The Mike Abundo Effect

If you’re in East or Southeast Asia, and you want your crazy anime script idea realized by the animators of Fullmetal Alchemist, read on.

Always dreamt of creating a blockbuster animation like Howl’s Moving Castle or Death Note that will take the world by storm? Dream no more! You now have a rare and golden opportunity to tell the world a story you have longed to be made into an animation, and possibly join the ranks of iconic animators like Hayao Miyazaki and Osamu Tezuka.

Animax, the leading youth channel for the latest and hottest anime, has launched its debut pan-Asia scriptwriting competition, Animax Awards, for both amateurs and established artists to showcase their work and ‘break out’ on the international stage!

Animax Awards has been staged in Japan for five consecutive years since 2002, and has become a prestigious competition where the grand prize is coveted by many in the industry. For the very first time, Animax Awards is expanding its scope across Asia to call for talents to the animation industry.

The extension of the competition only means good news for aspiring animators beyond Japan. Animax Awards is now open to applicants from seven regions across Asia. The regions are Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Philippines and South East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand). Top entries from each region will enter the Finals where the grand prize winner will have his or her entry developed into an original production by a top Japanese animation studio!

Now keen animators have the chance to tell the stories they have been waiting to share with the world. Going on the theme, “A Story I Wish to be Animated”, contestants are free to create scripts that may be in script, novel or comic format for a 30-minute short film. They also have the option of incorporating original characters created by Animax into the scripts to form unique and creative works of art.

The winner of this year’s Animax Awards will not only take home JP¥ 2 million (approximately US$18,000), but will bag the golden opportunity to have his or her winning entry developed into an original production by leading Japanese animation studio, A-1 Pictures of Aniplex (famous work like Full Metal Alchemist) and broadcast Asia-wide on the Animax network. Finalists from each region will also be awarded with US$2,000 prize money.

Each region will have home-grown talents – people who are passionately and professionally connected to the creative world of animation, film and design - judge the script entries from their region. These illustrious judges have been selected as they are recognized leaders in their respective fields.

Representing the Philippines are three well-known innovators in their field – Quark Henares, film director at the forefront of the new Filipino cinema scene and famous for his 2006 fantasy flick Super Noypi; Grace Dimaranan, the President of the Philippines Animation Council; and Lenil Francis Yu, a Filipino comic artist who has worked on famous Marvel comic titles like Wolverine, X-Men and Fantastic Four.

From there, top entries from each region entering the Finals will be judged by creative professionals from Japan, including renowned sci-fi and adventure writer Baku Yumemakura.

Animax is calling for all keen contestants to submit their original script for a 30-minute short film, from now to May 31, 2007. Visit www.animaxawards.com for more information on how to participate and to find out more about Animax’s original characters.

First Cartoon Network’s SnapToons, and now the Animax Awards. Good to see both American and Japanese animation houses tap the growing base of global otaku creativity.

Perhaps Danny Choo would like to submit a script for Mirai Suenaga. Better yet, how about Alodia Gosiengfiao make a comic starring, well, herself (Think Cosplay Complex.).

(Via Grace Dimaranan.)

Edelman just released its fourth whitepaper on blogging (PDF). The study confirms something I’ve suspected for almost a year now: Asians read blogs more than Americans do. Steve Rubel notes:

One of the biggest takeaways is that blog readership is far higher in Asia than it is in the US. Some 74% of Japanese read blogs, followed by 43% in South Korea and 39% in China. In the US, it’s about 27% and its even less in Europe.

Another key point: the mainstream media is getting more and more stories from blogs. The Derivative Myth has not only been debunked, it’s been reversed.

The study also shows influencers read blogs. That means if you’re reading this, you’re probably an influencer. Go you.

P.S.: Thanks to Philippine Edelman affiliate Eon for helping ArtFarm Asia’s Mina Caliguia. Eon’s Robert de Quelen coordinated swift action in response to Mina’s blog comment, via BlackBerry from Paris over the Holidays. Now that’s responding to the blogosphere.

Cartoon Network discovery Van Partible, creator of Johnny Bravo, is Filipino-American. That’s why they should look for their next hit idea here in the Philippines.

Cartoon Network Launches Pan-Asian Animation Search for the Next Generation of Cartoon Heroes

SnapToons Invites all Filipinos to Submit Innovative Original Ideas

Winning Ideas to be produced for world premiere on Cartoon Network

Taking the commitment to nurture home-grown creative talent to a new level, Cartoon Network, one of the leading kids’ channels in the Philippines, has announced a unique pan-Asian initiative titled SnapToons (Short New Asia Pacific Cartoons). An original content development initiative, SnapToons aims to connect Cartoon Network with new creative talent across its key markets in Asia. Through this initiative, the Network is looking to invest in funding, backing and developing a new, original and groundbreaking idea that lends itself well to animation, is targeted to kids and either has a universal or regional appeal.

As part of this program, Cartoon Network is inviting all Filipinos – poets, artists, amateurs, professionals, students, individual animators, animation studios, even the person next door – to send in their pitches and see their creation come to life and hopefully become the next big sensation like The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, etc on Cartoon Network. Out of the total pitches received, ten will be green-lit and each will be developed into full pilot episodes. The commissioned ten will then have their world premiere exclusively on Cartoon Network across the Asia Pacific feeds!

Announcing the launch of SnapToons in the Philippines, Ian Diamond, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA), said, “As one of the leading players in kids’ television in the Philippines, it is our endeavor to provide a platform for Filipino talent to rightfully take a place on the global animation stage. SnapToons is a serious, ongoing initiative designed to connect, discover and nurture creative brilliance that exists throughout Asia and will showcase the enormous potential that abounds in the region. This initiative will forge a relationship between that talent and Cartoon Network’s extensive global production infrastructure to help develop the next generation of ground breaking animation.”

Diamond added, “This approach has been extremely successful at a global level; toon icons such as The Powerpuff Girls, Courage The Cowardly Dog, and many more, were born out of a similar campaign, and today, they are firmly entrenched in the animation hall of fame. This unique opportunity is an ongoing partnership between Cartoon Network and the local talent and I look forward to creating the next global Cartoon Network hit from this country.”

The entry is open to all inspired and inventive people aged 18 and above residing in the Philippines. The broad parameters that creators could keep in mind while developing the concept would be to ensure that their concept is kid related, is character driven with a good dose of comic-action. Additionally, in terms of design and creative vision – it should be fun, funny, fearless and, importantly, should have the potential to be commissioned as full series and/or a feature film!

For more information on the program, the participants can visit the SnapToons site on www.snaptoons.org. Pitches are invited beginning 16 October, and the submission deadline is 31 December 2006.

Growing up in unconventional circles here in the Philippines, I heard a lot of crazy animation ideas from a lot of creative friends. Now’s their chance to pitch those ideas.

(Via Eon.)