Golden Cursor Awards to recognize excellence in Indian Animation

Mumbai, 2nd May 2009: Arena Animation, a global leader in hi-end animation training in association and Cell 18, one of Asia’s largest production houses & creative arm of network 18 have announced the date for hosting the prestigious Golden Cursor Animation (GCA) Awards. The eagerly-awaited event will be held on 8th May, 2009 at Hyatt Regency, in Mumbai.

The Awards will recognize excellence in the animation industry and have been conceptualized with the objective of enhancing and shaping the future of the Indian Animation industry as it expands its foothold in the international animation arena. The announcement of the Awards had created a buzz in the Industry and the entries were received in large numbers.

Dignitaries of international repute such as Anthony Christov, Art Director, Pixar (the world’s top animation company) and Ian Livingstone, Co-founder of Games Workshop will grace the event.

As a Curtain Raiser to the Golden Cursor Animation Awards, Arena Animation has organized “Perspectives” Seminar by these two Animation & Gaming Masters on 5th, 6th & 7th of May, 2009 in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Cochin & Ahmedabad which gives animation students and enthusiasts an opportunity to interact with them.

Commenting on the importance of the event, Anuj Kacker, Global Head, Arena Animation, said, “While the animation industry is gaining prominence, awards like Golden Cursor Animation Awards will bring to light some of the best work that this industry has produced during last year. We are pleased to present the Golden Cursor Animation Awards, which we feel will further spur the growth of the animation industry in India.”

In its second year, GCA is broadening its horizons with the inclusion of VFX and Gaming categories under its umbrella along with animation. A whole new list of categories including Best VFX sequence in a feature film, Best Online Casual Game, Best Animated Edutainment Content amongst others has been added and the awards are open for both students and professionals.

The winners of these definitive awards will be chosen after a comprehensive three stage process, which involves the Indian Animation Industry nominating some of their best work across 22 categories. Post that, a panel of experts will short list top 3-5 nominees in every category and the same will be presented to an eminent jury panel comprising of animation industry’s most revered names.

These awards are a benchmark for excellence in animation in India and will empower the industry to its next level of growth. Both students & professionals have sent entries & are now in the running for a Golden Cursor Award of their own!

Awards categories:

1 Best Animation (Student)

2 Best Animated Short Film (Professional)

3 Best Animated Short Film (Student)

4 Best Animated TV Series / Show

5 Best Animated TVC (TV Commercial)

6 Best Animated PSA (Public Service Announcement)

7 Best Animated Channel ID / Promo

8 Best Title Sequence in a Film

9 Best Live Action – Animation Combo : TVC

10 Best VFX (Feature Film)

11 Best Animated Feature Film

12 Best Lyrics

13 Best Music

14 Best 2D Animation

15 Best 3D Animation

16 Best Mobile Game

17 Best Online Casual Game

18 Best PC Game

19 Best Animated Edutainment Content

20 Best Comics

21 Best Console Game

22 Storytelling Contest

For invitations for the event, please contact: Vikram Kharvi – 9930143550 (vikram.kharvi {at} adfactorspr(.)com / pr.vikram {at} gmail(.)com) OR Richa Seth – 9930143531 (richa.seth {at} adfactorspr(.)com / richa.seth30 {at} gmail(.)com)

About Arena Animation:

Arena Animation is a Pioneer, Trendsetter and Global Leader in Animation education. Arena has an extensive network of centers & has trained over 2,50,000 students globally since its inception in 1996.

Arena offers industry relevant courses on Animation & Multimedia to students aspiring for global careers in this New Age industry. It trains students as well as professionals in the latest industry relevant courses backed by alliances with world leaders, a world-class faculty and the latest technical educational tools.

Arena’s students are placed as Visualizers, Graphic Designers, Web Designers, Content Developers, Multimedia Programmers, 2D Digital Animators, Video Editors, Technical experts, 3D Modelers, Texturing Artists, Rigging Artists, Lighting & Rendering Artists, 3D Character Animators, Compositors, Visual Effects Artists, Pre-Production and Post Production Artists in blue chip animation studios and entertainment companies like Prime Focus, Rhythm & Hues Studios, Crest Animation Studios, Red Chillies, EFX, Prana Studios, Big Animation, Pixion Studios, Toonz Animation, Nipuna Services, Prasad Studio, Ramoji Film City, Green Gold Animation, DQ Entertainment, Paprikaas Animation Studios, UshaKiron TV, Sony TV, Google India, NDTV, TOI, DD Sports, Discovery Channel, Divya Bhaskar, Asianet Satellite Communications, ETV, NDTV, Zee Sports and Zee TV to name a few.

For further information please visit www.arena-multimedia.com

For further details contact:

Adfactors PR Pvt Ltd.

Richa Seth

Phone: (0) 9930143531

Email: richa.seth {at} adfactorspr(.)com

Aptech Ltd.,

Sonia Narula

Vice President

Corporate Communications

Phone: 91 11 4164 6646

Email: sonian {at} aptech.ac(.)in