Preview the Exciting Future of Animation at SIGGRAPH Asia 2022’s Computer Animation Festival

SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 is coming soon! As the industry leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm in the CG industry, also a long-term partner of SIGGRAPH Asia, Fox Renderfarm is honored to be one of the program sponsors of SIGGRAPH Asia 2022. Here, we will bring you some helpful information about SIGGRAPH Asia 2022.

SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 offers those passionate about animation a unique chance to see a broad spectrum of the year’s most exceptional work at the Computer Animation Festival. Watch as the some of the world’s most talented artists, technologists, and researchers push visual boundaries with their cutting-edge projects.

The world’s best animation will be celebrated on 6 December 2022 at the prestigious SIGGRAPH Asia Computer Animation Festival (CAF), where four filmmakers and teams will be honored for their exemplary work.

The Festival, Asia’s premier computer animation event, will showcase a collection of 2022’s best works from around the world at EXCO in Daegu, South Korea between 6-9 December. From short films to scientific visualizations and AI-enhanced deep-fakes, SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 CAF boasts the most expansive and compelling program ever, selected from 405 submissions from 19 countries. Of these, 33 films, including four highlighted films from Korea, will be screened at SIGGRAPH Asia 2022’s Electronic and Animation Theaters.

Dan Sarto, Computer Animation Festival Chair and Co-Founder of Animation World Network, said: "Seismic technological innovation in animation is moving our industry to greater heights. We saw the extraordinary rise of virtual creative collaboration during the pandemic, and how artists, technologists, and researchers were able to build sophisticated, cloud-based production pipelines, working with colleagues from around the world, exemplified by the impressive selection of animation in this year’s festival."

"SIGGRAPH Asia provides a great opportunity to see the year’s most exceptional work, and also a chance to bring together some of the most creative minds from the world’s leading animation houses,” he added. “The global animation market is worth almost US$400 billion, and it’s still growing. There’s never been a more exciting moment to be in this business, collaborate and push boundaries with cutting-edge animation. SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 is a unique chance to be at the center of it all."

This year’s four CAF winners across the three categories announced are:

BEST IN SHOW
GARRANO (Portugal, Lithuania)
Directed by David Doutel & Vasco Sá, BAP Animation Studio, produced by David Doutel

A Garrano horse is forced to pull a heavy load under a blazing sun, while a young boy, Joel discovers a man who is about to set a forest on fire. This powerful tale was recently awarded the Grand Prix at the Festival Internacional de Animación Ajayu in Peru, where the jury commended “its extraordinary conceptual art, its refined technique, with great animation and staging”, and praised the film “for its intense narrative that takes us to its inexorable end”.

Watch the Trailer for the ‘BEST IN SHOW’ GARRANO here.

JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD
CAT and MOTH (Canada, United Kingdom)
Directed by India Barnardo, BRON Studios, co-produced by Sarah Dacey and Emily Shinyi Hsu

Ditto, a fluffy plump white cat, finally completes her frustrating quest for the most comfortable spot to sleep. But she has competition for the warm yellow cushion in the form of Monty, a fuzzy winged intruder. Monty is not shy in disturbing Ditto's slumber, and will go to any lengths to knock her off – but at what cost? Created with a team of over 90 animators and designers from around the world, India’s directorial debut has already won her international accolades including Best Animation Award at Vancouver Short Film Festival 2022.

Watch the Trailer for the ‘JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD’ CAT and MOTH here.

BEST STUDENT PROJECT
PERIOD DRAMA (United States)
Directed by Anushka Nair & Lauryn Anthony, Ringling College of Art & Design

Partly based on personal experience, Period Drama is a Victorian-era tale about 11-year-old Georgiana Crimsworth, who gets her first period “before ever having gotten the talk”. Addressing the implicit taboo surrounding periods, and by extension women’s health as a whole. It was awarded Best Animated Short in Cannes and screened at the renowned Newport Beach Film Festival.

Watch the Trailer for the ‘BEST STUDENT PROJECT’ PERIOD DRAMA here.

An Honorable Mention went to Directors Matthew Luhn and Hjalti Hjalmarssonj, Blender Studio Netherlands for Sprite Fright. Luhn, a Pixar story artist veteran, collaborated with a team of over 20 artists and developers on Blender Studio’s most ambitious production to date. The studio’s 13th open movie is an 80s-inspired horror comedy set in Britain. When a group of rowdy teenagers trek into an isolated forest, they discover peaceful mushroom creatures that turn out to be an unexpected force of nature. The technology, the assets, as well as the whole creative process that led to the creation of Sprite Fright have been documented and openly shared with the global CG community.

Watch the Trailer for the ‘Honorable Mention’ Sprite Fright here.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the Computer Animation Festival will feature a series of panels and production sessions. Highlights include the following Featured Sessions:

Title:  Oni: Thunder God’s Tale
Date: Wednesday, 7 December 2022
Time: 2-3pm
Venue: 5F, Auditorium
Speaker(s):  Christophe Rodo and Jeffrey Dillinger
Description: Megalis VFX Co-Founders Christophe and Jeffrey, responsible for all aspects of their global studio technology, will reveal techniques and art of collaboration that created the contemporary Japanese folklore story and exclusive concept art for the Netflix series.

Title:  Bringing Yumi's Cells to Life
Date: Wednesday, 7 December 2022
Time: 4-5pm
Venue: 5F, Auditorium
Speaker(s): Producer: Gahyun Cha, Director: Dahee Kim, CG supervisor: Kiyoung Eom and Concept Artist: Yeonok Baek
Description: The hit webtoon "Yumi's Cells" is Korea’s first live-action/3D hybrid series, where the animated world of the ‘cells’ blends with performances of actors. Locus Animation will share the artistic and technical challenges behind the meticulously potted out characters and world of Yumi’s Cells cutting-edge animation.

Title:  Making of Brahmāstra: Part One Shiva
Date: Thursday, 8 December 2022
Time: 9-10am
Venue: 5F, Auditorium
Speaker(s): VFX supervisor, DNEG - Jaykar Arudra and Creative Head / VFX supervisor ReDefine - Viral Thakkar
Description: Get an insight into the production process of this Bollywood cosmic space-inspired VFX fantasy adventure ‘Brahmāstra’ feature film with over 3,000+ VFX shots.

Title:  Entergalactic with DNEG Animation
Date/Time: 8 December 2022, Thursday 3-4pm
Location: 3F, Room 306
Speaker(s): Kapil Sharma
Description: Led by DNEG Animation’s VFX Supervisor Archie Donato and Animation Director Kapil Sharma, the team was tasked with creating a world that felt like a concept painting sprung to life. To meet the filmmakers’ brief, the team ensured that every stage of the pipeline – from shader development to animation performance to compositing – was deconstructed and re-imagined to support the heightened visual style.

Electronic Theater Highlights include:

Title:  The House of Loss
Date: 6-8 December 2022
Time: Tuesday 6-8pm, Wednesday 5-7pm, Thursday 1-3pm
Venue: 5F, Auditorium
Director(s): Jinkyu JEON - South Korea
Producer(s): KOJI Yamamura - Tokyo University of the Arts
Description: The elderlies at the nursing home have their heads shaved. The protagonist who works there sees them but can't read their expressions. However, from one instance, he finds himself looking closely at their faces.

Title:  Going Well..
Date: 6-8 December 2022
Time: Tuesday 6-8pm, Wednesday 5-7pm, Thursday 1-3pm
Venue: 5F, Auditorium
Director(s): Hye-jeong LEE - South Korea
Producer(s): Jinkyu JEON - South Korea
Description: The deadline is approaching. Producer Park, who is in charge of closing, comes to the writer. The writer escapes to delusions and goes crazy due to the PD's pressure and stress of the deadline.

For more information about SIGGRAPH Asia 2022, visit https://sa2022.siggraph.org.

Notes to editors:

• Click to view the Computer Animation Festival trailer here
• Annex A: Winners’ biographies and supporting quotes
• The Computer Animation Festival Awards Ceremony will be held from 5:30PM – 6.00PM at the Opening Pre-Show of the Computer Animation Festival (5F, Auditorium)
• Media may register for SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 at our virtual newsroom to apply for accreditation
• Access Full Program Agenda here: https://sa2022.siggraph.org/full-program/.
• Interview requests with speakers, committee, exhibitors, or sponsors, may be directed to siggraphasiapr@pinpointpr.global

REGISTER FOR UPCOMING PRESS CONFERENCE

● 6 December, Tuesday, 08:30-10:00 KST – A press conference held in Korean and English will be hosted onsite at EXCO, in Daegu by SIGGRAPH Asia Conference Chair, respective Program Chairs, conference speakers and exhibition partners, who will showcase each facet of the program, and describe the immersive experiences and technological innovations that visitors can explore. Media that attend will be given a sneak tour of the exhibition ahead of its opening on 7 December. Please register here.

Annex A: Winners’ biographies

BEST IN SHOW: GARRANO
David Doutel
BAP Animation Studio

David Doutel was born in Porto, Portugal, in 1983. He graduated in Sound and Image at the UCP School of Arts, with extensive training in Animation. For the last 15 years he has developed his work in the field of independent animation short films, both as director, animator and producer.

JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD: CAT and MOTH
India Barnardo
Stupid Horse Productions

India Barnardo grew up in a small countryside town with her two cats. She has always had a passion for writing and directing and with that brings us Cat and Moth as her directorial debut. With India’s past experience in the animation industry it has given her the knowledge and skills to build an extraordinary 90+ crew from around the world to bring Cat and Moth to life!

BEST STUDENT PROJECT: PERIOD DRAMA
Anushka Nair
Ringling College of Art & Design

Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Anushka Tina Nair is a visual artist, writer, and filmmaker best known for the short film Period Drama (2022), which she co-created with her filmmaking partner Lauryn Anthony.

Student Academy Award finalist, Carnegie Hall awardee, and Newport Beach Film Festival-featured director, Nair's work has been recognized internationally. Her personal passion for literary history and classic Hollywood inform the stories she most loves to tell.

Lauryn Anthony
Ringling College of Art & Design

Lauryn Anthony Ringling College of Art & Design Biography Raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Lauryn Anthony is a visual artist, writer, and filmmaker.

She is best known for the short film Period Drama (2022), which she co-created with her filmmaking partner Anushka Tina Nair.

Student Academy Award finalist, Newport Beach Film Festival-featured director, and award-winning creator in numerous film festivals

HONORABLE MENTION: Sprite Fright
Francesco Siddi
Blender Studio

After earning a BA in Industrial Design in Italy, Francesco spent some time freelancing as a CGI generalist in Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

In 2012 he joined the Blender team to work on the Tears of Steel open movie and remained involved in several aspects of the Blender project. He is currently General Manager at Blender Studio.

About ACM SIGGRAPH

ACM SIGGRAPH is an international community of researchers, artists, developers, filmmakers, scientists, and business professionals with a shared interest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. A special interest group of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s first and largest computing society, our mission is to nurture, champion and connect like-minded researchers and practitioners to catalyze innovation in computer graphics and interactive techniques.

ACM SIGGRAPH offers two of the premier technology conferences in the world, one in North America and one in Asia. Attended by tens of thousands of computer graphics professionals, SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia are highly respected venues for the presentation of new computer graphics technology and research. For more information, please visit www.siggraph.org.

Source: SIGGRAPH Asia