The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is bringing the region’s animation industry to life at its Kre8tif! Conference & Content Festival 2017. In its 6th year, the two-day Conference will take place on 9 and 10 August 2017 at Cyberview Resort & Spa in Cyberjaya, followed with the first ever Content Festival that takes place on 11 and 12 August 2017 at the TSI Sports Arena, Cyberjaya.
This extended four-day extravaganza is an anchor event for the Cyberjaya 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dato’ Yasmin Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer of MDEC, enthused, “The animation and creative content industry have enormous potential, and it has become one of the main contributor to the national income over recent years. MDEC is already working towards building a healthy and vibrant digital economy as it continuously pushes boundaries to spur market growths. This event is critical to this relentless effort, providing great economic value-add for the nation. Indeed, the road ahead is a promising one and it is MDEC’s role to provide a platform for the industry to address expectations and real needs. Kre8tif! is the perfect avenue for us to provide that needed support and we are confident it will open more doors for Malaysia’s animation and creative content industry to flourish on the international stage.”
Kre8tif!: A Gathering of Leading Minds and Practitioners within the Creative Scene
The conference will see some of the top leaders in animation, broadcast, and content creation across the region, including Malaysia, gather to share the latest trends and innovations within the creative scene, digital technology, and more. With the theme ‘Emotion In Motion’, Kre8tif! reflects the passion of the industry in bringing their vision to life, while continuously perfecting the art-form. Over 500 participants from Malaysia, South Korea, India, China, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines are expected to take part. The four-day event is divided into three main areas: conference, business and markets networking session, and a content festival.
In regards to the event’s esteemed speaker line-up, Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Vice President of the Creative Content and Technologies (CCT) division at MDEC added, “Kre8tif! will initiate discussions around the latest technical insights, future-shaping trends, and best practices that will help the industry identify where it stands today and where it is headed. The speakers we have this year is a reflection of this forward growth – we have an amazing mix of local and international representatives, such as Dan Sarto from Animation World Network, Shazia Makhdumi from Google Play, and our very own animation veteran, Hassan Muthalib, who will be sharing valuable insights about this fascinating industry. For aspiring animators and content creators out there, Kre8tif! is definitely a must have experience.”
Full event schedule and list of speakers at Kre8tif! can be found at https://kre8tif.mdec.my/.
The opening ceremony also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Animasia Studio and education solutions provider, Sasbadi Holdings, for the exclusive worldwide publication rights to bring Animasia’s Chuck Chicken animation series into the publishing world via augmented reality (AR) books as well as comics.
“We see AR as a step forward for the animation and print industries to bridge the gap between still pages and animated or CGI visuals, bringing a whole new level of experience to the consumer market. The alliance between Animasia Studio and Sasbadi Holdings is a prime example of the aspiration we have in diversifying their intellectual properties beyond traditional interpretations,” shared Dato’Yasmin.
Kre8tif! Content Festival for the Whole Family
In celebration of the region’s finest animation content, the Kre8tif! Content Festival will be open to animation aficionados and the public from 11 to 12 August 2017, at the TSI Sports Arena, Cyberjaya. This inaugural festival will showcase some of the best animated and digital media content from independent local and international productions, in addition to various family-fun activities.
Visitors can expect an outdoor ‘wayang pacak’ movie screenings, merchandising booths, meet and greet sessions with animation mascots including Didi & Friends, Boboiboy and Ejen Ali, and special screening of Ejen Ali season two trailer. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance, priced at RM3 per person and RM10 for a family package consisting of two adults and two children.
Appetite for Animation and Creative Content Driving a Booming Industry in Malaysia
According to market research agency, Research and Markets, about 90% of all American television animation is produced in Asia, propelling the growth of an enormous industry that first begun in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, and now in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and China.
Under the purview of MDEC, the country continues to fulfil its massive potential in the animation and creative content industry. According to its MSC Performance for 2016, the CCT cluster, which includes animation, gaming and creative content, recorded its highest growth in export sales with a contribution of RM1.17 billion, of which RM567.86 million is attributed to animation and various form of production.
Today, there are over 150 studios in the country directly involved in various stages of animation, translating to 3,098 jobs opportunities for the industry.