The ANIMAX Awards began in Japan in 2002. They were created to seek out new anime talent from among the ANIMAX viewers. The competition was immediately successful because it provided anime fans with the opportunity to contribute their original ideas to the world of animation. It also allowed the winner to see his/her work come to fruition and to share the final product with ANIMAX viewers around the world.

This year, we’re bringing the competition to Asia. We are looking for scripts/comics/novels that appeal to our 15-25 year old target market.

For information on past ANIMAX Award winners, click here.

Submissions for the 2007 ANIMAX Awards: Pan-Asia Animation Competition will be accepted beginning March 22nd, 2007 and ending May 31st, 2007.

This year’s theme is A Story I Wish to be Animated.

Each participant can opt to base their script/novel/comic on their own original character(s) or on an ANIMAX original character. For additional information on ANIMAX original characters click here.

Eligible entries will consist of any one of the following options:

• Scripts  Click here to see an example of a script layout
• Comics  Click here to see an example of a comic layout
• Novels  Click here to see an example of a novel layout

The material should be approximately 30-40 minutes of screen time when turned into an anime (about 40 to 50 pages for scripts and novels). Comic submissions should be approximately 40 pages on A3 or B4 paper.

Please include the following on the title page:

• Title
• Number of pages
• Author's name (if a pen name, make sure to include your real name, as well)
• Age
• Address
• Phone number

It is also a requirement that participants:

• Paginate the document
• Submit your entry in English
• Attach a 1/2 page story outline (maximum 400 English words)
• Include a catch phrase for the work
• Include a simple description of the protagonist

To participate, entries must be submitted in a text document/electronic file between March 22nd, 2007 and May 31st, 2007 via email or regular mail at southeastasia@animax-asia.com or ANIMAX Awards c/o ANIMAX Marketing, SPE Networks – Asia Pte. Ltd., 3 Tampines Central 1, #02-01/05 Abacus Plaza, Singapore 529540, respectively. All regular mail entries must be postmarked by May 31st, 2007.

Regions taking part in the ANIMAX Awards: Pan-Asia Animation Competition include:

• Japan
• Korea
• Hong Kong
• India
• Philippines
• South East Asia
• Taiwan

RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON AUGUST 7th.

The regional champion will receive USD 2,000 and will go on to compete in the finals, which will take place in Tokyo, Japan in August 2007.

The winner of the finals in Japan will receive a cash prize equivalent to Yen 2 million (or approximately USD18,000), as well as have his/her winning piece animated by A-1 Pictures. The winning piece will air on ANIMAX in 2008.

A panel of three experts in the anime industry will judge the regional competition, including:

• Lingun Sung, CEO and Creative Director, Peach Blossom Media
• Nickson Fong, CEO & Co-founder, Egg Story Creative Production Pte. Ltd
• Darren Gan, Creative Director, Play Imaginative Pte. Ltd

The finals will also be judged by experts in the anime industry. The panel will consist of the following judges:

• Hideo Katsumata (Chief Judge)                     President of A-1 Pictures
• Tomonori Ochikoshi (Judge)                           Producer of A-1 Pictures
• Takashi Watanabe (Judge)                              Producer of Kadokawa Shoten
• Masao Takiyama (Judge)                                 President of Animax Broadcast Japan
• Baku Yumemakura (Special Guest Judge)  Novelist
• Hirohiko Araki (Special Guest Judge)            Manga Artist
• Additional Special Guest Judge                      TBD

Special Guest Judge Profiles:
Baku Yumemakura (novelist).
Born in Kanagawa prefecture, 1951.
Made his debut with "Kaeru no shi" in 1977.
Author of popular series, including: "Kimaira," "Saikodaibaa," "Garouden," and "Onmyouji."
Awarded the Japan Sci-Fi Award in 1989 for "Jyougen no tsuki wo taberu shishi".

Hirohiko Araki (manga artist).
Born in Miyagi prefecture, 1960.
Made his debut with "Busou Poker" in Shonen JUMP magazine; “Busou Poker” was the runner up in the 20th Tezuka Awards.
He is best known for his long run series "Jojo no kimyouna bouken," which started back in 1986.