Cartoon buff wins animation contest

Watching cartoons can also be academically beneficial.

Teenage cartoon buff Sarviin Ageelan, 14, proved that watching too much cartoon does not hamper success.

The habit instead inspired him in his prize-winning short animation The Shocking Truth! in the 2010 Toon Creator Awards, organised by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Cartoon Network.

The Form Three student from SMK Taman Inderawasih (SMKTI) here was named Malaysia's winner in the individual category.

He took home the grand prize, a HP Touchsmart 600 personal computer.

His animation, which featured his favourite Cartoon Network characters such as Ben 10, impressed the jury and the public who voted for his work online.

Sarviin, who also won limited edition items from the Ben 10 and Powerpuff Girls collections such as a quad bike, watch, speakers, and walkie-talkie, said he never expected to win the competition.

"This success is not mine alone. It also belongs to my friends T. Arvinthran, S. Ugeesh and Thomas, who helped me with the animation clip, and my school," he said.

He said he took 45 days to complete the production of the animation.

He had to spend a lot of time watching animated films, as well as getting his friends to contribute their ideas.

"I managed to get it done with the help of my friends, using the online interactive programme on HP's website," he said.

SMKTI also won three HP TouchSmart 600 personal computers for being the school with the highest number of participants in the nationwide online animation competition.

The Toon Creator Awards is organised for schoolchildren aged 6 to 14 across the Asia Paafic region.

The competition encouraged children to show their creativity by directing their short animation clips featuring characters from Cartoon Network's popular series such as Ben 10: Alien Force, Chowder and The Powerpuff Girls.

HP marketing and communication manager Kenneth Low, who presented the prizes, said the response from schools in Malaysia was very encouraging, with over 3,000 participants.

He said the competition is expected to continue this year due to the great response from schools and young creators.

Source http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/17pg3tun-2/Article/

SAMI NASI TAUNTS MAN U: YOU DON'T HAVE THE X FACTOR

SAMI NASRI last night lit the touch paper for a potentially explosive six pointer at Old Trafford tomorrow by telling Manchester United: You’ve lost the spark that made you great.

Arsenal’s in-form Frenchman threw down the gauntlet ahead of a vital game by implying that Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are not as dangerous or talented as Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez when they worked their magic at Old Trafford.

“Manchester United are not the same team as before with Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez,” he claimed. “It was a little bit scary to play at Old Trafford then but now I don’t think offensively they are the same as before.”

And in a clear swipe at his fellow countryman Patrice Evra, the midfielder warned that Arsenal will make him eat the words he uttered when he suggested that it was men against boys after United knocked them out of the Champions League semi-final in 2009.

Says Nasri: “We will see on Monday. We will show him that we grow up.

“Every team is difficult to beat now, but we won’t complain. We’re top of the league and we’ll enjoy it.”

Nasri is confident that Arsenal can end their five-year silverware famine.

“It’s our best chance to win something. Everybody is more mature and for the first time as well we don’t have too many people injured,” added the Frenchman.

Source http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/216968/Sami-Nasi-taunts-Man-U-You-don-t-have-the-X-Factor