ITI Articles

When the CG Society (CGS), a global organisation for creative digital artists, announced its XXI Challenge late last year, they proudly promoted it as their “largest challenge to date.”

The CGS supports artists from amateurs to professionals by offering services to connect, inform, educate and promote all aspects of digital art. It also helps by celebrating achievement, excellence and innovation through awards and prizes.

The XXI Challenge topic was ‘Strange Behaviour’ and according to CGS drew “on one of the most popular artistic themes – unusual behaviours and relationships.”  Entrants were required to “bring to life Strange Behaviours in the most entertaining, humorous and emotive way.”

Entries were invited in the following three categories - Short film (team), 3D model/animation (individual) and Illustration (individual). Master and Excellence awards were given out with prizes for best Cinematography, Modelling, Matte Painting, Visual Effects, Lighting, Texturing, Compositing and Editing, Art Direction and Screenplay Adaptation.

A group of Natcoll’s 2007 Diploma of Animation Wellington students and tutors stepped up to the challenge. Their entry – called 'Vacant' – caught the eye and sense of humour of the judges. On 21 December the group won the Excellence Award in the Short Film category and Animation Tutor, Jacob Luamanuvae-Su’a also won the best Screenplay Adaptation Award for his work on the project (you can read more about Jacob’s career in animation at Natcoll News).

The other members of the award winning team were students: Robert Cancian, Rebecca Cole, Mat de Ruiter, Aidan Gillies, Tim Gilmore, Steve Hutt, Bryce Johansen, Kelven Kirk, Daniel Meighan, Grant Persival, Eteuati Tema, Kieran Thawley, Ka Ho Wong, Animation tutor Alexia Gonzalez, with special thanks to Daniel Lynch, Ava Fairhall, Matt Harris and Carl Ayala.

The prizes were:
4 NVIDIA Quadro 3500
Softimage XSI Foundation
Luxology modo 3D
2 Mudbox
REALVIZ Stitcher Unlimited 5.6
Stash 6 Pack
6 Ballistic Books of choice
6 CGS memberships - 1yr

In summing up their thoughts on ‘Vacant', the 13 judges said, “What a twisted screenplay adaptation – very entertaining. The timing and camera direction were great. The sound track was also well done, as was the lip sync. This was an enormous and well-balanced production with a lot of animation, editing, texturing, lighting direction and overall team work.”

For more about the awards go to CG Society Challenge Winners