Autodesk, Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre and Mayan launch inaugural animation competition to showcase regional talent, and provide training opportunity to groom the next generation of digital artists
HONG KONG, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The PANORAMA - Asia Pacific Animation Challenge and Animation Camp 2009 (URL:
http://www.apac-panorama.com ) is the Asia's first creativity and skill-based contest and training opportunity sponsored by Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, and co-organized by Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre with support from Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co. Ltd. and Mayan Hong Kong Maya User Group with Animax as the official regional media partner.
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200712211049.jpg )
PANORAMA will see students from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore submitting their original animation projects for a chance to represent their country in the finals of the contest - the Animation Challenge Bootcamp. Students must be aged 18 years and above and form teams of three in order to participate in the contest. Shortlisted participants will be selected by in-country judges and announced on November 15, 2009.
Simultaneously, Animation Camp 2009 to be held on December 12 at Hong Kong Cyberport will be one of the largest digital media development events for Hong Kong public in this year. Leaders of the animation world including Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Imagi Studio are invited to Hong Kong and deliver the training to the youth, the incubatees and the industry.
The Animation Challenge Bootcamp will be held from December 11 to 14, 2009 at the Hong Kong Cyberport, and will see 12 finalist teams mentored by professionals from the likes of award-winning media and entertainment companies:
-- Lucasfilm Animation Singapore - Lucasfilm's studio in Singapore -
credits include the hit CG-animated TV show Star Wars(TM): The Clone
Wars(TM), NDS games Star Wars(TM): The Clone Wars(TM): Jedi Alliance
and Republic Heroes, and visual effects for Transformers, Iron Man and
Star Trek
-- Imagi Studio - Developers of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles",
and "Astro Boy"
Over the course of the four-day boot camp, mentors will teach finalists teams how they can fine-tune the animation projects that they submitted during the qualifying stages of the contest. These will then be judged once more, and the ultimate winners of PANORAMA will be announced on December 14, 2009.
Finalist teams will be judged on creativity and originality, motion, technical excellence and overall design. The top three winning teams of PANORAMA stand a chance to win cash prizes, Autodesk leading-edge software and trophy prizes. Other team-based awards for the contest include the Best Teamwork Award, Best Rookie Award and Animax Extraordinaire Award. PANORAMA also promises to offer students regional exposure, as the original works by the 12 finalist teams will be aired as vignettes on Animax from December 25, 2009 onwards.
"Autodesk is committed to grooming the next generation of digital artists, and to providing them with opportunities to acquire the skills and industry exposure they need to excel," said Tom Joseph, Director, Education Programs, Autodesk Asia Pacific. "With PANORAMA, we hope to inspire students in Asia Pacific, and impart the technical capabilities they need to overcome real-world industry challenges, even before they graduate."
"The PANORAMA Asia Pacific Animation Challenge and Animation Camp 2009 provides an excellent platform and training opportunities for youth to showcase their creative animation work," said Mr. Anthony Au, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre and Board of Directors of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co. Ltd. "The creative industry is one of the six priority areas that the Hong Kong Government is actively promoting and developing, and Hong Kong Cyberport is pleased to be part of this alliance. This initiative is also in line with Hong Kong Cyberport's mission to establish a regional centre of excellence for IT and digital media training for developing human capital in IT through collaboration and partnership with the industry, academia, and professional bodies."
"In Hong Kong, Autodesk is also providing secondary and primary school students with the same 3D technology that professional product designers and Hollywood movie-effects artists use traditionally. This had always been reserved till students reached post secondary level. We believe that this will serve as a seedbed to generate greater interests in design in the digital arena among the young, setting the standards ahead," said Wendy Lee, Branch Manager Autodesk Hong Kong & Macau.
"Autodesk has been working with leading animators, game developers and visual effects artists globally for decades, and our solutions are the backbone of the global media and entertainment production environment," said Marc Su, Head of Media & Entertainment, Industry marketing, Autodesk Asia Pacific. "We're honored that our customers will mentor the shortlisted PANORAMA participants in Hong Kong, and are grateful for the strong support of our Mayan: Hong Kong Maya User Group. We look forward to seeing the results of the participants' efforts!"
For more information on PANORAMA, please visit
http://www.apac-panorama.com .
About Hong Kong Maya User Group
The Hong Kong Maya User Group is a passionate, non-profit organization formed by dedicated Maya users. The primary objective of the group is to promote and cultivate professionalism in digital content creation with the focus on 3D computer graphics, animations and digital visual effects creation, especially to the education community. The group has developed a strong network among similar user groups in the APAC region, and aim to elevate users' skills through the exchange of ideas, programs and best practices. For additional information, visit www.mayan.hk/mayan/Welcome.html
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.hk .
About Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre
Funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund, Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre is Hong Kong's first and only incubation and training centre for the digital entertainment industry. Dubbed as the "IncuTrain Centre", it aims to promote the commercial success of Hong Kong's digital entertainment industry, foster entrepreneurship and competence amongst small-to-medium size businesses, and generate a pool of creative business talents for the local industry. IncuTrain also provides incubatee companies with fully equipped office spaces, advance digital production facilities, support in business development, training, legal advice, internship recruitment, and facilitates partnership matching and collaborations with local and overseas organizations. For more information, visit http://www.incutrain.hk .
For media enquiry, please contact :
Hong Kong Cyberport IncuTrain Centre
Email: incutrain@cyberport.hk
Tel: +852-3166-3907
