Imagination Studios to inspire the next generation of storytellers on April 21&22
SINGAPORE (April 6, 2017) – Turner’s Cartoon Network has announced the staging of a two-day Imagination Studios workshop in Singapore as part of a global initiative to inspire the next generation of storytellers and creators.
Hosted in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and supported by StarHub, Imagination Studios comprises an industry workshop on Friday, April 21, and a workshop for children on Saturday, April 22. The events will be held at PIXEL Studios, a dedicated facility launched by IMDA last year to spur Singapore’s next generation of digital content creators.
Both events will be fronted by highly talented animator, Daniel Chong – creator and executive producer of Cartoon Network’s hit comedy, We Bare Bears. After building a successful career in Burbank, California, Daniel will speak about his journey as an artist and the process behind creating one of the hottest animated series.
“Imagination Studios will not only help us to provide a platform to those who are interested in animation, but will also look to inspire passion in future animators too. There is a strong pool of talent in Singapore and we are dedicated to working closely with industry leaders such as IMDA and StarHub to offer them new opportunities and direction. To complement Cartoon Network’s global artist and international shorts programmes, this event is also a great way for us to connect with our viewers, and show them how some of the best animated content is made,” said Mark Eyers, Chief Content Officer for Turner’s Kids Networks in Asia Pacific.
“IMDA is excited to partner Turner’s Cartoon Network to give Singapore talent the opportunity to unleash their imagination and creativity, to learn from and be inspired by artists like Daniel Chong. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, no matter how young you are or where you come from. So we hope that workshops like Imagination Studios will help uncover more interesting stories from Singapore and allow them to be enjoyed by a global audience,” added Angeline Poh, Assistant Chief Executive for Content and Innovation, IMDA.
Those attending the industry seminars will hear from a number of animation professionals from Turner and leading studios who will each provide insight into how to conceptualise, refine and pitch an idea. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to submit their own animation idea to Turner which, if selected, could be fully-funded and produced by Cartoon Network in partnership with IMDA, with the potential to be screened across Asia Pacific and beyond.
The workshop on Saturday, April 22, will introduce children to the wonderful world of animation. Through hands-on and group sessions, kids will learn how to create their very own stop-animation video in a fun and active environment. The session will be conducted by Vaibhav Kumarev, director of Vaibhav Studios in India, and creator of the award-winning Cartoon Network original series, Lamput.
Imagination Studios is a global initiative by Cartoon Network that looks to provide a fun and immersive experience to engage children and inspire them to get involved in publishing their own content. For more information, please visit CartoonNetworkAsia.com/ImaginationStudios.
-ENDS-
Details of the workshops are as follows:
| Industry Workshop for Adults
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| Animation Workshop for Children
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For more information, please contact:
James Moore, Director of Communications, Turner Asia Pacific
Tel: +852 3128-3720
About Imagination Studios
Imagination Studios is a place where cartoon-loving kids can enter the world of Cartoon Network and take a sneak peek at how some of their favourite shows are made. It’s a fun and immersive experience that will inspire kids to engage with cartoon and inspire them to get involved in publishing their own content.
About Cartoon Network Asia Pacific
Turner’s Cartoon Network, the number one kids’ channel in Asia Pacific, offers the best in original animated content including the multi-award-winning global hits Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time and We Bare Bears. Cartoon Network is available in 29 countries throughout Asia Pacific and is currently seen in more than 135 million pay-TV homes. Internationally, it is seen in 192 countries and over 370 million homes, and is an industry leader with a global offering of the best in award-winning animated entertainment for kids and families. The brand is known for putting its fans at the center of everything by applying creative thinking and innovation across multiple platforms. Cartoon Network also reaches millions more through its websites, games and apps, including Cartoon Network Watch and Play and Cartoon Network Anything. Cartoon Network, sister company to Boomerang, POGO and Toonami, is a brand created and distributed by Turner, a Time Warner Company.
About Turner Asia Pacific
Turner Asia Pacific creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout the region, running 61 channels in 14 languages in 42 countries. These include CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, Warner TV, Oh!K, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, MondoTV, TABI Channel, and HBO, HBO HD and WB in South Asia. Turner manages the business of Pay- and Free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage Time Warner’s global reach. Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. (“Turner Asia Pacific”) is a Time Warner company.
About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will develop a vibrant, world-class infocomm media sector that drives the economy, connects people, bonds communities and powers Singapore’s Smart Nation vision. IMDA does this by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore’s ICT and media infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment. IMDA also enhances Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.
About StarHub
StarHub is Singapore’s fully-integrated info-communications company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates a mobile network that provides 4G and 3G services. It also manages an islandwide HFC network that delivers multi-channel pay TV services (including HDTV, Internet TV and on-demand services) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services. Over Singapore’s fibre-based Nationwide Broadband Network, StarHub offers a broad range of home and business broadband plans, as well as commercial and residential IPTV services.
Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore’s most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in ‘hubbing’ – the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub, listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004, is a component stock of the Straits Times Index, the MSCI Singapore Free Index, the SGX Sustainability Leaders Index and the SGX Sustainability Leaders Enhanced Index.
Speaker Bios
| DANIEL CHONG
Creator, We Bare Bears. Cartoon Network Studios Daniel Chong is the creator of the BAFTA Award-winning animated series We Bare Bears produced by Cartoon Network Studios. In 2014, he won an Annie Award for his storyboarding work on Pixar’s first television special, Toy Story of Terror! His additional credits include Pixar’s upcoming 2015 film Inside Out, Cars 2, and Disney Feature Animation’s Bolt. Chong is the co-producer of the popular web blog MY MILK TOOF, which was published into a book with Chronicle Books in 2011. A native of Southern California, he has a BFA in Illustration from Cal State Long Beach, and has attended CalArts. |
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| GLENN BARTLETT
Executive Creative Director, Brand & Partner Solutions. Turner Asia Pacific Glenn is responsible for managing the overall creative strategy for Turner’s dynamic portfolio including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and Adult Swim. He also supports the development of branded content and sponsorships and promotions. |
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| SILAS HICKEY
Senior Director, Original Production & Development. Turner Asia Pacific Silas is responsible for the creative direction of Turner’s pioneering original content development initiatives in Asia Pacific. These include pinpointing and green-lighting the production of high-quality original shorts from script to screen for all of the region’s kids’ brands: Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and POGO. |
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| YOSHIYA AYUGAI
Executive Producer, Animation Turner Asia Pacific Yoshiya is responsible for the production of original animated content, and creative supervision for shorts, series and long-form productions. Originally from Japan, Yoshiya works with the region’s most dynamic animation studios from Mumbai to Manila and Seoul to Sydney – and everywhere in between – to produce comedy and adventure-inspired content that animates kids’ lives. |
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| MARK COUNSELL
Director – Interactive. Turner Asia Pacific Mark manages a team that develops, launches and operates apps, games and online platforms for Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and POGO. He also works closely with his international counterparts in the US, LatAm and EMEA to ensure strategic alignment, and to scale platform development and share content. |
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| EDWARD BARNIEH
Associate Director, Programming and Acquisitions. Turner Asia Pacific Edward oversees Turner’s programming acquisition strategies for its kids’ networks in Asia Pacific, including Cartoon Network, POGO, Toonami and Boomerang. As a familiar figure at every major trade show, his mandate is to secure rights to the most engaging content in the region from leading international animation studios and distributors. |
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| VAIBHAV KUMARESH
Director. Vaibhav Studios Vaibhav Kumaresh is an animation film maker and is currently Founder, Director at Vaibhav Studios, Mumbai. Founded in 2003, the studio has created some of India’s favourite animated content in the field of TV commercials and channel promos, as well as Lamput, a series of animated shorts on Cartoon Network . |
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| Anand Babu
Pre-production Artist. Vaibhav Studios Anand is an animation filmmaker with expertise in character design, illustration, visual scripting and animation. He loves to experiment with storytelling through different mediums from comics to paper puppetry. Anand worked with Toonz Animation India in Trivandrum and developed original IPs and content for them. He is currently working at Vaibhav Studios, Mumbai, handling pre-production for animated TV commercials, episodic tele-series and feature films. |
Programme Rundown
| FRIDAY, APRIL 21 2017 | |
| 10AM – 10.15AM | Introduction to event |
| 10.15AM – 11.00AM
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DANIEL CHONG – My Journey
Daniel will talk about his journey as an artist and the experience and process behind creating Cartoon Network original series We Bare Bears. |
| 11.00AM – 11.45AM | GLENN BARTLETT – Cartoon Network and Boomerang, is there a difference?
Why two animation channels? Believe it or not they differ a lot more than you might think. Learn the difference between the two and see some examples of great content that is available on both these fun channels. |
| 11.45AM – 12.45PM | Lunch |
| 12.45AM – 1.30PM | SILAS HICKEY, VAIBHAV KUMARESH and ANAND BABU – Short form comedy animation
Short form content has become more popular with kids between the ages of 4-14. But shorter doesn’t always mean easier. Learn how Turner has incorporated this into part of its content strategy to reach target audiences. In this session, speakers will discuss how concepts are brought to screen as well as the various challenges that animators face while making short form comedy. |
| 1.30PM – 2.15PM | YOSHIYA AYUGAI – Preparing a Pitch Bible: Some practical tips.
Audiences will be taken through the development process while learning some practical tips on how to turn a concept into a pitch. There will also be a few exercises that can help aspiring animators and creators, along with a discussion on why strong characters lie at the heart of successful shows. |
| 2.15PM – 2.30PM | Break |
| 2.30PM – 3.15PM | MARK COUNSELL – Building a strong animated property
It is not just about producing great cartoons anymore, games have become an essential part of the development and storytelling process allowing kids to interact with their favourite characters in new ways. Games also provide creators with a platform for testing and introducing new characters and show concepts. From web to mobile to virtual reality, this session explores how Cartoon Network uses games to launch, expand and extend animated properties. |
| 3.15PM – 4PM
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EDWARD BARNIEH –APAC regional co-productions
Why is there a need to work more closely with producers and studios to create content that resonates with the Turner kids brands? Find out more and talk through the type of acquisitions that Turner is currently looking for. |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 | |
| 10AM – 10.45AM | Speaker 1 – Daniel Chong
Daniel will talk about his journey as an artist, as well as the experience and process behind creating Cartoon Network original series We Bare Bears. |
| 10.45AM – 12PM | ACTIVITY 1 – Screening
A screening of stop-motion animation films for the kids to see how filmmakers have used different techniques to tell their story. |
| 12PM – 1PM | Lunch |
| 1PM – 2PM | ACTIVITY 2 – Stop Motion Process Live Demo
Kids will try their hand at ‘pixilation’ technique, learning how to animate people and objects in the surrounding spaces. They will also learn the basic do’s and don’ts of stop animation. |
| 2PM – 2.15PM | Break |
| 2.15PM – 4PM | ACTIVITY 3 – Breakout Session
Kids will break out for group activity and get a chance to shoot their own pixilation film clip. They will also get to showcase their work at the end of the session! |