Animated film by Taiwanese director nominated for U.S. award

Los Angeles, April 25 (CNA) U.S.-based Taiwanese director Kuo Yen-ting's first animated film "Swing" has been nominated for a Student Academy Award, weeks after it won a prestigious prize in Tokyo. Kuo, in his late 20s, said he had been entering various kinds of competitions and clearly understood that each festival has a "different taste." Recognition from judges "both in the East and the West" had given him greater confidence to continue in his work, he said. "Swing" is a four-minute film that portrays how people influence the perspectives of those on the brink of death. Kuo said he chose death as the topic for his animated film because of his first experience of losing a family member -- his grandfather -- four years ago. His production is aimed at encouraging audiences to "reconsider life and death," he said. For his next production, Kuo wants to try comedy and create a Taiwanese superhero who could use Taiwan betel nuts as his or her weapon, he said. "Swing" won the Tokyo Big Sight Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2011, the largest animation fair in the world. Kuo, who was born in Taipei, was the first Taiwanese to win the award. He has a bachelor's degree in film production from Southern Taiwan University and a master's degree in animation from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. (By Leaf Jiang and Alex Jiang) ENDITEM /pc

Animated film by Taiwanese director nominated for U.S. award Los Angeles, April 25 (CNA) U.S.-based Taiwanese director Kuo Yen-ting's first animated film "Swing" has been nominated for a Student Academy Award, weeks after it won a prestigious prize in Tokyo.