The invention relates to a thin-film EAS and RFID antennas. An antenna assembly is capable of being installed in a structure, wherein the structure includes a covering and a substructure and the antenna assembly is configured with thin film materials to have a total thickness such that the antenna assembly can be disposed between the substructure and the covering. The antenna assembly may have a total thickness not greater than about 15 millimeters (mm), and may include at least one of a transmitter antenna, a transceiver antenna, and a receiver antenna. The receiver antenna may be configured as an air core antenna or a non-air core antenna. The receiver antenna may be configured as a non-air core receiver antenna in an internal compartment over or within a base insulating layer. The antenna assembly may be at least partially housed within a housing assembly of thin film materials so that both can be disposed between the substructure and the covering.