SOFTIMAGE ANNOUNCE WINNING JUNIOR ANIMATORS

SOFTIMAGE, the organisers of the European Junior Animators’ Award, have announced the winners of this year’s competition.
Richard Craig-McFeely, Softimage European Business Manager, presented the awards, which took place at Computer Arts Live. Over 60 entries from all over Europe were submitted and the three finalists were chosen from an incredibly high standard of material.
The first prize went to Owen Simons, who graduated this year from Glamorgan Centre for Art & Design Technology. He is currently working for Blue Monkey Studio in Cardiff. His prize was a SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.2.0 licence, a workstation from Hewlett Packard, SOFTIMAGE|XSI training from the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, subscriptions to ‘Future’ magazines and a Softimage goodie bag.
Kevan Shorey, a third year student at Bournemouth University, scooped the second prize which was SOFTIMAGE|XSI training from the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, subscriptions to ‘Future’ magazines and a Softimage goodie bag.
Shorey intends to focus on 2D animation and is about to embark on a masters degree course.
The runner up prize went to John Hedley who graduated last year from Teeside University, although he currently lives in Sweden as a Graphic Artist at Unique Development Studios AB. He received subscriptions to ‘Future’ magazines and a Softimage goodie bag.
The criteria for submissions were a piece of animation produced in any 3D package, plus a storyboard for this or any other project. The judges were looking primarily for pure animation skills with design integrity, originality, conceptual skills and direction was also taken into consideration.
Entry details for next year’s competition are expected to be announced in November 2001. (CD)