Running from November 28 to 30, AAS 2018 featured 30 of the best new animation concepts for kids from South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, China and New Zealand, pitched live over the three days to an audience of buyers and investors. The event is designed to help producers find co-production partners and financing within APAC, and also make connections with international buyers and investors. Roughly 250 delegates attended this year.
Over the past six years, around 50% of projects that have debuted at AAS have eventually gone into production, including Bluey (2017), Bottersnikes & Gumbles (2012), Kuu Kuu Harajuku (2013), Wonderballs (2012) and Balloon Barnyard (2014).
The most popular 2018 project with broadcasters we canvassed was Sea of Love (pictured) from Thailand’s The Monk Studios. Aimed at ages three to six, the project consists of 26 x seven-minute episodes and takes a look at preschool life below the ocean’s surface, through the adventures of and lessons learned by a group of fishy friends.
Execs from Netflix, Amazon, Nickelodeon, ABC Australia and Super RTL all loved the project and are interested in seeing more.
“Sea of Love stood out,” says Aaron Davidson, a development exec from Amazon Studios. “The four leads felt authentic and believable, like real kids on the playground.”
“Sea of Love was beautiful—very soft, very gentle, and I loved all of the characters,” says Syahrizan Mansor, a VP at Nickelodeon Asia. “It’s very nice, and fits into everybody’s schedule, but what is it that pops out? I think that needs to be worked on. It needs a special hook, but the characters are all perfect.”