Support 6 Local Companies in Using AI Technology to Assist in Animation Production
Showcases at Annecy Festival and Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA) 2025
HONG KONG, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Organised by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the “2nd Future Animation – AI-Assisted Animation Production Support Scheme” (“2nd Future Animation” Scheme) is a pioneering initiative aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (“AI”) into animation production. This year, the scheme has allocated over HK$5 million to support six selected local companies, each receiving up to HK$850,000 in subsidies and expert guidance to apply Artificial intelligence tools in creating original animated works. The goal is to explore AI’s capabilities in original animation produced in Hong Kong, drive innovation, and open up new business opportunities.
The opening ceremony of the “Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)” by the “Future Animation” Scheme was successfully held at the Annecy Festival and Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA) 2025
HKDEA once again sets up the “Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)” at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA 2025 in France. From 10th to 13th June 2025, the six companies selected under the “2nd Future Animation” Scheme showcase their AI-assisted original animations at MIFA, demonstrating the creativity and production strengths of Hong Kong Companies to the global market.
The six local companies selected under the “2nd Future Animation” Scheme are honoured to participate in the prestigious event. The opening ceremony of the “Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)”, organized under the scheme, took place on 10th June 2025, bringing together industry leaders and international guests, including Mrs Lowell CHO, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries to celebrate the convergence of Hong Kong’s creative animation and AI technologies.
During the 4-day exhibition of the “Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)”, the six selected companies under the scheme engage and exchange ideas with animation enterprises from around the world. In addition, the “Hong Kong Partner Pitches” held on 11th June 2025 offer these companies a valuable opportunity to present their projects to international industry professionals and investors, aiming to foster overseas collaboration and attract investment opportunities. This participation also allows them to broaden their horizons and showcase the innovation and creativity of Hong Kong’s animation industry to the international market.
As one of the most historic and largest international animation festivals, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA 2025 has been highly regarded by professionals worldwide. A series of activities takes place this year in Annecy, France from 8th to 14th June 2025, including 4-day MIFA which is a significant annual trade fair for the animation industry, held from 10th to 13th June 2025. The “2nd Future Animation” Scheme sets up the “Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)” at the MIFA to help Hong Kong’s animation industry explore new business opportunities.
Details of the Hong Kong Pavilion’s Exhibition, Opening Ceremony and the “Hong Kong Partners Pitches” at the “Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA 2025” are as follows:
Exhibition at Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)
Date: 10th to 13th June 2025
Time: Start from 9:00am
Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA)’s Opening Ceremony
Date: 10th June 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm (Including networking cocktail party)
Venue: Stand C.42, MIFA, Annecy Festival
Hong Kong Partners Pitches
Date: 11th June 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
Venue: Berlioz Room, 3rd Floor, Impérial Palace
For more information about the Hong Kong Pavilion (MIFA) at the “Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA 2025”, please visit the website:
https://programme.annecyfestival.com/en/program?date=2025-06-09&page=1
“2nd Future Animation – AI-Assisted Animation Production Support Scheme”
In today’s fast-paced world, people can leverage AI as a tool to significantly enhance work efficiency, enabling them to produce works in better quality with limited resources. Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) aims to support the industry in seeking breakthroughs and fostering innovation in animation production through the “2nd Future Animation” Scheme. By exploring and applying AI’s potential in assisting animation production, the scheme seeks to nurture exceptional works and open up new business opportunities.
Building on the remarkable achievements of the first scheme, the “2nd Future Animation” Scheme received an overwhelming response, with numerous qualified applications. The judging committee conducted rigorous assessments and interviews based on creativity and originality, design and artistic quality, storytelling ability/visual impact, as well as the companies’ track record, capacity to produce the proposed work, technical capability of mastering AI on production, and commitment to the program. Ultimately, six local companies were selected to receive subsidy.
The “2nd Future Animation” Scheme provides comprehensive support to the six selected local companies, helping them enhance their animation production capabilities and develop AI application technologies. Each selected company is granted a maximum subsidy of HK$850,000 to produce a 15-20 minutes long animation work assisted by AI. In addition, the companies receive expert mentoring, allocating two interns from relevant institutions, and access to training on AI-related legal risks, intellectual property, the latest AI tools and trends, as well as experience-sharing seminars.
List of six selected companies of “2nd Future Animation – AI-Assisted Animation Production Support Scheme” (arranged in alphabetical order by company name)
|
Company Names |
Work Title |
Animation Synopsis |
|
924 Studio Limited |
Kill Danny 1999 |
This is a short animation firm named: kill Danny 1999. Which is the third part of the Kill Danny trilogy, a Hong Kong Action-comedy themed IP. The studio aimed to play tribute to the golden-era of Hong Kong film art and recreate the genre, with the world of Kill Danny. The story is about Iron-Fist enjoying his morning with his beloved dog, Popo. Some strange visions kept running though his head…when he woke up, he saw his dog had been hit by a car…And he started his journey of revenge, with his new got power…however, was everything just simply a coincidence? |
|
Astro Heart Limited |
The Dream of Helena |
This is a story about Helena chasing her dream. A chance discovery in the library sparks her interest in astronomy. Despite her efforts, she faces social challenges and unfair treatment. How will she overcome obstacles and find the strength to move forward? |
|
Free D Workshop |
Roboy |
The story is set at the edge of a vast desert, where a grumpy mechanic is thrust into a chaotic adventure when a nuclear-powered robot crash-lands at his repair station and a stranded rescue team member commandeers his vehicle for an urgent mission. Joined by a magnetic robot with a mysterious past, this misfit team must navigate treacherous forests, unravel the secrets of a catastrophic power station shutdown, and overcome bizarre challenges—from malfunctioning machines to personal conflicts. With its blend of humor, striking visuals, and heartfelt storytelling, this high-voltage adventure sparks an unforgettable journey of growth and unexpected friendships. |
|
ManyMany Creations Ltd |
Nine |
The story is about the main character waking up on time, starting work on time, leaving the office on time, having meals on time, and going to sleep on time. He works in a micro space station on a tiny moon orbiting a mega planet—day after day, night after night. Is it real? Is it life? He never thinks about questions like these—until she shows up. She wants to disrupt his routine. She tries to short-circuit him. Why does she want to do that? Can she succeed in saving him from this loop? |
|
Morph Workshop |
Silili & Tree |
The desire for balance seems to be a fundamental aspect of our nature, deeply rooted in our genes… Silili & Tree is a story delving into the idea of balance—not just for individuals, but also for communities and the wider world. By seeking balance, Silili harnesses the power of frequency and resonance to embark on a transformative journey toward becoming a tree spirit. From the moment she left her mother tree, she—like the other elves—was searching for an ideal to become. However, she didn’t realize that her journey had inadvertently harmed one tree while saving the plants of an entire island… |
|
Stepc |
Depths of Light |
The story is about what happens when matter collides, light is born—but what kind of light? What form will it take? These are not choices we can make… |
For details about “2nd Future Animation – AI-Assisted Animation Production Support Scheme”, please visit our website: https://futureanimation.com.hk/.
About Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA)
Established in 1999, HKDEA is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote digital entertainment development in Hong Kong. Its mission points toward the achievement of the following goals – boosting prosperity of the digital entertainment industry by fostering cooperation among local developers; opening up and development of digital market; enhancement of local technology so as to raise the competitiveness of Hong Kong production; promoting communication between digital entertainment industry and other related industries such as toys, entertainment and visual games; building a favourable image for digital entertainment; and protection of intellectual property rights and scrapping counterfeit products.
For more information, please visit HKDEA’s website at www.hkdea.org
About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.
CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk
