iAcademy breaks into Top 20 of Disney, Netflix-backed animation contest

iAcademy, the premier school of STI Holdings, recently bagged the 12th spot in the 24-hour animation contest, which drew over 760 elite teams competing for recognition from entertainment giants Disney, Netflix, Toon Boom, Lucasfilm, and DreamWorks.

iAcademy BS Animation students Alexa Lising, Charlie Ann Luspo, Marianne Faith Amaro, and Mario Oliver Abano Bete, collectively known as the Team Dead Horse, submitted their short film entry titled "Love and War."

“What made this project truly unique was how our students transformed a complex theme into a visually poetic story. 'Love and War' stood out because it wasn’t just about animation technique; it was about telling a story with heart," said Monique Fandagani, Program Coordinator of iACADEMY’s BS Animation Program.

"That’s what iAcademy trains our students for: to create work that moves people and challenges how stories are told," she added.

The 24-hour animation contest for students is a global event where teams are challenged to create a 30-second animated film within a day, following the theme “Flip Your Perspective” written by Pixar’s Pete Docter.

The competition included top-tier international schools such as CalArts, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Sheridan College, with iAcademy standing as the only school from the Philippines to secure a spot in the Top 20 of the prestigious contest.

“Reaching the global stage alongside institutions recognized by Disney and other creative powerhouses proves that our vision at iAcademy is taking shape," said Hamill Buyco, Dean of iAcademy’s School of Design and the Arts.

"The recognition of our students among global names proves that Filipino creativity meets international standards of excellence." –NB, GMA Integrated News