Jonathan Daw is an Australian filmmaker who specialises in stop-motion animation. He has over 20 years experience working in roles including director, producer, animator, sculptor, model maker and trainer. Jonathan has worked extensively in feature film, short film and documentary production and in visual arts. He enjoys collaboration, is passionate about the craft of hand made, in-camera film making and using creative animation techniques to tell unique stories.

Jonathan is based in Mparntwe / Alice Springs and has worked across the Northern Territory and Australia on collaborative animation projects with Media Oragnisations and Art Centers including Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Pilbara and Kimberly Aboriginal Media (PAKAM) (Broome WA), Erub Arts (Erub Island Torres Strait), ICTV (Mpantwe / Alice Springs), Tangentyere Artists (Mparntwe / Alice Springs) and Mulka Project (Yirrkala, NT). Between 2011 and 2017 he worked for Pintubi Anmatjere Warlpiri (PAW) Media in the central Australian community of Yuendumu.  At PAW Media he worked on several animated projects including Bush Mechanics (with Jason Japaljarri Woods),  Kardiya-rlu Kangurnu, a half hour animated documentary for NITV (with Simon Japanangka Fisher, Dennis Jupurrurla Charles, Shane Jupurrurla White and Jason Japaljarri Woods) and Yarripiri’s Journey, a half hour documentary for the Songlines on Screen series (with Simon Japanangka Fisher and Jason Japaljarri Woods).

Jonathan animated stop motion sequences for Del Kathryn Barton’s feature film Blaze and worked as a sculptor, set builder and assistant animator on Adam Elliot’s feature film Mary and Max. He also worked as an assistant animator on Aardman Animations TV series Shaun the Sheep. Jonathan completed a BCA (Honours) degree in Film Production at Flinders University in 2002.

Jonathan has directed and animated several short films, including Daffodil (a collaboration with textile artist Kasia Tons and sound artist Jeremy Conlon), Extreme Makeover, Catch of the Day and The Seagull. His films have won awards at Sydney Film Festival, Flickerfest, St Kilda Film Festival, Shorts Film Festival and the South Australian Screen Awards and have screened at international festivals including Annecy, Stuttgart, Krok, Tampere, Melbourne International Film Festival and Adelaide Film Festival.

Jonathan is keen to pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm for animation. He has conducted animation workshops at seven Remote Indigenous Media Festivals and at the ICTV FRAIM festival in Mpantwe / Alice Springs. He also has worked teaching young people at Sharing Stories Foundation, Carclew Youth Arts, the University of Technology Sydney, the Mulka Project and the Song Room.