SIGGRAPH ASIA, the annual global conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, is headed to Sydney, Australia in 2023. From 12th to 15th December, the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney will host pioneers from various sectors to explore groundbreaking work in digital art, VR, animation, visual effects, and more. Notably, thanks to the Sydney 2023 organising committee and the NSW Department of Education, students nationwide have the opportunity to join this dynamic platform, enriching their learning and showcasing their creativity at the Junior Computer Animation Festival.

1. Learning: Encouraging students to learn about the latest advances in animation technology and techniques, and inspire them through the work of other researchers and industry professionals.

2. Technical Skill Development: Providing students with an opportunity to develop their animation skills and prepare for a career in the field.

3. Creativity: Inspiring students to showcase their creativity and originality, and learn about the intersection of art and technology.

4. Networking: Connecting students with talented creative and technology experts to learn about the latest trends and developments in the field, and hear from industry professionals and experts.

Students will enter through this Link. The video will need to be loaded onto a video platform such as Youtube or Vimeo.

The competition is designed for school students currently enrolled in any Australian primary or high school program. But remember, SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 Conference committee employees and their immediate family members can't participate.

Win recognition at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 conference in Sydney, and grab the chance to receive incredible prizes to support your future education and career in animation. If you're among the category winners, you'll secure a VIP student pass to the conference and your work will be showcased at SIGGRAPH Asia!

Please note the following guidelines for each category.

Junior (8 - 13 yrs) - content must meet the “Everyone” classification guidelines as set by the ESRB. For more in depth guidance you can review the classification requirements via this website https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/

Senior (14 - 18yrs) - content must meet the “Everyone 10+” classification guidelines as set by the ESRB. For more in depth guidance you can review the classification requirements via this website https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/

General considerations should be made around NSW DoE Conduct Policy and the Australian Classification Authority https://www.classification.gov.au/classification-ratings/what-do-ratings-mean

No entries that contain representation of discrimination, violence, illegal activities, nudity and defamatory impersonation of real life people will be eligible for submission.

• Video Resolutions: 1080p (1920x1080p) preferred
• Frame Rate: 24 fps Preferred / 25 fps / 30 (29.97) fps / 50 fps
• YouTube/Vimeo/G Drive - Ensure correct permissions are set to allow viewing by judges.
• Video Size: 10GB (Only where video link is unavailable) 

1. Creativity - Creativity and originality of the animation, use of unique ideas and concepts.

2. Technical Skill - Skilful use of animation techniques, understanding of animation software and tools.

3. Sound and Music - Effective use of sound effects and music to enhance the animation.

4. Story Telling

5. Overall Impression

OVERVIEW OF KEY LEARNING CONTENT AREAS

Film animation, as an area of study, fosters the development of essential 21st century skills including: collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, time management and persistence.

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Film animation incorporates various scientific principles to create believable and engaging visuals. Students learn concepts related to light, sound, anatomy, and natural phenomena to accurately depict the world they are animating.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Film animation integrates various multimedia elements including; Sound design music visual effects in video editing students should explore various technical and creative multimedia techniques to enhance the overall quality and impact of their animations. Creating a film involves the use of digital tools and software. Students develop skills in graphic design, audio recording animation techniques, coding data management and storytelling to bring their animations to life.

ENGLISH

Creating a film animation required students to generate written content and effectively communicate their ideas through multimodal texts.

MATHS

Film animation requires an understanding of many mathematical concepts, for example timing of motion.  Students apply mathematical principles to create realistic movements and visual effects in their animations. 

Teachers should, where possible, provide students with various learning opportunities, both formal and informal, to develop a broad range of skills that prepare students for career pathways. The following curriculum indicators provide additional context to educators who are supporting students to submit work.

Students as creators can: Communicate information effectively to different audiences.

STAGE 4
IFF4L.2.2 deliver information, selecting appropriate content and visual and multimodal elements to suit different audiences

STAGE 5
IFF5L.2.2 communicate information, sequencing selected content and multimodal elements for accuracy and their impact on the audience

STAGE 6
IFF6L.2.2 communicate information on complex issues, combining elements creatively, including effective graphical representation of data, where appropriate, to engage and persuade an audience

Ref: https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/media/documents/Information_fluency_framework.pdf

Students as creators can: Plan and Collaborate on Digital Technologies Projects.

Stage 4
Plan and manage projects that create and communicate ideas and information collaboratively online, taking safety and social contexts into account (ACTDIP032)

Stage 5
Plan and manage projects using an iterative and collaborative approach, identifying risks and considering safety and sustainability (ACTDIP044)

Ref: ACARA https://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/search?accContentId=ACTDIP032

RELATED TECHNICAL COURSES

Stage 4
Graphics Technology - Module 5 Computer Animation

Stage 5
Graphics Technology - Module 5 Computer Animation
Industrial Technology - Multimedia
Information and Software Technology - Activities Stage 5: Digital Media Project

Stage 6
HSC Industrial Technology - Multimedia
HSC Visual Design
HSC Software Design Development 

SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 Junior Computer Animation Junior Competition (the Competition) is administered by the STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) Program which is an initiative of the NSW Department of Education ABN: 40 300 173 822

The Competition aims to engage school students in the technical art of animation, using their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) knowledge, The Competition requires them to design an original short animation film. Agreeing to these Rules: By checking the checkbox on the registration page and registering to enter the Competition, the Applicant(s) agree to abide by these Rules.

1. Eligibility

The Competition is open to individuals, or teams consisting of between one (1) to four (4) individuals. Teams must not exceed four (4) members (Team).

2. Applicants

All Applicants must:

• have a nominated adult [18+] to be the contact person between the Competition administration team and the Applicant;
• be Australian citizens or Australian residents;

• be enrolled in Year 4 - 12 in a school located in Australia or are home-schooled in Australia in 2023; and
• have their /legal guardian's permission to participate in the Competition.

3. Entry

Applicants may enter the Competition by online application between 9:00am (AEST) 21 August 2023 and 11:59pm (AEST) 27 October 2023; in accordance with these Rules;

• Complete an online application via this Link
• Print, sign and hold the parent/guardians’ permission to participate.
• By entering Applicants agree to supply these permissions to SISP if requested.

4. Competition

Submissions are limited to one per Applicant(s) and must.

• be submitted by uploading a link in accordance with the instructions on the Site between 9:00am (AEST) 21 August 2023 and 11:59pm (AEST) 27 October 2023 (and no later);
• be made in strict accordance with these Rules. Any submissions not made in strict accordance with these Rules will not be considered.
• not contain any intellectual property, including footage, images, artwork, programming or sounds that are not created by the Applicant, unless such content is included as part of the media library or is free for public use - this should not exceed more than 10% over the overall animation time.
• be solely the Applicant’s original work and must not be created in collaboration with any other individual or entity not registered as part of the Applicants submission (1-5 students per entry);
• be ‘G’ rated, or E 10+ (senior category) and comply with the Competition classification guidelines located on website.

5. Security and Media Release

Each applicant must retain a copy of their submission. NSW Department of Education provides no guarantee or warranty as to the confidentiality or security of any submission. Each applicant specifically releases NSW Department of Education from any claims or liability relating to breach of confidentiality or any loss or damage to the applicant’s submission when lodging their submission.

6. Winning Entries

A prize will be awarded for each submission judged to be the best in its Category awarding of prizes will occur in three rounds as follows:

Round One: judges will ‘blind’ review the submissions to identify those that are complete with a and have achieved the best overall mark, based on the marking rubric supplied. Submissions that are judged to be complete and that satisfy the entry requirements, will automatically be included in round two of the judging.

Round Two: Judges will blind review and moderate scores for all animations in round two. Up to ten (10) of the highest-scoring submissions will go through to the final round of judging, round three.

Round Three: A panel of SIGGRAPH ambassadors will review and independently score all animations. Once again, all submissions will be judged based on the rubric criteria. The decision of the judges at each phase of judging is both final and confidential, and no correspondence with applicants will be entered into.

7. Prizes

The decision as to prizes will be in NSW Department of Education absolute and sole discretion and will be final with no correspondence entered into. Prizes will consist of Complementary VIP tickets to visit SIGGRAPH Asia.

8. Disqualification

The SISP program may, in its sole discretion, refuse, disqualify any and all applicants or applicants from, and prohibit further participation, in the competition, if they act in violation of these rules or in any way in connection with the competition. What constitutes misconduct aligns with NSW DoE assessment protocol and is in the sole discretion of the NSW Department of Education and/or its representatives.

9. Termination of Competition

If for any reason the competition or any part thereof is not able to be conducted SISP and its partner SIGGRAPH may in its sole discretion cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition, or invalidate any affected applications or registrations, subject to the approval of the relevant educational authorities, if required.

10. Intellectual Property

The intellectual property in any submission created by any applicants remains the sole property of the relevant applicant.

11. License

Applicants who have been successful in the third round of judging grant the NSW Department of Education and its personnel, contractors and agents an irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free, fully paid up licence (including the right to sublicense) to use, publish, reproduce, communicate and broadcast the submission and any other material the applicant supplies the NSW Department of Education  for the purposes of the competition and the intellectual property in the same for the purposes of: the competition; to conduct of future competitions; and for purposes directly or indirectly related to the competition and future competitions. All applicants will be asked to provide a written talent release form signed by a parent and teacher.

12. Moral rights consent and waiver

Applicants consent to (or waive any rights in respect of) The NSW Department of Education or its agents or licensees performing any act or making any omission relating to their submission concerning attribution of authorship (whether correctly attributed or not) or its use in connection with the competition in any context.

13. Warranties

Applicants WARRANT:

• that applicant has the sole and full right and authority to accept these terms and conditions and enter into the competition and grant the rights set out in this agreement;
• no part of the submission is, or will be, actionable for defamation or violate any right of privacy or publicity of any person, and the full use of the rights in the submission will not violate any rights of any person, firm or corporation;
• that they have obtained all necessary rights, licences, permissions and consents in respect of any third party material included in any submission to use such third party material for the purposes of the competition and for the NSW Department of Education and its personnel, contractors and agents to use, sublicense, publish, reproduce, communicate and broadcast for the purposes of the competition, conduct of future competitions and purposes directly or indirectly related to such any third party material on a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free, fully paid up and irrevocable basis (consents shall include moral rights consents (and where applicable waivers) for the commission or omission of any act that may otherwise constitute an infringement of a third party’s moral rights); and
• the submission is not the subject of any litigation nor is it threatened by any claim or litigation.

14. Indemnity

The applicants shall hold the NSW Department of Education and its related companies, personnel, contractors, and agents harmless and release them from any liability on an ongoing basis regarding any loss, expense, cost (including full indemnity), or damages that may arise from any claim by the applicant or a third party alleging infringement of their intellectual property or moral rights due to any activity or omission by the NSW Department of Education, its related companies, personnel, contractors, agents, and the applicant in relation to the competition.

15. Limitation of Liability

The NSW Department of Education makes no representations or warranties as to the quality, suitability or merchantability of any goods or services offered as prizes. To the extent permitted by law, the NSW Department of Education is not liable for any loss suffered to person or property by reason of any act or omission, deliberate or negligent, by the NSW Department of Education.