Nickelodeon is scouring Britain's animation talent to find the next big thing in cartoons.
Make Me a Nicktoons Animator 2008 is a competition aimed at the UK's undergraduate animators. The winner will nab an internship at Nickelodeon UK and will see their winning film broadcast on national television.
Skillset, the sector skills council for creative media, has teamed up with Nickelodeon channel NickToons UK to launch the competition. Students at Skillset accredited animation courses are invited to submit an idea for a funny 30-second cartoon. Up to 80 will be selected to flesh out the pitch and submit a treatment. Five winning animations will get a professional audio mix and the overall winner will get a paid internship at Nickelodeon's London HQ.
Chris Chilton, computer games and animation manager at Skillset, said: "We are thrilled that Nickelodeon are so committed to supporting UK students in their development. 'Make Me a Nicktoons Animator' represents a stunning opportunity for undergraduate animators to get real experience of the animation industry. For the winner and runners up, the potential of adding real broadcast credits to their CVs and showreels is one not to be missed."
So what will the judges be looking for? "Innovative, laugh-out-loud quality animation is at the very heart of NickToons," said Peter Drake, the vice president and creative director of Nickelodeon UK. In other words: make 'em laugh.
Universities involved are: Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication; Arts Institute Bournemouth; University for the Creative Arts, Farnham; Bournemouth University; Glamorgan University; University of Wales, Newport and the University of Teesside.
For more information on entering contact Sarah Afzal on saraha@skillset.org.
