Meet the Canadian turned Aussie, Thomas Hannivan!

This interview is about the Gogo Bear that went Global, from the Animated Journey from Canada to Oz.

Meet Tom Hannivan. If you see him out on the street, you’d probably think I’m a pretty run-of-the-mill dad. I don’t think anyone looks at me and thinks “that guy’s won an Oscar and is definitely a good dancer”. For a long time, I would say that I’m not that interesting a person.

I definitely did myself a disservice in thinking that my experiences have been mundane. This is not to say that I now think of myself as special or a gift of the gods by any means, but I do recognise that my tale is a bit uncommon. Seeing the initial disbelief and then entertainment on someone’s face is something I really enjoy when I tell people my story, and its central theme of life having other plans than the one you set out with.

I have been a data entry clerk, retail employee, construction worker, a candy warehouse labourer, a freight-forwarder, and finally an animation coordinator. It’s been a wild ride and I’ve learned a lot but I also realize I’ve been very lucky in where I’ve landed. For years, while I was working in freight, I would be sending perishables to various places around the globe and enviously daydreaming about what it would be like to travel and exist somewhere else, far away.

Stepping on a plane and leaving Vancouver behind never seemed like a real, tangible possibility. By the same token, the idea I would have my name in the credits of a movie, let alone a multiple award-winning one, wasn’t even a fantasy I entertained.Around the same time I had become single after a short long-distance relationship and was determined to stay single for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t going to shut out any potential connections, but I was adamant that I wasn’t going to try and find happiness with someone else, but rather find it with myself first before taking on another commitment. Once again, the path I was sure of took a hard turn in the other direction before I knew it.

Luka Musicki (L.M.).: Thomas, thanks for joining me for this interview, tell us about your pop culture junkie nature? What is your favourite pop culture? Nintendo bear with Mario and Link, right? 

Thomas (Tom) Hannivan (T.H.): Honestly I have been devouring all types of media, both old and new, for quite some time. I lean more into TV/Movies and videogames more than music but generally will listen to, watch, or play almost anything.

I’ve also been an avid reader but only really delved back into reading more again lately with a couple series of books by Brandon Sanderson. I definitely have a large soft spot for anything Nintendo related but I’m also a big fan of Tomb Raider/Lara croft, Kingdom Hearts, and the Persona series of games. Recently I’ve been consumed by a couple roguelike games, The Blue Prince, and Balatro. They’re both so addictive!

L.M.: I can see that you like Lego building, any favourite lego builds?

T.H.: This again relates to my love of Nintendo/Mario things, I just built The Mighty Bowser and I love it so much. It’s amazing how poseable it is and it can shoot a little lego fireball out of his mouth.

L.M.: How did you get into being an animation coordinator? What is involved? And am I right that one of the films that you did was “The Mitchells vs the Machines”? What is the work like with Animal Logic vs. Sony Pictures? Interesting projects?

T.H.: This is kind of crazy but I actually got my opportunity for this career through Gogo dancing for Bearracuda in Vancouver! I was in between sets on stage and grabbing a drink and I was approached by my friend Mark. He was an artist working for Sony at the time. We started chatting, hit it off, and started hanging out. Eventually after hearing me complain about how much I hated working for the family business, he offered to take my resume to his producer. From there it’s been a fantastic blur. I’ve worked on the Angry Birds Movie, Angry Birds 2, Mitchells Vs. The Machines, and most notably, the Oscar winning Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse. (I try not to brag about it but I’m very proud of that project and what we achieved).

L.M.: So you are from Surrey, British Columbia in Canada, and you moved to Sydney. So what made you do the move – partner, work, or a better way of living (I am assuming that you love Sydney)? 

T.H.: The driving force behind this was my fiancé Michael but the catalyst was my job. Originally the plan was for Michael to complete school over here in Adelaide and then return to Vancouver. Unfortunately the post graduate opportunities here were better for him. I had no solid designs to move here but fatefully due to covid, I was laid off by Sony as project schedules pushed and positions diminished. I was then picked up by Animal Logic Studios (Now newly minted as Netflix Animation Studios). After a year at their Vancouver office I asked if there was any opportunity for me to come here and they made it happen. Unbelievably that’s almost 4 years ago now.

L.M.: Congratulations on your engagement with your partner, Michael Bellosguardo. What is the story of how you two met, and what created the spark with glitter?

T.H.: Thank you! We met in Vancouver through Growlr. Michael had come for a Ski vacation on Whistler mountain and decided to stick around. Eventually we connected, went for some Thai food, and wandered the city getting to know each other. Initially just as friends, then friends with benefits. A pivotal moment in our relationship was a fateful trip to Portland. I had a gig dancing for Blowpony and had invited him and my roommate down as they had never been before. I had urged Michael to check out the local bears, there were several hot bears in the crowd at the event, but he was insistent on sticking with me and we basically spent the entire trip inseparable. My poor roommate ended up third-wheeling through the whole trip. From that point things got more intimate between us. Of course, just as we began to really catch feels for each other, he was presented with a dilemma; Michael’s visa was running out and he needed a job to sponsor him. Ultimately he had to move back to Adelaide to finish his degree as he was finding it incredibly difficult to get a foothold in the corporate world of Vancouver without it. After several months of keeping in touch, in which I was hesitant about the idea of a long-distance relationship working, we officially started dating and after three years I got the opportunity to move to Australia and I jumped at it and haven’t looked back.   

L.M.: So tell me about the go-go dancing gig with your performance name, Tom, how did it start with go-go dancing, especially with Beefcake? And are you still doing some go-go dancing gigs? And where can we watch you perform?

T.H.: I’ve never really truly adopted a stage name, generally I just go by whatever they want to call me which is usually Gogo Bear/Gogo Bear Tom. I’ve been gogo dancing for well over 10 years now. A long time ago my dear friend Max saw the movie “Magic Mike” and decided he and I should become male strippers. Shortly thereafter a queer performance group called Blowpony came to Vancouver from Portland Oregon to do a show. Max got me to go with him because they featured a dancer named Charley who is a lovely bear of a man. When we asked the promoter, Airick, if we could talk to Charley about dancing, Airick said he saw me dancing in the crowd and offered me the chance to take the stage in Portland. Max not only agreed for me, he drove me down to Portland for the following Blowpony. I had so much fun and from there I was approached to dance for Bearracuda, Ruff Vancouver, The Pumpjack Pub, The Edmonton bears, and most Recently Bearpit, Thick And Juicy, and Beefcake. It’s been a wild ride and I’ve loved every minute. I highly recommend everyone try it at least once in their lifetime if they’re able. 

L.M.: Do you do any travelling around Australia and the world?

T.H.: So far I’ve been to the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Hobart, and Melbourne. I do hope to see Uluru, get over to Perth and also check out the northern tip of the country as well.

Just last year I got a taste of Europe travelling through Spain, Italy, Türkiye, and France. I would love to do more but my budget currently says “no”:

L.M.: You dress nicely with different clothing and singlets, how do you stay in shape? Go-go dancing? 

T.H.: Honestly, dancing is extraordinary for weightloss and I don’t do enough of it. That being said, My main focus is really about health versus weight. I have high blood pressure and in order to combat it, and in an effort to reduce the meds I need for it, I have been trying to keep a regimented work out routine of three times a week with a specific selection of push and pull exercises followed by a day of all lower-body workouts like squats and lunges.  

L.M.: Is there anything that I am missing about what the BWM audience should know about you?

T.H.: I’m not sure, I suppose I’m a bit of a trivia nerd, I love playing Magic the Gathering. Recently in the last couple years I’ve picked up crochet and have really enjoyed making blankets and clothes though I’m still very much an amateur but honing my skills with every new project. Maybe someday I’ll make that into a side-hustle but for now it’s just fun.

L.M.: Would you say being a bear has helped or hindered your career? Is your audience primarily bears?

T.H.: I think in a lot of ways being a bear has helped my career both for dancing and in my professional vocation. I think I wouldn’t even be in my current situation (i.e. living in a new country with a job and man I love) without it. As for my audience well I would say I’m fairly equal opportunity, I really hope I appeal to bears and non-bears alike. To be honest as I get older I fond myself not leaning so hard on the bear identity. I feel like, and have been told many times, that I represent the bear archetype for sure and I really needed that for connection and community when I was younger. So much so that I feel like I had been a bit of a gatekeeper in terms of what it means and who it pertains to. I find with age, however, those insecurities faded and I feel way less rigid in those ideals. 

L.M.: Is there any advice that you would give someone (like a bear) who is interested in starting in the entertainment industry, including the gaming industry, and what is involved?

T.H.: The two things you absolutely need are some sort of connection (reach out to studio recruiters and other artists through LinkedIn or check through Facebook for any sort of industry functions/expos) and a positive, friendly attitude. I’ve found that if you’re someone people like working with (regardless of your technical aptitude) you will always have a job. Skill alone will not guarantee a stable employment, people skills are valuable.

L.M.: Do you have any favourite gigs for go-go dancing?

T.H.: In terms of venue, I didn’t realise how much I would love doing a shower show at the Pumpjack. There was something really fun about dancing with the water and being able to use all the surfaces around me. Plus leaving it for my last set of the night meant I could be squeaky clean and ready for bed when I got home. In terms of parties I actually can’t really choose one favourite one. Blowpony was where I got my start and where I first had the epiphany of how much I loved performing on stage. It will always be cemented in my heart because of all it’s beautifully powerful and empowering queer love. Bearracuda was instrumental in giving me confidence in my body in regards to my sexuality, being sexual, and feeling attractive. I think I wouldn’t be as open to believing I was actually someone’s ideal if it weren’t for those parties. The other parties like Ruff, Thick N Juicy, and Beefcake have given me so much in terms of community, connection, and acceptance.     

L.M.: What are your career goals for the future? 

T.H.: Maybe someday I will become a Producer/Digital Producer; however, for now, I’m just taking things as they come because so far my journey has followed a gnarled and mysterious path, but I’m open to whatever comes next.

L.M: Thanks, Tom, for opening up about yourself. Now for the quick-fire questions.

*Location: Sydney, Australia

*Pronouns: he/him/his

*Relationship status: Engaged

*Favourite Drink: Espresso Martini

*What type of guy are you into? This is a tough one. I’d say I have a broad range. If there’s chemistry, then I’m open to pursuing it, but I do not seek out a specific type of guy.

*Favourite Cities/Vacation Spots: Barcelona in Spain, Florence or Lake Como in Italy, Vancouver in Canada, Hobart in Tasmania and now my home town, Sydney, Australia.

*Favourite Hobby or Pastime: Gaming (Video/board/card) and Crochet.

*Idea of a good date? A meal at a restaurant, followed by a stroll & chat, and ending with a movie or hitting an arcade.

*What do you look for in a guy? I think the guys I’m generally into have a sense of humour, and don’t take themselves too seriously but also can hold their own in a good discussion on serious topics.

*Where can you find yourself on the socials?

>>Sometimes dancing on stage for Thick and Juicy / Beefcake / Underbear Sydney and online on Instagram @mr_glasses.

>>Sporadically, I still post to my Tumblr go-go-bear.tumblr.com, and for some racier content, I have a Bluesky page: t-gogobear.bsky.social.