CAEAA Announces Official Categories for the 2007 Elans

For immediate release

VANCOUVER March 2, 2007 - The 2nd Annual Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) have completed their list of Official Categories for the three industries the Elans award: Video Gaming, Animation, and Students of the Digital Arts.

On Monday, February 26th, the Producers of the CAEAA held panel discussions with Vancouver representatives from each industry individually. The Producers then took the resulting Category and Criteria selections from those meetings and sent them to all three sectors throughout Canada in order to further ensure that the 2007 Elans truly reflected the desires of the industries they were awarding. "The panels constituted a perfect cross-section of many companies and institutions from each industry," reports Holly Carinci, CAEAA Owner and Elans Producer. "I was very impressed with the way they determined the best categories for this coming year's awards. I observed Heads of Departments cut categories from their own field of expertise in order to make certain the awards best reflected their industry."

Each industry not only chose the Categories they wanted to see for the Canadian Awards, but also for the new International Awards that have been added to the 2007 Elans. "Including the rest of the world into our awards is an incredibly exciting addition for all involved," says Carinci. "The mere nature of these three sectors involves global technology and while we are setting out to define Canada's important role in these booming industries, we recognize the fact that communication between the countries is key, and what better way to accomplish that than through accolade."

This year the Submission for Nomination process will be held in two separate segments: Student Submission for Nomination opens Monday, March 5th and closes Friday, June 1st in order that they may have the assistance of their teachers with their work. The Animation and Video Game Submission for Nomination opens Monday, June 4th and closes Friday, August 31st.

The 2007 Elans will be held on Friday, November 2nd at The Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts. The state-of-the-art structure, regarded as the premiere entertainment facility in the city, will host the nearly 2000 worldwide guests and participants of this year's Elans, tripling the attendance of its inaugural year in 2006. The day following the glamorous Awards Night, the CAEAA Producers, along with their Event Partners Ernst & Young, Electronic Arts (EA), Autodesk and the British Columbia Provincial Government will host a very high-end networking day at their Official Hotelier The Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver (one of only two AAA Five Diamond Hotels in all of Canada) for the CEOs and Upper Management of companies and institutions from around the world who attended the 2007 Elans.

Other important players already onboard to support the 2007 Elans includes: Foundation 9/Backbone Entertainment, Radical Entertainment, next level games, Studio B Productions, Western Imperial Magnetics, David Kaye Productions, Selkirk College, The Art Institute of Vancouver, Emily Carr Institute, Sheridan College, Vancouver Film School, and Elan statuette artist Dean Lauzé of D'Arts as well as the Awards Auditing firm, Buckley Dodds & Assoc.s.

"As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Gaming and Animation come to Canada for their Elans."

- Holly Carinci, Producer, CAEAA

And the Categories are:

ELECTRONIC GAME CATEGORIES

1. GAME OF THE YEAR

The game released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

- outstanding overall quality

- outstanding game design

- demonstrates gameplay innovation

- 51% Canadian made (see Nomination Packet - Submission Eligibility - for criteria)

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME

The best game operated on a videogame console

- outstanding overall quality

-outstanding game design

- demonstrates gameplay innovation

3. BEST PC GAME

The best game operated on Windows or Macintosh OS based multipurpose computing system.

- outstanding overall quality

- outstanding game design

- demonstrates gameplay innovation

4. BEST NEW VIDEO GAME COMPANY

Category open to any new studio in Canada. Criteria to be posted soon.

5. BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE

Awarded to an individual or team for creative excellence for original musical composition and scoring in the field of animation.

- sound quality

- originality

- creative direction

6. BEST CHARACTER

Recognizes best overall character during the qualifying year.

- character appeal

- originality

- visual presentation

- animated realisation

7. BEST ART DIRECTION

Recognizes direction and implementation of cutting-edge visuals in relation to hardware/platform specs and limitations, or most innovative application of graphics techniques.

- overall visual quality

- visual diversity and range

- environment visuals

- character visuals

- effects implementation/presentation

- cut-scene visuals

- dependent on platform, leverage of technical capabilities (e.g. effects, bump/normal mapping, ray tracing, multiple light sources)

8. BEST HANDHELD GAME OF THE YEAR (psp, ds, etc...)

The best game developed for a wireless handset (device whose primary function is NOT voice communication)

- outstanding overall quality

- outstanding game design

- demonstrates outstanding achievement in game design

- demonstrates gameplay innovation

9. BEST GAME DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Recognizes best overall new game design released during the qualifying year. This category is adjudicated based on the implementation and coordination of design concepts in any type of electronic game.

- outstanding game design

- outstanding execution in control

- outstanding gameflow

- outstanding game mechanics

- outstanding game balance/tuning

10. BEST MOBILE/CASUAL/ARCADE GAME OF THE YEAR

Awarded to the best casual game (May be mobile, pay-for-play OR free game played on ANY platform) released during the qualifying year.

-entertainment value

-outstanding game design

-Canadian made

11. BEST WRITING FOR A GAME PRODUCTION

Awarded to a writer or team for outstanding achievement and creative excellence in game writing.

- must have received a screen credit as writer, writing team or design team

- story creativity

- story arc

- story originality

- character development

- ingame dialogue

- cutscene dialogue

PLUS:

VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME

Recipient (Individual) voted in by the Canadian Video Game Industry

OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN GAMING

Recognizes technical or creative innovation that will have a significant impact on future game development. Category is open for submission from anywhere in the world.

-demonstrates innovation that impacts future game development, e.g.: Defines a new genre or is a technological breakthrough impacting the game experience

**At the discretion of the selection committee this category may not be awarded in a given year if the committee does not feel there was a submission of sufficient quality

INTERNATIONAL VIDEO GAME OF THE YEAR

Same criteria as the CAEAA Game of the Year for any game produced and published outside of Canada.

ANIMATION CATEGORIES

1. BEST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION Awarded to a feature length animated production that exhibits overall excellence. (At least 44 minutes in length)

-creativity

-storyline development

-artistic impression

2. BEST ANIMATED PRODUCTION (Television Series)

Awarded to a television animated production that exhibits overall excellence. (Includes Educational)

-creativity

-storyline development

-artistic impression

3. BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT

Awarded to the short subject animated production that exhibits overall excellence. (This category must not exceed 20mins. No series will be permitted.)

-creativity

-storyline development

-artistic impression

4. BEST DIRECTION in a FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the Director who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence in directing a feature length (44 mins min.) animated production.

-must have received a screen credit as Director on a feature length animated production

-a team is also eligible provided they have received a screen credit as Director or Co-Director.

-awarded to the director or team of directors who have excelled in their field.

5. BEST DIRECTION in an ANIMATED TELEVISION SERIES

Awarded to the Director who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence in directing an animated television series segment.

-must have received a screen credit as Director on an animated television series segment.

-a team is also eligible provided they have received a screen credit as Director or Co-Director.

-awarded to the director or team of directors who have excelled in their field.

6. BEST MALE VOICE OVER IN AN ANIMATED FEATURE OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION

Awarded for the performance by a voice actor in an animated feature length or television production. The production must have a theatre or home entertainment release during the qualifying year.

-outstanding characterization

-overall performance and effect

7. BEST FEMALE VOICE OVER IN AN ANIMATED FEATURE OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION

Awarded for the performance by a voice actress in an animated feature length or television production. The production may have a theatre or home entertainment release during the qualifying year.

-outstanding characterization

-overall performance and effect

8. BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE

Awarded to an individual or team for creative excellence for musical scoring in the field of animation.

-originality

-creative direction

9. BEST SOUND DESIGN

Awarded to an individual or team for creative excellence for sound engineering in the field of animation.

-originality

-creative direction

10. BEST STORYBOARDING

Awarded to the Storyboard Artist or Team of Artists who exhibit outstanding achievement and creative excellence. Copies of the storyboard and a copy of the developed project will need to be submitted.

-Must have received a screen credit as Storyboard Artist in an animated production during the qualifying year.

-creativity

-clarity

-originality

11. BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN OR ART DIRECTION

Awarded to the Production Designer or Art Director who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence.

-Must have received a screen credit for either Production Designer or Art Director.

-This award may also be presented to a team having the afore-mentioned screen credits.

-outstanding creative design

12. BEST WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the writer or team who exhibited outstanding achievement and creative excellence in an animated production.

-must have received a screen credit as writer or writing team

-creativity

-story arc

-originality

-character development

PLUS:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career. The recipient will have creatively influenced their field of expertise. This is a lifetime achievement award and the winner has been working in the animation industry at least 15 years.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Criteria the same as CAEAA category. Recipient to be from anywhere outside of Canada.

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED PRODUCTION (Television Series)

Criteria the same as CAEAA category. Recipient to be from anywhere outside of Canada.

STUDENT ANIMATION AND ELECTRONIC GAME CATEGORIES

1. STUDENT ANIMATED OR MOTION GRAPHIC PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

Awarded to the student(s) animated, VFX or motion graphic production that exhibits overall excellence. (Must be at least 1 minute in length)

- Integration of CG and Live Action

-creativity

-storyline development

-artistic impression

- originality

-realism

-character

-emotional depth

- presentation

-graphic texture/quality/ variation

-lighting

-rendering quality

-effects implementation/presentation

-cut-scene quality

-minimal bugs/clipping/fog etc...

-advanced effects use (bump/normal mapping, ray tracing, multiple light sources, sheer numbers of polys/objects)

2. STUDENT GAME OF THE YEAR

The game that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack" designed during the qualifying year. (mods allowed)

-entertainment value

-outstanding game design

-original design

- must be both designed and produced within the qualifying year

-must be playable

3. BEST ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN/MUSICAL SCORE FOR AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION OR GAME

Awarded to an individual or team for creative excellence for original musical composition and scoring in the field of animation.

-sound quality

-originality

-creative direction

4. BEST Student ART DIRECTION - GAME PRODUCTION

Awarded to the student(s) who demonstrate excellence in game production design. Submissions will be judged upon persistence of the creative vision from concept development to final game production. Juror's will critique concept design, aesthetic cohesion, aesthetic relation to story, environmental design, lighting, mood, visual theme, etc.

-Originality

-Creativity

-Presentation

-Texture quality/variation

-World size/rendering quality

-Effects Implementation/presentation

-Cut-scene Quality

-Minimal bugs/clipping/fog etc...

-Advanced Lighting and Shading

5. BEST STUDENT ART DIRECTION - ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the student(s) who demonstrate excellence in animation, VFX and new media production design. Submissions will be judged upon persistence of the creative vision from concept development to final production. Juror's will critique concept design, aesthetic cohesion, aesthetic relation to story, environmental design, lighting, mood, visual theme, etc.

-Originality

-Creativity

-Presentation

-Texture quality/variation

-World size/rendering quality

-Effects Implementation/presentation

-Cut-scene Quality

-Minimal bugs

-Advanced Lighting and Shading

6. BEST STUDENT WRITING FOR AN ANIMATED OR GAME PRODUCTION

Awarded to the writer or team for outstanding achievement and creative excellence in the new media field (new media field includes: game, website, interactive application.)

-must have received a screen credit as writer or writing team

-creativity

-story arc

-originality -character development

PLUS:

"READY TO ROCKET" AWARD (ANIMATION AND GAMES)

Awarded to the student who exhibits the most promise in animation and video game. Special consideration will be given to overall quality of work and creative presentation. Recipient (Individual) voted in by the representatives from the Canadian Digital Art Institutions.

-presentation

-creativity

-delivery

-content

-originality

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Schools that excel in the education of Students in the fields of Animation and Video Gaming outside of Canada will be invited to submit the work of ONE student for consideration. The criteria for this award is the same as that of the CAEAA "Ready to Rocket" Award.

- end -

For more information on the second year of this high tech/high glam awards event, visit our new website at www.caeaa.com.

Contact: Holly Carinci, Producer dir: 604.921.4744 / cell: 604.218.3993

holly@caeaa.com

www.caeaa.com