Kids Animate PSAs at Camp TELETOON

Twelve young people, ages 8-12 will be able to animate public service announcements (PSAs) of their choosing at CAMP TELETOON in Vancouver, at a 10-day workshop, Aug. 23-Sept. 3, 2004. In a series of hands-on workshops, the youths will develop three broadcast-quality, animated PSAs for broadcast on the TELETOON Network starting in October 2004. This community-based initiative is a partnership program between Vancouver-based Arts Umbrella Scholarship Program, Canadian broadcaster TELETOON and Vancouver’s Studio B Productions.

Held in the media lab at Arts Umbrella on Granville Island and at Studio B in Vancouver, the students will work in three groups to create the animated PSAs. Using cutouts, clay animation and hand drawn special effects, these young animators will take this process from storyboard though to final edits at Studio B.

Arts Umbrella is Canada’s visual and performing arts institute for young people, ages 2-19. Now in its 25th year, Arts Umbrella’s mission is to foster the creativity of young people by providing the highest quality visual and performing arts education that inspires their intellect, spirit and passion. Arts Umbrella offers 260 classes per week to introduce young people to theater arts, dance, painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, filmmaking, animation, media arts, photography and more.

TELETOON is Canada's first and only 24-hour-a-day animation station, for both children and adults. With English and French language services, TELETOON offers viewers classic cartoons and new animation from Canada and around the world. Founded in 1997, TELETOON is owned by Canada's Astral Media Inc. (40%), Corus Entertainment Inc. (40%) and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. (20%). For more information, visit www.teletoon.com [1].

Studio B is an award-winning animation studio that has produced more than 150 half hours of original programming including YVON OF THE YUKON, WHAT ABOUT MIMI?, D'MYNA LEAGUES, which currently airs in some 22 countries around the world. Studio B’s international co-productions include SOMETHING ELSE and YAKKITY YAK, which airs on Nickelodeon U.S. The studio is producing 26x22 episodes of BEING IAN for YTV. Please visit www.studiobproductions.com [2] for more information.