Great times and memories will remain.
Richard Osborn AKA [ Bike]
Z
a prodigious talent that crossed out of yugoslavia on a day trip with his brother and mother and never returned, Zoran was my first boss, one hell of an introduction to the industry, with an intimidating exterior and warm heart.
inspiring and adventurous, he drew beautifully and was a pioneer in australian visual fx and technology -he broke new ground, cared and launched the careers of many.
Bruce Hunt
Great talent, proper bloke – good golfer – tough as old boots, fierce but fair.
Watch out, God.
A great loss to everyone..my condolences to his family…rocky
RIP Zoran Janjic. I have very fond memories of the Zap days and will always be indebted to Zed for giving me my first break in the industry. Zoran was an amazing, talented and generous man who certainly knew the meaning of the phrase ‘live hard, play harder’. Thanks for giving me a chance and for the memories sir.
Piet
Sincerest sympathies to Zoran’s family.
Very sad to hear the news about Zoran’s passing.
A pioneer, and Zap was a terrific launch for many of our great film talent.
Sincerest thoughts and love to his family. He’ll be missed by many.
Gonna miss you Z. The world is a smaller, duller place without you.
I remember when I was a runner, I picked him up from the Legends Lunch one year, for which he won the Legendary Line Award with this:
“Fuck, I’ve never been in a room with so many people who owed me money at once”
I’m sure some of them still do…
A big lovable guy – Generosity should have been his middle name. Fond memories – both of us. John & Lib
Z
You gave me more than just an amazing education on motion picture; you made me understand why I was doing it.
We will miss you.
Love to the family.
PS. Say hi to Dad for me!
I am deeply sorry for Z’s family and close friends. I dearly loved Z and thoroughly enjoyed working for him at Zap. He was my first real boss, but very quickly realized that he would be someone I would love and respect forever! Rest in peace, Z, you were one of the best! Ben
I had the pleasure of working with Zoran at Zap for a great many years. Zap was a uniquely creative environment unlike anything I have ever seen. A larger than life character that looked after everyone like a father. Zed, you were truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed.
Steve Matson
We have all lost a truly legendary Creative Genius.
Zed was a unique and inspiring man who shared his knowledge and showed his love.
You will be missed my dear friend.
Zoran,
A warm hearted, generous and creative gentleman, who took me under his wing and gave me office space and encouragement when I needed it.
I often enjoy retelling his hilarious stories of the 80s advertising world.
Farewell my friend.
Artist, innovator, trail blazer, bon vivant, top shelf human, thanks for the kick (up the arse) start to my working life Z.
Dear Uncle Yoyo, I remember so many good times with you not related to work, but to our family. Biiiig family lunches at Nina and Opa’s at Easter and Christmas, going fishing on a boat hired from Waltons boatshed at Balmoral with you and Dad and those big cans of V.B that you and Dad polished off then you two constantly untangling our lines. The fantastic “birsday carrds” (vunce upon ze tvelf chanuary) you used to draw for Nina and Opa… I remember a fancy dress party you went to once as Ned Kelly, you dressed up in your armour at Nina and Opa’s to show us, you scared the living shit out of me, I was about 10 I think.
Who remembers Yoyo’s Honda CB750 with the egg on the black fuel tank?
You were kind enough to give me a few voice jobs on your cartoons for which I thank you, I always LOVED visiting your studio(s).
Say hello to Guy for me please, and give Nina and Opa a big hug.
Even being so far away and having not seen you for such a long time, it all hurts.
Love to Karin, Dano and to little Nina from Boris Jr.
Thanks Zed,
for the opportunities you created for us and for being the patriarch of the family that ZAP was for many of us.
=Erik
I wrote a letter to Zoran in 1994 to say thank you to him for the invaluable experience he had given me at Zap and XY Zap. I wanted him to know how I valued the time I spent under his wing and the belief and cofidence he had in me. To this day Zoran remains in my memory as one of the great pioneers of the effects industry in Australia. Zoran had vision and faith and put all on the line to establish a great mark winning the first on shore Channel ID ever done in this Country.
My heart goes out to Keiran and family and their great loss. Zoran was a very special man and a legend.
Thank you all for your thoughts.
We are currently preparing a fitting sendoff for a great man.
Dano.
Zoran was my first boss at API in 1971. We also were members of the same motorcycle club! I have many fond memories of Zoran, riding his Norton!
Here’s to a great character in the animation scene…….Margy
Creative Genius, Great Man, Good Friend…Go well Zed…Philip
Zoran we will miss you, a gentleman and a beacon for us all.
Thankyou for being , Zed.
Goodby Zed….Many memories….you will not be forgotten
I got my 1st real introduction to post and effects with Zoran. Making models of stealth aircraft that didn’t exist fly for Beyond 2000. I like so many, have been influenced by Z.
Vale Zoran.
Z you lived a huge life. A talented artist who had a great influence on so many people. Farewell.
Hey Z, what a man, you ate locomotives, picked your teeth with rusty iron bars, drank us under the table and then did the most wonderful work you’d ever see. We and the industry owe you man. I’ll never forget riding your Norton from the 729 club at a hundred miles an hour after you were kind enough or smashed enough to spur me on. Which you did creatively and personally for so many. Have a beer with Harty for us Mate.
chris
OMG I remember dropping in more that once to the little flat he shared with Penny St V-W opposite the Hunters Hill Hotel where i worked and he drank … new to this thing called advrstising he inspired me all those years ago (date deleted, but probaly late sixties)
Zoran you will be missed. A talent and a lovable rogue. Im ever grateful for my break into the industry with you. Thankyou and farewell my friend. P
Those were the days my friend we thought they would never end, you were a true mensch, g*d bless.
I did I my first ever ad with Zoran as a fresh-faced youngster. He was another of those larger than life characters that made the business so much fun, and who are sorely missed.
Great bloke to have worked for in so many ways. A time in my life full of fond memories and some very funny stories. cheers Z, I will be cracking a bottle of J& B Tuesday at 3.
I now realize that some of my most creative times were spent
at Zap – particularly with the Motion Control department. It was
so characteristic of “Z” to give you the tools that you needed,
some guidance and then a lot of space to come up with a solution.
On a personal level, like for so many, he was a mentor. So many
fond memories. He was a good man.
Paul R. Cox
oh yes … anyone got a file of Zoran;s 43 Beans spot for Nescafe … must have cobwebs …
Wow, great guy, amazing legacy…. I personally fell in love with the magic of animation as a young gal doing a 7UP TVC on a Z-for-Zoran Zap set… big hugs going out to you and your family, DanJ xxx CB
Z never finished as job until it was right. And on schedule. He was an inspiration.
Travel well old friend.
Zed has nurtured so many people in this industry. Our best wishes to all.
Hugh and Alastair Seville.
Trout everywhere can breathe a little easier.
..Z.. Thank you for being Z.
(I note the share price of J&B has dropped significantly)
Thank you for the Balut lessons.
Say hi to The Viscount and Ott for me
Zoran was the man. A larger than life character. Never afraid to try something new. ZAP was a highlight of my career. It was all so fresh, new and exciting back then…
Thanks a million for everything Zed. God bless you mate. Cut and Cheers!
Such a good bloke. Lunches in the hereafter just got longer and infinitely more enjoyable!
What a loss. A wonderful character. His love, and laughter will be missed by us all.
He will be smiling to again be with the much adored Zora.
Thinking of all the Janjics.
Love from some original custodians of the famous Zap tshirt.
The Fergs.
From early days kicking around the Chandos St studios after school to ensuring his glass of J&B on ice was on his desk at 5pm on the dot every day…
Zoran, u were a big part of the magic of my childhood and an inspiration in my early working years.
Your aura will remain aglow in those of us lucky to have had the pleasure.
It was an honor to have shared a space for my bike next to yours downstairs at the ZAP car park – may the roads continue long and windy for you upstairs Z.
used to tell me ‘Don’t KISS me you foofter”
Very happy memories of Zoran, Penny, Guy and Ben and later Zoran and Karen in Tassie, sad loss and loving thoughts to Daniel, whom I only know from photos and Karen. Elsa and Manfred
Time will not lessen the memory, we’ll all catch up again at sometime! Luv ya mate
My condolences to all Z’s family – a real Patriarch has moved on – probably to become God’s personal cartoonist!
Perhaps I was one of the last in a long line of lucky people who were given their first real chance in the industry by Z. Although my Zap experience was fairly short, those memories I favour. Thanks, Zoran. RIP
Will Colhoun
Zoran – a big Man with a big Heart who was a big influence on Sydney’s advertising and animation scene. All my memories of Z have a smile.. Rest well, Z – you’ve earned it. AH
Zoran gave me my first professional stop-motion
animation job that launched my career in a new
direction that now has me directing feature films.
I’ll always remember this big gruff guy who drew
cute little characters.
Thank you and farewell Zoran
Peter
Zoran… he gave my my first job in an amazing company. Those were fun and creative times.
Cheers & thanks Zed, lets have one for the road!
Knew Zoran perhaps longer than before any of the above. Early 60’s at Atransa Park Studios at Fenches Forest, when I was an animator working on Beetle Bailey cartoon shorts. Fantastic guy. Never knew anyone who disliked him. Warm hearted, and would go right out of his way to assist you in any way that he could. Worked with this man many times, did lot’s of animation for him, including the opening animation for Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table. Gone far too early! Can’t believe it! Till perhaps some other time, in another place, farwell big Z. You leave many great memoiries.
Ray Bartle
My dear sister Julie aged about 18 then, worked at Artransa. I well remember her telling us about the characters she met there. Zora, Zoran, Boris ~ such interesting times.
Zoran created a magic environment of a type which, as I discovered later, is all too rarely encountered. The creative world needs more people like him. I feel fortunate to have come under his influence so early. Thank you Zoran, for your indelible inspiration. (animator XYZap 88)
Moments ago it felt like the ground gave way under my feet, I learned over a year later that my long lost beloved old friend and business partner had left us. Damn!- but it hurts. Then I read all these obituaries, all saying the very things I loved about the guy. Penny, if you read this please email me at campbellron73@yahoo.com
And Ray Bartle, how goes it, Ray? Still animating? Email me if you can.
Been searching for you Zoran. I guess Google was no help until I learned you had died and could search with the right words.
Zoran was the director at API Australia when I joined them.The studio was packed
with talented artists. He brought great writers,musicians and editors into the fold.
I made all the layouts on ‘King Arthur’ On many occasions I watched Zoran design
characters. His pencil went down on the paper and after two minutes there was a
new character. He never used an animators light box.He got it right first time.
The world misses people like that. His mum went with me when I had my first suit
made at a tailors in Paddo when i was 17. I loved that group of Janics.
Hi Zoran,
Just typing your name on google and found this sad news. Five years too late. But I know time doesn’t matter for you. Zoran you taught me what I wanted to do, film and tv. You took me several times in your studio at Zap. You even allowed me to drive your bol d’or 1100 cc. You are very important in my life mate. I’ll see you not too soon I hope. But when again together somewhere, I’ll tell you everything. See ya. Chris
I only met Zoran a couple of times back in the very early seventies, watching he and my father (Roger Kennedy)scramble their bikes out in the Terrey Hills bush with Michael Robinson. Dad called Zoran Zed. Mostly I remember his smile and a great warmth. Belated condolences to all his family.