Ama Digital Studios is a production studio committed to sharing Māori & Pasifika stories to a global audience.

KO WAI MĀTOU?

WHO ARE WE?

"Kia hakapakari i ngā kaimahi mā te kounga papai o te hakaako

me te ū ki ngā āhuatanga o te ākonga."

Ama Digital is named after the "ama" or the “outrigger” of a waka ama or outrigger canoe. The ama of any waka keeps it balanced, upright and on the right path. This is our commitment to our clients and mahi (work) - we will support, guide, manaaki (sustain), awhi (nurture), tautoko (support) and if need be, help direct your project on track.

Ama Digital Studios is an extension of the Ama Training - Digital Visual Arts and Design programmes. The programme was born out of the need for a Industry specific animation course that produces graduates armed with the skills and readiness for the jump into a professional animation studio.

Graduates of the program are invited to join our team of animators made up of highly experienced veteran and bright new talent. Ama Digitals founding principals are based on Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), utilising kawa and tikanga to guide our approach to training and in business.
We are a production studio that is deeply committed to sharing Māori & Pasifika stories, customs and traditions to a global audience

OUR PRINCIPLES

Our Directors are well known in their respective fields and are committed to Ama Digital Studios producing tangible outcomes focused on Maori and Pasifika whānau.

Mike & Eileen Murray

Co-founders/CEO&CFO
Ama is managed by husband and wife team, Mike and Eileen Murray. Both were highly respected educators before establishing several highly successful businesses. Both bring with them a vast amount of experience in senior leadership roles. Mike also brings to the organisation a rich source of knowledge and understanding of Tikanga Māori (the values and practices of Māori).

Stan Fong

Cofounder/Creative Director
Stan is an animation professional with over thirty years of experience in the industry. He has had significant involvement in every aspects in the industry, beginning as an animator on many recognisable productions for Disney Animation, Warner Brothers Animation and many other leading animation studios.

Stan has worked extensively around the globe, including Europe, Asia, and North America, where he undertook many roles, such as Animation supervisor, Director and Producer. In 2006, he helped established the production pipeline for Intelli Media Group, the studio responsible for China’s most successful animated property, Pleasant Goat and the Big Bad Wolf. A year later, Stan assisted in the IPO listing of Intelli Media, which went on to be acquired by the Walt Disney Corporation.

Dean Trembath

Head Tutor/Director
Before becoming a highly recognised tutor in the animation arts, Dean worked in the industry on many well know Disney projects. Before working full time for AMA, Dean was the head animation tutor at New Zealand’s largest private tertiary animation institute.