The top finishers in the Caribbean Development Bank's (CDB) recently concluded 2013 VYBZING St. Lucia Animated Video Challenge will be attending the 2013 Jamaica KingstOOn Festival scheduled for June 20 - 21, 2013, thanks to sponsorship from the Bank. At the invitation of the World Bank, the first, second and third place winners; Marlan Edward, Darnell Lacan, Tevin Loctor and Dannal Casimar will be attending the two-day Animation Conference and Film Festival being held at the University of the West Indies' Mona Campus' Visitor's Lodge, Kingston. Sponsored by the Government of Jamaica, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Canadian High Commission, KingstOOn will bring together international leaders in the animation industry, including representatives of ToonBoom and BentoBox, as well as Jamaican animation studios and professionals, and visual arts students and practitioners, under the theme, ‘Animating Jamaica's Creativity.' Day one of the Festival features panel discussions and workshops focussing on ‘Developing a Career as an Animator' and ‘The Art of Character Development.' On Day two, topics such as ‘The Ins and Outs of Animation Production' and ‘Storyboarding 101: Creative Technology' will be discussed. There will also be a showcase of Jamaican and Caribbean talents working in the industry and related fields. The winners of the competition aspect of the Festival will also be announced on day two. Describing the upcoming KingstOOn Festival as "exactly what upcoming animators like us need to enhance our skills and open our minds to a deeper level of animation," Edward said, "I am looking forward to getting tips and techniques which makes the work easier and faster, and also learning about the different software and hardware required to create professional animations. I am eager to see the work of animators from the other countries and to see what level we are at in the Caribbean. I am hoping that after attending this Festival, I will be better equipped with the knowledge required to at least earn an income from animation." Lacan revealed that he is extremely honoured and excited by the invitation to the Festival, "I never imagined that my entering the VYBZING Animated Video Challenge would open such doors for me. I will not let such an invaluable opportunity pass me by because this is the career path I wish to pursue. I am really looking forward to participating in the workshops which can help develop my skills because I have much to learn. There is so much ‘booming' in my mind that I would love to share with the world which I am unable to do currently with my level of experience. " He added, "I look forward to meeting other animators and seeing what is out there in this field that I can use, along with my creativity, to produce better quality animations and graphic art. This is an amazing experience for me at this stage in my life." Loctor said he too is looking forward to the workshops. "I hope to find inspiration and obtain knowledge so that I can improve my work and that of the other artists at Malfinis Film and Animation Studio, as well as help and liaise with others to improve our animating skills," he revealed. Loctor added, "Dannal and I are two of the growing family of young artists gravitating towards Malfinis Film and Animation Studio and this conference will give us the chance to see the quality of animation produced by other islands first hand and compare it to that of my island. Hopefully, new partnerships will be formed and some form of dialog will be produced allowing for potential partnerships in animation." VYBZING is the CDB's platform for youth engagement with emphasis on youth empowerment and participation in the development process. The VYBZING Animated Video Challenge was open to youths in St. Lucia ages 16 -29, and invited submissions on the theme, "Road Safety: Save a Life, Save a Future." The competition ran from March 8 to May 3, 2013. CAPTION: The 2013 VYBZING Animated Video Challenge Winners. (L-R) Darnell Lacan, Tevin Loctor, Dannal Casimar and Marlan Edward.