Zareh nalbandian biography
Zareh Nalbandian
Zareh co-founded global animation studio Animal Logic and is the Founder and CEO of production companies Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures, bringing over three decades of experience in developing and producing large-scale screen projects. Through partnerships with major studios and streaming platforms in Hollywood, he has built a successful portfolio of animated, indie and hybrid family-film franchises for both theatrical and streaming releases.
Dedicated to fostering talent, Zareh supports mentorships, residencies, and educational initiatives within the arts and creative industries, aiming to cultivate diverse careers. In collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), he established the UTS Animal Logic Academy, offering a Master of Animation and Visualisation program and opportunities for post-graduate research. Recognising his contributions to the sector, UTS awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in 2018.
Zareh is a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House, Deputy Chair of the Sydney Film Festival and on the board of Australians in Film. He previously served as Deputy Chair of Ausfilm for a decade, further contributing to the industry’s development and growth.
Back to Council
Zareh co-founded global animation studio Animal Logic and is the Founder and CEO of production companies Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures, bringing over three decades of experience in developing and producing large-scale screen projects. Through partnerships with major studios and streaming platforms in Hollywood, he has built a successful portfolio of animated, indie and hybrid family-film franchises for both theatrical and streaming releases.
Zareh guides the development of an exciting slate of feature film properties and continually pushes the boundaries of storytelling. Zareh was Executive Producer on The LEGO Movie 2, Academy Award winning Happy Feet, The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie and Producer on Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.
Zareh is a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House, Deputy Chair of the Sydney Film Festival, a board member of Australians in Film and previously Deputy Chair of Ausfilm for a decade, further contributing to the industry's development and growth. He is a member of the Producer's Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Zareh is committed to building a successful, globally competitive digital production industry in Australia and enjoys strong personal relationships with key US Studio Executives and leading Directors and Producers around the world.
Zareh Nalbandian
Chief Executive Officer, Animal Logic
Ceremony: 4 May 2018, 10:30am - Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
I’d like to start by thanking you Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and President, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University Secretary, Dean of the faculties, members of the University Council, Chair of the Academic Board, the staff, the family, friends and graduates. And before I start, I want to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we’re on, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and their Elders past and present. That’s most of my speech – that took a while. A few months ago, I returned a missed call on my mobile from an unknown number, something I wouldn’t normally do. You can imagine what a surprise it was when Chancellor of the UTS, Catherine Livingstone AO, answered and introduced herself to tell me that she’d just left the university’s Council meeting where they decided to offer me an honorary doctorate of the university. Catherine was very congratulatory and said I would receive a letter with details from her office in due course. After the call, it took me a few minutes to fully comprehend the news and accept that I was to be acknowledged in this very special way. I immediately told my family, colleagues and friends and was high on the news for days to come. The funny thing is, because it was so unexpected, I don’t think I ever completely believed it, and when days, then weeks passed and a letter didn’t arrive, I thought it might have been a prank.
Can you imagine the embarrassment of that? Of course, the letter did come, and I’m ever so proud to be here today and thank the university and all of you for this honour and for your welcome. I will say that it’s probably a good thing that you’re all already graduating today, or that you have graduated, as I deliver this talk, because I didn’t even finish senior high school. And I’d hate for you think that just because I’ve had a rewardi
Zareh Nalbandian appointed patron of the Armenian Film Festival Australia (AFFA)
Animal Logic co-founder Zareh Nalbandian has joined former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian as a patron of the Armenian Film Festival Australia (AFFA).
“As someone connected to both the film industry and my Armenian heritage, I’m excited to support this platform that brings unique Armenian stories to Australian audiences,” Nalbandian said. “The festival celebrates our rich culture and fosters understanding and appreciation across communities.”
Festival co-founders and co-directors Margaret Chater and Hourie Demirjian said Nalbandian’s industry expertise and passion for storytelling aligned with the festival’s mission.
“With Zareh and Gladys Berejiklian as our patrons, we’re poised to elevate the festival to new heights and further strengthen the cultural bridge between Armenia and Australia.”
Nalbandian was born in Cairo, Egypt to Armenian parents, and migrated to Sydney with his parents when he was six years old. In 1991, he co-founded Animal Logic which became a global VFX and animation powerhouse, which he later sold to Netflix.
Berejiklian, who resigned as NSW premier in October 2021 over an Icac corruption enquiry, was born to Armenian parents in 1970. Her grandparents were orphaned during the Armenian genocide and both her parents lived as refugees in Syria and Jerusalem before moving to Australia where they met, according to The Guardian. Last month she lost a legal challenge against Icac that she engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” by failing to declare a personal conflict of interest regarding two government grants.
The eighth Armenian Film Festival Australia will open later this month with the world premiere of The Golden Chain of Mercy – a documentary showcasing Australia’s ANZAC connection to the Armenian genocide and the birth of Australia’s humanitarian aid effort.