Animation contest promotes responsible messaging

Animation has emerged as a potent tool for storytelling and conveying messages worldwide. In Malaysia, where the animation industry has flourished, local talents have played a pivotal role in enhancing the country’s standing on the global animation stage. From beloved classics such as Hikayat Sang Kancil, Kerbau, and Buaya to contemporary digital marvels like the Ejen Ali series, Malaysian animation continues to captivate audiences, serving not only as entertainment but also as a conduit for sharing local culture internationally.

In a bid to champion wholesome content values and inspire students from institutions of higher learning (IHLs) to craft impactful works, the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), in collaboration with Persatuan Festival Seni Kreatif & TVET Malaysia (ANIFEST) and the Persatuan Pendidik Animasi Malaysia (PPAM), has announced an upcoming short animation film competition focusing on public service messaging.

Scheduled to span from April to June 2024, this competition is open to all students from public and private IHLs across Malaysia, irrespective of their field of study, extending beyond just animation students. The primary aim is to empower community voices, nurture creative and visual thinking among students, educate them on responsible content creation through animation, and provide a platform for expression.

The champion of the competition stands to win a cash prize of RM6,000, with RM4,000 and RM2,000 awarded to the first and second runners-up, respectively. Additionally, three consolation prizes of RM500 each will be granted. Every participant will receive a participation certificate, and participants will retain copyright ownership of their creations, with the Content Forum having the right to utilize them solely for screening during Content Forum activities.

Guiding Responsible Content Creation

The chosen theme for the competition is “Innovation in Prudent Content Creation,” which encompasses sub-themes such as “Ethics in Social Media Use,” “Responsibilities of Content Creators,” and “Innovative Suggestions for Presenting Information in an Engaging Way Effectively.” These themes reflect the contemporary landscape where social media significantly influences the content industry, reaching diverse segments of society.

Prof. Madya Ahmad Tarmizi bin Haji Azizan, President of PPAM, expressed confidence in discovering numerous talents through this competition. “Through this competition, we are confident that there will be many more talents that we will discover in the future, and they can also participate in continuing this legacy and spreading quality content for the community.” he added.

A webinar briefing session will be conducted for IPTA/IPTS students interested in understanding the competition criteria.

Rafiq Razali, Chairman of Content Forum, highlighted the anticipation of harnessing local animation talents’ to convey messages of ethical content. “With a growing number of talents in the local animation industry, we look forward to tapping into their technical expertise and story-telling abilities to help us convey messages of safe and good content.” he emphasized

The evaluation process will involve a panel of judges representing CMCF, ANIFEST, and PPAM. Judging criteria include theme relevance, originality, creativity, production process, and technical aspects, with a priority placed on the proper use of the Malay language.

Contestants must submit original works, as any form of plagiarism will lead to disqualification and revocation of prizes. Submissions can be individual or in groups of up to three members, with videos required to be 2 to 5 minutes long, including an intro and credits, in MP4 HD 264 or MKV (High Resolution) format.

Crucially, submitted works must avoid religious sensitivities, racial issues, politics, and other topics that could disrupt harmony or violate Malaysian laws. Instead, the emphasis is on creating content that promotes unity, ethical media usage, and positive messages.

For further details, interested parties can visit www.contentforum.my or download the participation form here.