YOUNG ANIMATORS SHOW THEIR METTLE

The animation clips from this year's N.E.mation! competition are finally ready for public viewing and voting. Working off the theme TogetherWe Keep Singapore Strong, the student-teams have laboured for months, through the year-end break, to produce their entries.

From an imaginary land inhabited by light bulbs and showing how acts of kindness spread happiness, to a soccer match battling an imaginary opponent named "Crisis" to cartoons that show societal love and support for Singapore s soldiers, this year s clips have interpreted the theme in an abstract way.

The top 10 clips were showed at the N.E.mation! Downtown Picnic held on 24 Jan at the National Library, marking the start of public voting for the competition. The top prize is a fully sponsored educational trip to a renowned animation studio located overseas.

In their minute-long clip named Light Bulb Moments, the team from Hua Yi Secondary School portrayed a single little light bulb spreading happiness with acts of kindness, gradually bathing a dull and unlit landscape in light.

Explaining their idea, Foong Chen Fu, 15, said: "You don't have to be a big or strong person to help others. Even a child can impact someone."

The team is the only one with three members instead of the usual four. "That meant that each person had to do more things," said Ko Rui Wei, 15, adding that they pulled many late nights to animate the clip.

"In a way, it also showed that it was possible for a smaller team to make a clip that is just as good as the rest," said fellow team member Philemon Tei. He quipped: "I think our chances of winning are just as good as the rest!"

For the team from Guang Yang Secondary School, it was about showing how everyone could play their part to beat any crises that might occur. Through a soccer match played by Singaporeans (ranging from students to soldiers and doctors) against team "Crisis", the clip shows how Singapore is stronger when everyone works together.

In the clip simply titled The Soccer Match, the image of a soldier appears prominently. "We chose to include soldiers because they are the ultimate protectors of Singapore. The others, like the doctor, help to heal people and keep the country safe in their own way," said Syed Lufti Bin Syed Abdul Rahman, 15.

When asked what were some of the challenges presented by the competition, team member Khansa Zilfa Shofia Ghazali said: "We learnt a lot about teamwork and how to cooperate to make something that met not only our standards, but those of our mentors too."

The teams are coached by mentors from Animagine. The local company specialises in animation training for youth.

In another clip that features soldiers, made by a team from Cedar Girls' School, the family of an Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman) show their quiet love and support as he goes through training. As the NSman goes about his day in uniform, cartoons appear each time someone shows love and support for him.

"The SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) plays a very important role in the defence of Singapore, and we wanted to show that ordinary Singaporeans, in supporting our soldiers, are also contributing (and strengthening the country)," said Wendalyna Lye, 15.

Among those who turned up to cheer on the 10 finalist teams were Ms Karen Ng, 34, and Mr Raphael Ou-yang, 30.

"The students have really put in their best, more than one can imagine," said Ms Ng, a researcher. "I like the creativity and the teams have really thought about story angles and even writing their own songs for the clips."

For Mr Ou-yang, it was the educational value that shone through. "The competition helps to boost awareness on Total Defence. These kids must have done so much research and learnt so much!" said the banker.

Visit nemation.sg to watch the clips and cast your votes. Voting ends 14 Feb.