Animation projects introduced to schools

Animation projects introduced to schools

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"Animation is fun," said one of the 150 students crammed onto a
basketball court at Don Bosco High School in Kelapa Gading, East
Jakarta, ignoring the teachers' demand that only 100 students
attend the screening of the animation production, Loud Me Loud.

Laughs, screams and grunts could be heard occasionally during
the film that clearly captured the students' attention.

"How long does it take to produce a piece of animation?" asked
one of the students, Marisa, during the discussion after the
screening last weekend.

"What is the meaning of the film?" asked another student
critically.

Students at Don Bosco High School and some other high schools
in Jakarta are being introduced to animation projects and how
they are made to raise awareness and appreciation for animation
and other visually creative forms.

The Vision of the Children of Nation (VAB), a working group
seeking to invoke Indonesia's sense of nationality through visual
media, is taking this project to 10 different high schools in
Jakarta between May and September in its campaign "Anime goes to
school."

The schools are SMU Don Bosco, SMUN 34, SMU Gonzaga, SMU Al
Azhar I, SMUN 8, SMU Kanisius, SMU Bina Nusantara, SMU Pangudi
Luhur, SMUN 78 and SMU Al Izhar.

"We specifically chose to use popular culture to get young
people to visualize the concept of the new Indonesia," said Agus
Pambagio, president of VAB.

He told The Jakarta Post that his group had designed a plan to
award some Rp 150 million (US$16,853) in production money to
anyone who could come up with fresh ideas to be used in visual
arts.

He added that his working group had already given the award to
Studio Kasatmata, the maker of Loud Me Loud. With the money, the
studio, established by university students, plans to produce its
newest animation project, entitled "Homeland" by next year.

Riza Endartama, an animator who took part in the project said
that he wanted the high school students to consider the
opportunity seriously because working in animation can be a very
promising profession.

He said that Indonesia's animators garnered international
recognition as the popular Japanese cartoon Dora Emon, is partly
produced here.

"A few years ago, schools for animators were unheard of, but
now, there are probably three of four non-degree schools for
animators," he said.

Ratih Andhita, a first year student from Don Bosco said that
the program held by VAB had opened her mind to the possibility of
exploring animation, but had not provided clear direction. "We
cannot experiment with animation because our school is not
equipped with the necessary facilities. We do not know what must
be done first."

Agus said, however, that his group planned to organize
workshops for animation in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and
Surabaya.

"These will only be at the university level. However, if we
see positive results on our trial in high schools, we may plan to
organize events for them next time," he said.