COMPETITION HEATS UP AT 10TH N.E.MATION!

While their peers wind down after the school year, the 10 teams in this year's N.E.mation! competition are stepping into high gear. Currently in the midst of a three-week intensive production, the teams have been buried in animation work at studios located in Nanyang Polytechnic since 23 Nov.

They are working towards a shot at the grand prize of a fully-sponsored trip overseas to a renowned animation studio.

This year's competition is themed Together We Keep Singapore Strong. The teams have been tasked to reflect on the values and beliefs that have brought Singapore forward for the past 50 years, and encourage Singaporeans to continue to play their part to keep the nation going.

One of the teams has taken the theme quite literally, using reflections to tell their story. The group from Beatty Secondary School chose to use praxinoscopes - spinning mirrored devices that create the illusion of movement - to animate old and new Singapore icons such as Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay.

When asked what inspired the team to use the age-old technique, Adeline Ang said: "We want Singaporeans to appreciate and reflect on what the pioneer generation has done for us, and for us younger Singaporeans to improve (upon what they have done) so that we can have a better future."

The other members of the team are Evan Tan, Muhd Zulfazlin Bin Zainal and Chua Huimin.

The only Secondary Four student in the team, Huimin has taken part in N.E.mation! since she entered Secondary School. This year's attempt has seen her make the furthest progress so far, reaching the top 10 teams.

"I didn't even make it to the top 100 teams the second time I took part! That was demoralising but it didn't stop me from joining (the competition) again since it's so much fun."

Quipped Zulfazlin: "I really hope we can win because we have a really unique video."

On how he has benefited from taking part in the competition, he said: "I finally passed my history exam because of all the research we had to do for the video!"

Though the team has been having fun, it has not been an easy journey, added team member Evan. "We found that the technique needed us to be very precise and really coordinate the spinning. One mistake, and we have to do (the sequence) all over again."

Another team - from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School - took a more focused approach to the theme and decided to base their animation clip on the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Backed by rap and beat-box, their clip is a fusion of live-action, stop-motion and 2D digital animation techniques to tell the story of the SAF during the recent haze episode, the Severe Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003 and the Sabah earthquake earlier this year.

"(While searching for a topic), we found that SAF has done a lot behind the scenes, a lot of things Singaporeans don't see (So), we wanted to give the SAF credit for all they have done for Singapore," said team member Christabelle Kam.

The team from Jurong Secondary School, on the other hand, took a more abstract view of the theme. Their animation clip showcases the five pillars of Total Defence, with each small act contributing a "brick" towards nation building.

"We took inspiration from real-life events of Singaporeans coming together to support each other," said student Toh Ying Ying.

The team has been hard at work, starting as early as 8am and ending at 9pm on some days. "We wanted to get it just right, so watch our clip to see find out what structure the 'bricks' finally build!" said teammate Travis Toh.

For the team from Cedar Secondary School, the students chose to work exclusively in the digital realm. They are animating colourful and playful visuals to a fun and pun-filled poem that they have written, illustrating how each and every person can play a part in Total Defence.

The result is an upbeat, whimsical clip that brings viewers through familiar Singapore scenes.

"We felt that it's not just the military that should be doing their part to keep Singapore safe, but that each and everyone of us, regardless of age, language, race or religion, can also do our part," said team member Samantha Tjong.

The 10 finalist teams will complete their clips on 11 Dec. Their work will be shown to the public for voting in January next year and winners will be announced in February 2016.

Visit nemation.sg for more information.