GUIDELINES
Feinaki Odd Character Lab
Character Discovery Project Vol. 01
Submission Period: September 20–October 20
A character can live in an animation, a comic, a story, or a song. It can also be a face sketched from time to time, an unusual gesture, or a fleeting sensation that crosses your mind. It may be a little absurd, a little inexplicable, or fall outside mainstream aesthetics. But it must have a world of its own.
Since its founding, Feinaki Animation Week has continuously hosted its GIF Competition, where creators capture the wildest ideas from their minds in just a few seconds of motion. This time, we want to take things one step further: from GIFs to CHARACTERS.
A character can be a gateway—connecting imagination with the real world. When a character steps out of its original work and becomes an emoji in our conversations, a figurine on the dining table, or a charm on a backpack, it is no longer just an image. It begins to form relationships with people. Starting today, Feinaki Animation Week and Modern Sky are launching the first Character Discovery Project, an open call for characters from all members of the public. 20+ characters will be selected from the submissions to join the newly established Feinaki Odd Character Lab.
We have also invited Modern Sky musicians and animation creators to serve as Odd Character Observers. Bringing their own perspectives, they will join us in discovering more characters that deserve to be seen.
Awards
- Feinaki Odd Character Lab Residency × 20+
Selected and invited to join the Lab by its team from among the submitted characters.
- Best Character × 1
Selected jointly by this edition’s Odd Character Observers. Prize: RMB 5,000 - People’s Choice Award × 1
Selected through online public voting.Prize: RMB 2,000
- Observers’ Special Selections × 6
Each chosen by an individual Odd Character Observer as their favorite character.
Schedule
- September 20–October 20
Submission period
- October 21–October 26
Selected creators will be contacted by the Feinaki Assistant via WeChat: feinaki2019
- October 31–November 15
Online public voting
- November 16
Award results announced at the opening ceremony of the 8th Feinaki Animation Week
Established jointly by Feinaki Animation Week and Modern Sky, the Feinaki Odd Character Lab is dedicated to helping characters find more people who love them and creating more connections for them. Characters selected through each Character Discovery Project, as well as characters specially invited by the Lab, will join the Feinaki Odd Character Lab.
All copyright in a character remains fully with its creator after joining the Lab. The Feinaki Odd Character Lab receives only authorization to use character materials for display, promotion, and related event presentations.
Reach more people online
- Profiles of selected characters and their creators will be permanently featured in the Feinaki Odd Character Lab section of the Feinaki Animation Week official website.
- Characters will be showcased and promoted across the social-media platforms of Feinaki Animation Week and Modern Sky.
- The Feinaki Odd Character Lab’s offline space will appear from time to time at Feinaki Animation Week, Strawberry Music Festival events around China, and Modern Sky Live House venues. Selected characters will have opportunities for on-site display.
- Creators of selected characters will receive priority consideration for opportunities to create co-branded animations for Strawberry Music Festival. These animations will appear on large screens and in related visual content at Strawberry Music Festival events nationwide, bringing the characters to more audiences.
- Selected characters may have the opportunity to participate in the development of Feinaki Odd Character Lab co-branded merchandise. Collaboration arrangements will be discussed with creators, and sales revenue will be shared in accordance with the relevant agreement.
- Creators of selected characters may also have opportunities to collaborate with Modern Sky musicians on music videos, stage VJ visual design, artist-specific character commissions, and other projects—exploring more possibilities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Terms & Notes
- All submitted works must be original creations of the submitter. Submitters must ensure that they hold all necessary legal rights to their submissions and every element contained in them, and that their submissions do not infringe upon the lawful rights of any third party. If plagiarism or infringement is verified, Feinaki Animation Week reserves the right to revoke the creator’s Lab residency, awards, and related benefits. Any resulting legal liability shall be borne by the submitter.
- By submitting a work, the submitter agrees that Feinaki Animation Week, Modern Sky, and related events may display and publish the submitted character and related materials for the purpose of character promotion, including but not limited to use on official websites, social media, offline event sites, and related promotional materials. This authorization does not affect the submitter’s copyright or other lawful rights in the work.
- Works created with AI used as an assistive tool are also eligible for submission. However, submitters must truthfully disclose the scope, method, and extent of AI use, and retain relevant creation processes and records. Submitters must ensure that the work does not give rise to third-party intellectual-property disputes due to AI use, and remain responsible for the work’s originality and related rights.
- If a minor submits a work, their legal guardian must read and confirm the relevant rules of this event together with them, and assume the corresponding guardianship and authorization responsibilities.
- Submitters must ensure that all personal information, work information, and related materials provided are true, accurate, and complete. In cases of identity misuse, false information, or any other conduct that affects the fairness of the selection process, the organizers reserve the right to revoke the creator’s Lab residency, awards, and related benefits. Any resulting legal liability shall be borne by the submitter.
- Joining the Feinaki Odd Character Lab does not constitute a commitment or guarantee by the organizers regarding future collaborations. Opportunities for display, collaboration, and development will be made available to selected characters according to actual project circumstances. Specific collaboration terms, rights and obligations, and revenue-sharing arrangements will be separately discussed and agreed upon by the relevant parties.