Ateneo de Naga University is finalist to PANORAMA: Autodesk Asia Pacific Animation Challenge and Animation Camp 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 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.