SUBANG JAYA: The road to victory for teenager and budding animator Yap Kah Pau was not smooth. He said his parents are against his choice of career but his perseverence has paid off.

His artpiece won him a RM50,000 scholarship to study animation — the top prize in the Creative Media Award 2009 competition organised by The Star In.Tech and The One Academy of Communication Design.

Yap was among the 800 secondary school students from all over the country — shortlisted from a whopping 1,600 contestants — competing in the contest final for prizes amounting to RM420,000.

“My parents think I am wasting my time pursuing a career in art,” he said after the final here last Saturday. “We had an argument this morning and I got on a bus from Sitiawan (in Perak and about a three hour drive) to come here to compete.”

The contestants had to draw a scene from their dream adventure and Yap’s masterpiece impressed the judges with its creativity, perspective, bold use of shapes and colours, and the depth of its imagery.

“This is the work of an artist who is mature in his thinking,” said Seamus Tan, one of the judges and animation department head at The One Academy.

“We treasure creativity and imagination above all else. Animation skills can be taught but you cannot train an animator to have that creative streak.”

Yap, 19, said he was trying to represent freedom in his artwork and drew birds. But not ordinary birds, it seems. These had squirrel tails and butterfly wings.

And he couldn’t wait to show off his trophy and prize to his parents. “I won’t call them. I am just going to go home and surprise them,” he said.

Aside from the scholarship, Yap also received an Acer Aspire 4730ZG notebook computer, Canon Ixus 100IS digital camera, CNI health hamper, and Pipit gift pack worth RM750.

This is the second time the Nan Hwa High School student is taking part in the Creative Media Award competition. He competed two years ago but didn’t win any prizes.

“I felt that I was ready to try again this year,” said Yap.

Dream come true

For second prize winner Yew Ee Venn, 17, her victory is the culmination of years of hard work. “It looks like my parents’ decision to send me to art classes when I was very young has paid off,” she said.

It is her first time competing in the contest and she came in second. “I am surprised and pleased,” she told In.Tech.

The Chung Hwa Independent High School (Kuala Lumpur) student plans to use her RM30,000 The One Academy scholarship to take up a career in illustration.

Yew said the inspiration for her painting came from both her love and fear of water.

“I enjoy water activities but almost drowned last year in a river in Bukit Tinggi. It was lucky that I managed to grab a rock and pull myself to safety,” she said.

“I wanted to portray some of that apprehension in my artwork.” Her piece shows a fish-shaped submarine navigating an area filled with underwater tunnels that have staircases going inside.

Yew also went home with a Canon Powershot A1100IS digital camera, CNI health hamper, and Pipit gift pack worth RM500.

Keeping at it

In third place was 17-year-old Loo Shei Kiat who has been competing in the contest over the past three years and tasted success this time around.

“Never give up; that’s my motto,” he said. The Hin Hua High School (Klang) student also plans to take up a career in illustration.

“I spend a lot of time working at making my art better. I draw and draw once I’ve finished my school homework and on holidays I am constantly drawing.”

Loo’s drawing skills were obvious in his masterpiece which was one of the few monochrome entries that made it to the judges’ shortlist.

It won him a RM25,000 scholarship from The One Academy, a Canon Powershot AS70 digital camera, CNI health hamper, and Pipit gift pack worth RM300.

All three winners were also presented with certificates of excellence.

There were 10 consolation prizes given out under the Young Creative Achievers Award. Each comprised a scholarship worth RM18,000 from The One Academy, a Canon Pixma iP1980 printer, CNI health hamper, Pipit gift pack worth RM150, and a certificate of excellence.

There were 120 other consolation prize winners who won a free seat each to a one-day art workshop. Normally, the participants would have to pay RM960 each to attend.

There was also a lucky draw for the shortlisted contestants, with an Acer notebook computer as the prize (see story below).

String of successes

This is the 12th year that the Creative Media Award conpetition has been held. It is supported by movie distributor Buena Vista Columbia Tristar and the Multimedia Development Corporation, caretaker of the MSC Malaysia initiative.

The theme this year is based on the Disney-Pixar animated movie Up which is being screened in local theatres now.

Response to this year’s competition was so overwhelming that the organisers decided to split the final over three days instead of the usual one day.

The Creative Media Award is aimed at promoting the imaginative use of multimedia and at providing a platform for talented students who aspire to successful careers in graphics design and animation.

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