The 12th Animation Support Program Awards Presentation Ceremony cum Premiere

Promising Local Start-ups & Small Animation Enterprises Collaboratively Exploring Business Opportunities & Strengthening the Competitiveness of Hong Kong's Animation Industry

HONG KONG, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the Animation Support Program (ASP) has been dedicated to nurturing local animation start-ups and small animation enterprises for many years. This year marks the program's 12th edition, continuing its mission by supporting 30 local animation enterprises with funding to create original works.

The Awards Presentation Ceremony cum Premiere was held on 20 May 2025 (Tuesday) at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. The ceremony celebrated the animators' dedication and achievements, boosted the morale of creative teams, and provided a platform for industry networking—further advancing the development of Hong Kong's cultural, creative, and digital entertainment sectors. 

The organizer invited Mr. LAU Chun, Raistlin, JP, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the Guest-of-Honour and officiating guest. Mr. Lau commended the HKDEA for successfully organizing the 12th ASP and congratulated all the winners. In addition, Mrs. CHO LAI Suk Ha, Lowell, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, and Mr. PANG Gabriel, Chairman of the HKDEA also attended the event.

Mr. PANG Gabriel, Chairman of the HKDEA, said, "For the past 12 years, ASP has been dedicated to nurturing local animation talent and promoting original animation works. Today's ceremony not only recognizes the animators' dedication but also serves as a key platform for industry exchange, showcasing local animation and inspiring the next generation of creators. Let us witness together the growth and future of Hong Kong's animation industry—and look forward to another 12 years of success."

The ASP fosters diversified growth among local animation enterprises; offering three funding categories tailored to different development stages. One category specifically supports Animation Start-ups (16 companies) while the other two support Small Animation Enterprises in Basic Productions and Advance Productions (14 companies). A total of 30 enterprises will receive up to HK$130,000 to HK$600,000 in funding to produce animations of at least 3, 5, or 10 minutes, depending on their category. 

Beyond financial assistance, the ASP provides participating enterprises with holistic support, including mentorship by industry veterans, technical training and business development programs. In addition to today's awards ceremony and premiere, one of this year's key initiatives was a curated showcase of the 30 funded animations at the "Hong Kong International Film 2025 (FILMART)" from March 17 to 20, 2025. These efforts empower animators to elevate their brands, expand their networks, and unlock new opportunities.

The premiere of the 12th ASP was held right after the award ceremony to showcase all 30 animations produced under the program. To review these 30 animations and to learn more about the 12th ASP, please visit the official website: www.animation-ssp.com.

List of participating animation enterprises and winners of the 12th ASP are as below.

Notes to editors:

List of Participating Animation Enterprises and Winners of the 12th Animation Support Program (in alphabetical order of company names, except the winners)

Tier 1: Animation Start-ups

Tier 2: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions

Tier 3: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Advanced Productions

Eligibility of Participants

Participating start-ups and small enterprises should be:

• local enterprises holding valid business registration certificates;
• enterprises with primary focus on animation production; and
• able to meet the requirements in the following table:

Vetting Committee Members of the 12^thASP (in no particular order)

Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association
Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild
Mr. Eddie Leung, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong
Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association
Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist
Mr. Toe Yuen, Animation Movie Director
Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter
Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association

Judging Panel Members of the 12^th ASP (in no particular order)

Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association
Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild
Mr. Eddie Leung, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong
Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association
Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist
Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter
Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association
Ms. Joycelyn Choi, General Manager, MOViE MOViE
Mr. Lam Kee To, Hong Kong Famous Script Writer
Mr. Kinson Cheung, Senior Lecturer, Caritas Institute of Higher Education
Mr. Naveen Ma, Dean of HK School of Animation & VFX

Mentors of the 12^th ASP (in no particular order)

Mr. Anthony Lee, Vice-President, Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild
Mr. Neco Lo, General Secretary, Hong Kong Animation and Cultural Association
Mr. Felix Ip, Animation Director / Comic Artist
Mr. Toe Yuen, Animation Movie Director
Mr. Wong Ying, Visual Effects Supervisor / Screenwriter
Mr. Eddy Hui, Honourary Secretary, Hong Kong Designers Association
Mr. Lam Kee To, Hong Kong Famous Script Writer
Ms. Polly Yeung, Movie / Animation Script Writer

About Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA)

Established in 1999, HKDEA is a non-profit organization 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 foster cooperation among local developers; opening up and development of digital market; enhancement of local technology as so to raise the competitiveness of Hong Kong production; promoting communication between digital entertainment industry and related ones such as toys, entertainment and visual games; building a favourable image for digital entertainment; and protection of intellectual property right 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

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SOURCE The Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association