A Taiwanese animated series that aims to raise awareness of climate change has been nominated for an award in the best 3D animated program category at the Asian Television Awards.
Weather Boy! (觀測站少年) was produced by director Chiu Li-wei (邱立偉) at his Tainan-based Studio 2 Animation Lab.
It is set to compete against Rob the Robot, a Canadian-Singaporean collaboration, Taiwan’s The Little Chestnut of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝小栗子), Singapore’s Oddbods, and Chinese productions Monster Mountain (老妖山) and Adam’s Bakery (小龍甜品工房).
Weather Boy! is about Jamie, a Taiwanese schoolboy who, with his meteorologist father and others, is on a climate project in the Swiss Alps when a time machine takes the group into the future, where they discover the Earth is in dire straits.
The group tries to find out what caused the cataclysmic events they witnessed on one of their trips, only to discover that the Earth’s demise is imminent ─ unless action is taken now.
Chiu told reporters on Wednesday that the nomination is very encouraging for his studio, which is seeking to have the series distributed overseas.
“In the past, Taiwan has been best-known for its original equipment manufacturing. Now we are producing our own original content,” Chiu said. “I am glad we have been able to make it onto the international stage.”
He said he hopes the 13-episode series helps children learn about protecting the environment.
“If everyone can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a little, it would make a big difference,” he said.
Among other Taiwanese nominees are Ban Tieh-hsiang (班鐵翔), nominated as best lead actor for his role in My Super Dad (無敵老爸), and Wu Tien-hsin (吳天心) and Samantha Ko (柯淑勤), who received best lead actress nominations for their respective performances in A Good Wife (親愛的, 我愛上別人了) and What Time Will You Be Home? (幾點回家).
A total of 239 works from 13 countries have been nominated in 38 categories at the Asian Television Awards, now in its 19th year. The award ceremony is on Dec. 11 in Singapore.
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