Animahenasyon 2010 strengthens regional animation Philippine animation festival to spotlight talent

In a bid to hasten the growth of the local animation industry, the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) is bringing its upcoming 4th annual Philippine Animation Festival called Animahenasyon to Bicol, particularly Naga City in Camarines Sur—one of several emerging talent hotspots for this sunshine industry.

Animahenasyon is the flagship project of ACPI and seeks to build an audience base, increase their awareness, and showcase original Filipino animated works through a multi-category competition for both aspiring and professional animators in the country.

This year, Animahenasyon is co-presented by Ateneo de Naga University and will be held in this premier 3D animation school that’s among the first institutions to offer an undergraduate major in digital illustration and animation. More than 500 participants are expected to grace the event from November 23 to 26 with almost 150 entries competing for the various competition categories. “Holding Animahenasyon in Naga City represents a step forward in tapping the huge potential of Filipino animators beyond Metro Manila,” says ACPI executive director Michael Kho Lim.  “There is a lot of untapped and unrecognized talent out there, and it’s time for them to be given due recognition and support.”

This is the first time that ACPI is holding Animahenasyon outside Manila. “It’s quite a challenge for us to hold the festival in Naga because of the logistical requirements,” explains Grace Dimaranan, Animahenasyon 2010 festival director and ACPI board member. “But we still took on the challenge since one of our thrusts is to strengthen the regional animation of the country, and this is also part of ACPI’s yearlong 10th anniversary celebration.”

Aside from the screening of this year’s competing animated entries, Animahenasyon 2010 will also have a special exhibition program from Japan’s Media Arts Festival and the best works from Gobelins L’ecole de L’image in Paris, one of the world’s best animation schools.

As Naga City positions itself as a major animation hub in the country, the local government and Naga City Investment Board is hosting a free public night screening of the winning works of Animahenasyon 2007-2009 at Plaza Quezon in Centro Naga from November 23 to 25.

Also part of the festival is the conference exploring the areas of education, production, technology and entrepreneurship in animation. Opening the conference is Eric Riewer, chair of the animation department of Gobelins L’ecole de L’image. Other renowned speakers include Jess Española, the first Filipino ever to win an Emmy for an episode he did for one of the longest running and best loved US animated series “The Simpsons.”

An exhibit on the life and works of this year’s lifetime achievement awardee is also in place. This year’s recipient is cartoon and independent animation veteran and Naga City native, Roxlee, famed for his long-running comic strip, “Cesar Asar” in Manila Bulletin.

“This is indeed a surprise for me,” shares Roxlee, “and I am deeply honored to be this year’s lifetime achievement awardee. I am also quite ecstatic that this year’s festival is giving due attention to other animators from all around the country. I believe this is the key to a successful and flourishing animation industry for the years to come.”

Roxlee’s debut collection of illustrated short stories, entitled “Cesar Asar in the Planet of the Noses,” will also be launched and sold during the festival exhibit. The book comes in the form of different comic strips, which Roxlee and his brother Monlee worked on. The book also celebrates and recognizes his almost three decades of contribution to the independent animation industry since Roxlee’s first short work, “The Great Smoke” in 1983.

Capping the whole festival is the closing ceremony and awards night that will be held at the CamSur Watersports Complex on November 26.

Animahenasyon serves as a venue for Filipino animators to present their world-class ideas, and opens doors of opportunities for them to meet with and be inspired by the finest names in the industry. It also aims to create greater awareness of the Philippine animation industry and its contributions to the global entertainment business, while tapping locally produced content for promotion in animation markets here and abroad.

Animahenasyon is made possible through the support of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, Hewlett Packard Philippines, Ateneo de Naga University, Hero TV, the French Embassy, Naga City Investment Board, and the province of Camarines Sur.

For more information visit: http://www.animahenasyon.com/