Exchange Student Zero (c) Cartoon Network.
Silas Hickey, Creative Director, Animation Development Asia Pacific at Cartoon Network, provided some very useful information for writers and directors keen to work in animation.
An Australian expat, Silas studied design at Parsons art school in New York on a Queen Elizabeth Trust Grant before moving to Japan and in advertising. After some time in Asia, he moved to Sydney where he started a company called Toast Media with Richard Allan who was one of the original Mambo artists. From there, he moved to Hong Kong and began working with Cartoon Network developing a regional program shorts program. His role involved flying around the Asia-Pacific trying to find the best animators or studios for them to commission. At the time, Orian Ross was in charge of animation. Orian has since joined Disney, becoming their Vice President, Original Series.
