N.E.mation!11 Top 10 Finalists - Team #NE11C10, Passionfruit

If you missed out my previous posts, I'm here to tell you (again) that this year, I'm honoured to be able to interact with 5 of out 10 finalist teams of N.E.mation! 11 instead of the usual 2 teams.

The theme for this year is Together We Keep Singapore Strong. And item 4 - The Umbrella, represents the initial idea and story that team Passionfruit came up with. The umbrella was the perfect analogy of a shield to protect our people from external danger and harm.

 

And that is what the 2D animation piece of the girls from team Passionfruit is about! Meet Yolanda, Maybelle, Mabel and Pamela from Evergreen Secondary School. They met each other through serving as prefects in their school. 

​​SML

​​SML

  

Their 2D animation revolves around how the Singaporeans selflessly step forward to shield and defend those around them, including some of Singapore's recent iconic scenes.

Like many of the students from the other teams, these girls had zero design and animation experience coming into the competition, except for their art lessons in school. They admitted that at first they felt stressed and worried about having to create their own animation from scratch, but after persevering and through, they actually started to enjoy the process of creating their own animation!

​​SML

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I can't wait for their finished animation to be screened, as I have a feeling that it will definitely touch many of our Singaporean hearts!

To find out more about Team Passionfruit, follow their instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/teampassionfruit/

Alternatively, you may catch their blog, together with the postings of all other Top 9 teams on http://nemation.sg.

Official hashtag: #NE11C10.
(We'll be using this code to vote for this team!)

Team 10 Passionfruit,
go go go!

This post is also posted on www.mintLeong.blogspot.sg.

N.E.mation! 11 Top 10 Finalists- Team #NE11C02, Cedar3

Once again, thank you for this opportunity to have closer interactions with the finalist teams of N.E.mation! 11.  Previously, I'd released a mix-and-match activity on one of my posts, asking you to try and match 5 random items belonging to five different teams.

Each item is either a part or a source of inspiration of the team's animation story which brings out an important message about Total Defence. The theme for N.E.mation! 11 is Together We Keep Singapore Strong. 

Let's reveal the next item and its connection with its team.

Item 1 - Blood Bags

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These blood bags are actually props belonging to Team 2, cedar3.

cedar3, cedar3...

Doesn't this name rung a bell? 

That's right! 

cedar3 was one of the Top 10 finalists LAST YEAR and the team's back for a 2nd run. The girls always create such incredible and appealing stories for N.E.mation. For this run, they looped in a new team member.  Meet Kaila!

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Members of cedar3 from left to right: Kaila, Kayla, Tanya, GL

Photo grabbed from Nemation!11 Facebook Page

It's funny how I keep thinking that Tanya, Kayla and Kaila look like sisters (even their names sounded like they are from the same family) and GL is their cousin. *imagination runs wild*

The story behind how these girls named their team was so funny. When they were asked to submit their entries for the qualifying rounds, they used group names which represented their school for easy reference. E.g. Cedar1, Cedar2, Cedar3, Cedar4 etc. And after they got into the finals, the puzzled girls didn't know that they could actually change their group name, so they got stuck with Cedar3 in the end!

"However we changed all the letters to lowercase this year if you noticed," said Tanya. 

I think the name 'cedar3' brings them luck and inspiration in my opinion so welcome back, Team cedar3! I'm exhilarated to be your appointed ambassador once more!

The Animation Story from cedar3

We all know that blood is essential for good health as it is the key transportation system in our body to provide a steady supply of fuel and oxygen to reach billions of cells. It also carries carbon dioxide and other waste materials to the lungs, kidneys, and digestive system; from there they are removed from the body. Blood can also help save lives via blood transfusions.

So what else can blood do? 

Blood, can tell stories...

The story, from cedar3 about keeping Singapore strong, revolves around the importance of blood.

The girls will be using live action & 2D animation techniques in their animation clip this year.

I had the chance to peek into some of their clips and certainly look forward to the final reveal of their 'blood' story. 

Hint: When liquid drops on something, they spreadddd...

Becoming Stronger Together

After interacting with the girls, I feel that they have become more matured, disciplined and more independent as compared to the first run where they were up and running about most of the time. This time round they were more focused on completing their tasks and sticking to their timeline before making friends and giving encouragement to the other teams. I also observed that they are more mentally prepared as they carefully managed their expectations for this contest. 

Still, we wouldn't miss out the fun-learning process along the way, would we?

The girls are one of the most active instagrammers amongst the Top 10 teams, posting little snippets of their jovial character and closely knitted friendships. During my last visit, I even bumped into Tanya trying to do a cartwheel along the corridor while GL was trying to get a shot of her doing that. They are using their previous instagram account.

Check out the instagram posts of cedar3 here: 

https://www.instagram.com/_cedar3/

Official Hashtag: #NE11C02

(We'll be using this hashtag to vote for cedar3 in the contest)

Alternatively, visit http://nemation.sg to read their blog.

Members of cedar3 are not just good players. They also make a good team. 

All the best darlings!

This post is also posted on www.WeAreOneFirst.com/MintLeong.

N.E.mation! 11 Top 10 Finalists - Team #NE11C01, [Blank Space]

Hey everyone!

This year, it's to my delight that I'll having closer interactions with top 5 of out 10 finalist teams of N.E.mation! 11 instead of the usual 2 teams. From the previous post on my visit to the competition production site at Nanyang Polytechnic, did you manage to mix-and-match the 5 random items belonging to five different teams?

Each item is either a part or a source of inspiration of the team's animation story which brings out an important message about Total Defence. The theme for this year is Together We Keep Singapore Strong. 

Let's reveal the following item and its connection with its team.

Item 5 - Characters from the Sylvanian Families

*Drum roll please*

Item 5 belongs to Team 1 - [Blank Space]!

Team [Blank Space]  consists of 4 Secondary two students from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School. They are going on Sec 3 in the new year and this is their first time taking part in a national competition. The girls' friendships began in when they were put in the same ICT class in school. They shared with me how surprise they were when their team name was announced in the Top 10 list! One can still feel the excitement trembling in the voices as they speak.  

How [Blank Space] Came About

You would think that they are fans of Taylor Swift when you first hear their team name. On contrary, they only figured out this relation of their team name with Taylor Swift's hit song titled Blank Space AFTER they had decided on the name. 

'Blank Space' came about during the registration part. The girls couldn't think of any team name for themselves and hence, they name their team after the blank field where they had to fill in their team name. 

#LikeThatAlsoCan

No matter what, I think we should still invite them to do Taylor Swift's Blank Space cover on my next visit or something, heh-heh-heh.

Meet the girls!

From left to right: Hui Xin, Adilah, Olivia, Jing Yi

4 Girls But Everything About 'FIVE'

If I remembered correctly, these humble girls also randomly mentioned how they were already planning for their quickest exit during the announcements of the Top 10 results. Being in Top 10 was a huge pleasant surprise! Not only are they in the top 10 of this competition right now, they are also the team who is using the MOST media platforms to showcase their animation clip. We're talking about a total of FIVE media platforms and they include:

Paper Cut

Live Action

Clay

Sewing

2D Animation 

Coincidentally, their story evolves around the story of human FIVE fingers and based on the functionality of each respective finger, the girls decided to represent the FIVE different pillars of Total Defence to each finger.

So many fives. 

555

(Hey, this means 'hahaha' in thai)

Wait, I just realise another coincidence.

I've been paired up with 5 different teams this year and that I had placed their item in the 5th order in sequence in my mix-and-match game, wow!

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

This write-up contains so much laughter, I'm laughing so hard right now.

More interesting fun facts are going to be revealed in this post so read on.

......

Jokes aside.

The girls became really serious when I asked about their work and crafts. 

Using the apparels from the characters of the Sylvanian Families, as well as some other relevant fabrics, the girls braved through and completed their first sewing sessions in life. I think they faired pretty well looking at the finished products. The team told me that sewing was difficult to master as they've never done any prior to this contest. They got their fingers pricked a few times while working on their sewing.

The team was fully engrossed in paper-cutting when I stepped in for a visit.

It's undeniable that these 4 girls has got to be some of the most hardworking students when you find out the vast amount of efforts they put in to their research before their story pitch. 

Not only were they exhilarated to share with me about the anatomy of human fingers, the team could also describe the functionality of each finger in detail. By the way, the girls even turned these dense information into interesting fun facts for me. The reason behind making these scientific research was simple; so that they could make better judgement when it comes to matching each finger representation with the significance of each Total Defence pillar. 

Team [Blank Space] had also incorporated true Singapore stories into their clip. One of such stories you'll notice in the clip is about a church, opening up its carpark grounds for muslim worshippers to park their cars for their Friday prayers as there weren't enough parking lots nearby. Little acts of kindness goes a long way. The was the link to the article introduced by the girls, click HERE. 

To find out more about Team [Blank Space] , follow their instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/_blankk.spacee_/

Alternatively, you may catch their blog, together with the postings of all other Top 9 teams on http://nemation.sg.

Official hashtag: #NE11C01.

(We'll be using this hashtag to vote for [Blank Space]!

Team 1 [Blank Space], 

go go go!

[Mint.Music.Lifestyle] Oooosh, N.E.mation! 9 Has Begun!

Hello from Hong Kong!

First of all, I'd really like to apologize for accidentally reformatting my memory card.

All the photos I took at the Nemation! 9 Top 100 Pitching event from my camera are gone!!!

(And the ones I took at Doubletree by Hilton in JB too!) 

Fortunately I still have a few of selfies left on my iPhone!

*selfies alert*

N.E.MATION! 9 TOP 100 Pitching

It's my first time attending a pitching session. I'm thankful to be able to listen to the students share their ideas from the initial pitching. Since N.E.Mation!5, I have only been able to actively participate in the top 10 production, so it is really just a glimpse of what the rest of the students actually have to share.

To me, being able to follow N.E.Mation!9 through from the top 100 pitching is indeed an amazing experience, and there is aways so much to learn from their stories and determination. 

As a typical Singaoorean would say: "Pattern 多过 badminton".

These students really put in a lot of effort in preparing for the pitching, to make sure that they leave a lasting impression on the judges. 

Photo grabbed from N.E.mation! Instagram.

At the end of the day, my heart felt recharged and filled with passion once again.

These students, chasing their dreams and doing their best to get into Top 10.

Who says that they are the 'strawberry generation'?

They have so much more to give than you can imagine.

These students are patriotic, grateful and dedicated, no less.

= Random Team 1 =

This all girls'  team did a research on Singapore's Pioneer Generation and found a rare write up of this veteran nurse who has been caring for the patients at IMH for 40 years. 

They shared how Sister Gali (Ms Therese Ann Galistan, 62 years old) inspired them by taking up this challenge to take care of her patients at the Institute of Mental Health. 

It's a job which a lot of younger nurses wouldn't want to do yet she takes pride in her work. 

They credit her for her contribution in the society and planned to work on doing more research about her. She is still alive today.

If not for this team, I would never have known Sister Gali and her amazing contributions towards Singapore. 

KUDOS!

Article of Sister Gali I found online: 

http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/case-you-missed-it/story/40-year-nursing-veteran-caring-the-ill-the-days-woodbridge-20?page=12

= Random Team 2 = 

This team is one of the most passionate teams I've met that day.

First of all, they've prepared so much props from boards, flip charts, drawings to staging up a short skit (lying on the floor,  rolling on the floor), to singing their own composition and even blowing baby powder into mid air to mimmick a haze situation!

Determined I'd say. 

Well prepared.

Take a look at the highlights of the Top 100 Pitching.

This year, the top 20 teams of N.E.mation! 9 also received a token of appreciation from the organisers!

Watch the highlights of the Top 22 Super Pitching here.

Fascinating storyboards and one can tell just how much preparation they made all in a week's time.

After a week of pitching and waiting here they are,
the top 10 teams of N.E.mation! 9.

  

Team Name	School
Acrylics	Raffles Instituition
AlphaCrescent	Crescent Girls’ School
Believed Beliefs	CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
Chunky Monkeys	Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Elemonators	CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
HigherThanYou	Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
IDK	Raffles Girls School (Secondary)
JJKN59	Kent Ridge Secondary School
Millennium Dragons	CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
wasd	Commonwealth Secondary School

CONGRATULATIONS TEAMS!

I'm sorry I couldn't be there to follow through the pitching because I'm in Hong Kong but the videos and pictures which the organisers have put up on the website and instagram really kept me updated of the whole process.

Thank you!

Visit N.E.mation! 9 website now.

Click HERE.

N.E.mation! is also on FACEBOOK.

The nugget size feeds of N.E.mation! 9 are found on instagram HERE.

Top 10 teams, I can't wait to congratulate you in person soonest.

Go Go Go!

[Advertorial] N.E.mation! 7 Animation Clips Just Gets Better & More Creative!

Running for the seventh year, N.E.mation! is a digital animation
competition organized by Nexus for youths to creatively express
their thoughts on Total Defence.

Logo source: http://www.totaldefence.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/about_td/td_logo_icons.html


During the December holidays, students would have given themselves a good rest, a vacation, watched TeeWee etc. My V-Singer Classmates and I underwent vocal lessons & they're hard work have paid off; Both my 15 year-old classmates are now the Top Elites of V Singer 2012-- performing for upcoming V Singer Elites Contest all the way till March 2013!

I know of another 10 teams of students who have worked through the December holidays to bring their stories to life by producing one-minute animation clips based on the theme, “Together We Overcome”.

Yes, they overcame all odds and now,

The Top 10 Animation Clips are ready for the world!

Every year, I'll view the N.E.mation! clips and be awed by how much their animation clips just get better & more realistic. I attended their stop-motion animation workshop before and it really wasn't an easy task at all though it was really fun; using Plasticine to tell a worm story with a deadline to meet: http://mintleong.blogspot.sg/2010/11/nemation-5-its-not-just-worm-issue.html.

Needless to say, the production area I visited then looked like a war zone: everyone rushing to beat the time but at the same time presenting their best works: http://mintleong.blogspot.sg/2010/12/behind-scenes-of-nemation-5_14.html

So let's all give credits to the Awesome-st Top 10 teams who overcame the challenges they faced and came so far. Against all odds, I present:

I personally think people grow up & mature really fast when we go through a competition.

All the laughter & tears you collected along the journey, the friendships, memories and experiences are for yours to keep; for life.

So to all N.E.mation!7 teams who have burned their Dec holidays for this meaningful contest:
Kudos to you and well done!

Not only that, the N.E.mation!7 Ambassadors have visited the production site &; shared with us plenty of insights and the production processes of the teams. Read behind-the-scenes: http://nemation.sg/n-e-mation-journey-season-7/n-e-mation-7-interviews-visits-and-ambassadors/

Now, it's our turn to do something for these wonderful people.

Help VOTE for not 1, not 2 but 3 of your favourite teams today!
Not only that, stand to win something for yourself too!

Voting starts today, 18 January 2013.
Voting ends 7 February 2013.


Click on this link http://qrop.it/cr6u07 on your PC or mobile devices (yes, N.E.Mation! is now smartphone-friendly!)  to watch all 10 clips, vote for your favourite THREE clips and stand to win these attractive prizes:

There are 4 different methods to vote:

1. From your PC
2. Via Facebook
3. On your mobile phone
4. via SMS to 76677

Tip-off: All types of voting are counted.
You can vote using all above mentioned FOUR methods but only ONCE on each platform.
In other words, you have up to 4 votes for the same clip but using 4 different methods!

More type of voting method = more chance to win something
(because you have done more good deeds yah?)

Meaning you will have a total of 4 chances to win the above prizes from iPad, X box 360 with Kinect, Canon Camera & more if you vote using all the 4 methods mentioned!

Oh oh before I forget, the SMS format should be done in this way:

NE7WEB [1ST CHOICE], [2ND CHOICE], [3rd CHOICE]NRICFULL NAME  

Example: NE7 WEB C01 C02 C03 S1234567A BEN TAN WEI CHEN

• Those below 21 years of age must seek parental consent to participate in the SMS Voting. 
• Standard SMS rate applies.
• Please note that each vote must be for three different N.E.mation! 7 clips.

Calling all Kind Souls to gather your resources, your friends & family members.
These awesome students need your kind support & recognition today.

Visit http://qrop.it/cr6u07 NOW and start voting!