Children, young people and students are being encouraged to get animated in a competition launched last week by Edinburgh Museums & Galleries and Red Kite Animation.
Inspired by artist Qian Shi’s award-winning animated short film about a toy shoe, the ‘Hidden Stories’ animation competition is designed to celebrate Edinburgh’s rich heritage and the art of animation.
Inspired by a visit to the Museum of Childhood in 2006, the Chinese artist Qian Shi made the film ‘Shoe’ while she was studying for a bachelor degree in animation. She was so inspired by the Shoe Doll, which has been on display in the museum since the 1920s, that she made it the subject of her degree film. It went on to win the Best Student Film in the 2008 Bradford Animation Festival and a MX Award at the Tokyo Animé Fair in 2010.
Budding animators from across Scotland have until the end of March 2014 to submit short films based upon either a real or imagined back story of an object of their choice, housed in one of Edinburgh’s Museums & Galleries.
Last year, winning entries were showcased in a red carpet screening at the Cameo Cinema with a judging panel made up of representatives from the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh College of Art, Red Kite Animation and BAFTA Award winner Will Anderson.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture & Sport Convener, said:- “The many and varied exhibits on display in Edinburgh Museums & Galleries have provided artists with inspiration for decades and the animation competition is a very 21st Century take on this theme. In previous years the judges have been overwhelmed with the high standard of entries, the excellent production values and imagined back stories. The competition continues to go from strength to strength and this year I’d encourage all budding animators enter for a chance to showcase their work to many of the Capital’s industry experts.”
Successful entries from the 2013 competition will be on display at the City Art Centre in a free exhibition running until 12 January 2014.
Fiona Henderson, Red Kite Animation, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project, collaborating with Edinburgh Museums and Galleries once again. It is so important to nurture young animation talent in Scotland to support our thriving animation community. We are delighted to host the Animation Competition 2014 and cannot wait to see all the fantastic, innovative and creative entries.”
More information:
Submissions are being invited from three categories: primary school, secondary school and students/young people (18-24 years). The closing date is 28 March 2014.
Further information on how to enter the competition is available from the website here.
Red Kite Animation is an award-winning production company specialising in children’s animated programmes for international television broadcast.
2013 Winners:
Category: Primary School
Winner: Auld Reekie by Stockbridge Primary (inspired by a wooden rattle and glass trumpet at the Museum of Childhood)
Auld Reekie from margaret renton on Vimeo.
Runners Up: Leerie by Hermitage Park Primary School (inspired by a book sculpture at the Writer’s Museum) and Baby of Waterloo by Howden St Andrew’s RC Primary School (inspired by a medal)
Category: Secondary School
Winner: Lobster Tail by Bathgate Academy (inspired by lobster tail helmet)
Category: Student
Winner: Reclamation of Walter Scott’s Hair by Mark Boston, Edinburgh College of Art, (inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s letter in the Writer’s Museum)
Runners Up: To My Pipe by Scott McHenry, Edinburgh College of Art, (inspired by R L Stevenson pipe in the Writer’s Museum) and Marvellous Adventure of Two Frozen Charlotte by Vera Babida, Edinburgh College of Art, (inspired by black frozen charlotte in the Museum of Childhood)
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