Animation competition marks UN’s 60th birthday in Asia-Pacific region

The United Nations is enlisting the tools of animation from two-dimensional cartoons to computer-aided wizardry to celebrate its 60th anniversary in the Asia-Pacific region.

The UN Information Services (UNIS) in Bangkok, together with the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) of the Thai Ministry of Information Communication Technology, today announced a region-wide short animation competition as the first activity of the year-long birthday celebrations.

“Animation is a wonderful way to communicate the United Nations’ message of peace, security and human rights for all,” UNIS official Evelyn Domingo-Barker said of the competition, which covers UN work in six areas – reducing poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equality, improving health for all, ensuring sustainable development and promoting world peace.

Entrants must be citizens of the Asia-Pacific region and can use any animation technique, including 2D cartoon animation, computer-aided 3D animation, clay animation or digital interferences on a visual product, as long as copyright rules are respected. Entries, which must be under five minutes, can be submitted by post or online no later than 1 October.

There are two categories – youth (25 years old or below), and public – with three prizes in each category totalling $15,000. Winners will be flown to Bangkok to collect their prizes and participate in the UN Day celebrations on 24 October.