CJ ENM launches animation contest

Entertainment conglomerate CJ ENM will co-host the “2019 Production Support Program for Original Story Based Animation” with the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) and KT Hitel to find and nurture new animators.

The ultimate winner of the contest will receive a whopping 1.35 billion won ($1.1 million) to produce their piece and will have their work air on Tooniverse, a popular children’s cartoon channel owned by the company.

Contestants have two categories to choose from. They can either animate one of two webtoon series: Naver webtoon “Oz Land” or Daum webtoon “Why did you come to Goblin Hill?” (direct translation). Or they can choose an original novel or webtoon that has not been animated yet. Upon choosing, participants should submit a minimum of four episodes and one animated episode with dubbing by Aug. 16.

This is the second edition of the event that helps creators grow as well as searches for creative new content. The first year’s winning project was “Animal School” by animation studio Nextory.

CJ ENM will hold a presentation about the project on May 30 at the InterContinental Seoul in Coex, southern Seoul, from 3:30 p.m.

All animation producers based in Seoul are eligible to apply for the project. More information can be found on the SBA website www.sba.seoul.kr

By Lee Jae-lim