Driven by Curiosity, UMN Visual Communication Design Students Win Best Animation Award at International Projection Mapping Competition

The Ashbun Production team—comprising Lim Kentzhu (left), Paulus Winata (center), and Naomi Angeline (right)—as they receive the Best Animation Award at the Terang Projection Mapping Competition in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. (Photo courtesy of Paulus Winata)

TANGERANG – Everyone has a first experience when trying something new. For Kentzhu Lim, Naomi Angeline, and Paulus Winata, their first experience designing a projection mapping piece actually took them all the way to the international stage. The three Visual Communication Design (VCD) students from Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN), part of the class of 2023 and members of Ashbun Production, made it into the top 20 finalists of the “Terang Projection Mapping Competition” in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, with their work titled “A Shared Horizon,” which went on to win the Best Animation Award.

Projection mapping is a technique for displaying visuals or animations tailored to the shape of a specific surface, such as a building or object. The Terang Projection Mapping Competition is an international projection mapping competition organized by Filamen in Malaysia and open to students, college students, and invited artists. The open submission period ran from May 10 to July 18, 2026, while the finalists’ exhibition, judging, and awards ceremony took place from August 1–9, 2026, in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

This journey began with a sense of curiosity. The three UMN Visual Communication Design students had previously collaborated on several group assignments for their courses. During that process, Naomi and Kentzhu often focused on illustration, while Paulus focused on animation. When they saw Filamen’s open call for artists to participate in a projection mapping competition, they saw an opportunity to apply the skills they’d developed to a medium they’d never worked with directly.

Although there were courses that covered projection mapping, none of the three had ever designed a work using that medium. Their previous experience with illustration and animation gave them the confidence to give it a try, while also motivating them to explore just how far those skills could be applied to this new medium.

“What drew us to this project was our curiosity to try our hand at designing a projection mapping piece. Although there are courses that cover projection mapping, the three of us had never designed anything using that medium before,” Paulus said.

The work “A Shared Horizon” by Ashbun Production, presented via projection mapping as part of the “George Town Festival” in Penang, Malaysia. (Photo courtesy of Paulus Winata)

For these three students, the decision to enter the competition was also driven by confidence in the skills they already possessed. Their previous experience in illustration and animation gave them the confidence to try their hand at projection mapping, even though they had never directly worked with the medium before.

The production of “A Shared Horizon” was completed in about one and a half months, amidst their academic commitments and various other tasks they had to manage. As they entered the concept development phase, the “Market” theme provided by Filamen served as the starting point for the trio. They then linked this theme to Penang’s distinct character, known for its rich cultural heritage resulting from Peranakan acculturation.

Through “A Shared Horizon,” Ashbun Production explores the fusion of Malay and Chinese identities through the representation of the dragon and the tiger. These two characters meet at the market—a space for exchange, interaction, and cultural encounters. From this encounter, they depict the process of interaction leading to the merging of the two identities, symbolizing the birth of Peranakan culture as a new identity.

During the production process, the three divided responsibilities according to their respective strengths. Naomi worked on character and object illustrations, Kentzhu developed environment and background illustrations, while Paulus handled animation and motion. This division allowed each member to contribute in the areas where they excel.

The Ashbun Production team, consisting of Lim Kentzhu (left), Paulus Winata (center), and Naomi Angeline (right), received the Best Animation Award at the Terang Projection Mapping Competition in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. (Photo courtesy of Paulus Winata)

From the advisor’s perspective, the team’s strength lies not only in their technical skills. UMN Visual Communication Design lecturer Jupiter Natanael S.Ds., M.M., sees the three of them as students who are proactive, productive, and actively seek out opportunities. These qualities were then combined with Paulus’s experience in motion design and Naomi and Kentzhu’s ability to create visual assets that coordinate well with animation.

“Essentially, they are a group of students who are highly proactive, productive, and eager to seek out opportunities. As for how they managed to win the Best Animation Award, the team members—especially Paulus—already have extensive experience in the world of animation, particularly in motion design. However, Naomi and Kentzhu’s ability to create assets that coordinate seamlessly with the animation also deserves a thumbs-up,” Jupiter said.

In addition to their technical skills, their competitive spirit stands out as one of the group’s key strengths. Their high standards for their work ensure they consistently prioritize the quality of the final product. Even amidst a packed schedule of classes and assignments, they still set aside time to work on assets for the competition.

This trait was evident in the development process of the animation “A Shared Horizon.” The team didn’t just animate the main elements; they also paid attention to small details through micro-animations. They ensured that various visual assets remained in motion while maintaining continuity and flow from the storyboard stage onward, so that the entire animation would support the storytelling.

“We pay close attention to animation details, including micro-animations in various visual elements. We designed all the visual assets in this project to remain in constant motion. We also focus on continuity and flow—especially during the storyboard design phase—to help convey a stronger narrative in the work,” Paulus explained.

These skills don’t exist in isolation. For Paulus, the learning process at UMN’s Visual Communication Design program provided a foundation that could later be applied when working on this project. Various courses introduced students to different software and skills, giving them the opportunity to discover the fields and tools that best suited their creative processes.

The experience of working in groups was also a crucial part of this process. Numerous group assignments helped students get used to dividing tasks and collaborating efficiently. This experience carried over when the three of them had to work on a piece for the competition.

“Many of the DKV UMN assignments require group collaboration, which made it easier for us to work efficiently as a team because we had already done so many group assignments before,” Paulus explained.

A number of visual assets developed by Ashbun Production for the work “A Shared Horizon,” ranging from characters and objects to environments, form part of the overall visual projection mapping. (Photo courtesy of Paulus Winata)

From a learning perspective, several courses in UMN’s Visual Communication Design program are directly related to the creation of “A Shared Horizon.” “Computer Graphic Design” equips students to create assets using Adobe Illustrator; “Visual Communication Design” (VCD) aids in the concept development process; “Digital Media” provides a foundation in animation; and “Immersive Design” introduces students to processes related to projection mapping.

According to Jupiter, the UMN Visual Communication Design curriculum also provides space for students to develop concepts and creative thinking skills. This process is supported through discussions, data collection, assistance, and guidance during the creative process. Meanwhile, students in their sixth and seventh semesters are considered to have sufficient technical skills to develop their work more independently.

When “A Shared Horizon” was announced as one of the 20 finalists, that moment became a pivotal point for the three of them. Being named a finalist meant that the work they had spent about one and a half months creating would be publicly displayed as part of the “George Town Festival” and viewed by thousands of spectators.

In fact, even before leaving for Penang, they had noticed on several occasions that their work was being shared by others on social media. For them, this experience further demonstrated that the work—which had initially been created out of curiosity—had begun to reach audiences beyond their immediate circle.

Being among finalists from various countries also served as a learning opportunity for Ashbun Production. They observed that several other finalists already had experience in projection mapping competitions. This experience allowed them to see firsthand how works using the same medium were developed by more experienced participants.

“We were truly amazed by the works of the other participants. As we mentioned, this was our first time participating in a projection mapping competition. However, several of the finalists had often competed in similar contests before. So we were very fortunate to see the results of other, more experienced participants,” Paulus said.

The Ashbun Production team receiving the Best Animation Award at the Terang Projection Mapping Competition in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. (Photo courtesy of Paulus Winata)

From that experience, they realized that projection mapping presents different challenges compared to creating animations for regular videos. The large scale of the medium allows animation details to be seen from various angles, so placement, scale, and timing must be factored in as part of the storytelling.

This experience became part of a learning process that took place not only through coursework but also through opportunities to apply their existing skills to new situations. For the three of them, this competition served as a space to test their abilities while gaining an understanding of the characteristics of a medium they had never worked with before.

Ultimately, Ashbun Production’s first work in projection mapping propelled them beyond the finalist stage. “A Shared Horizon” won the Best Animation Award at the “Terang Projection Mapping Competition,” after having been selected as one of the 20 finalists in that international competition.

This achievement also answered the curiosity that had driven them to enter the competition from the very beginning. The skills they developed through various assignments and courses in the Visual Communication Design program at UMN were finally put to the test in an international competition.

“Honestly, we never imagined that our work would one day be displayed on such a massive building—and on an international stage, too. We started simply curious: with the skill set we’d learned, could we actually compete on an international level? And the answer turned out to be yes! So, in our opinion, as long as you have a strong desire and curiosity to achieve something, it will definitely happen,” Paulus said.

For Ashbun Production, this journey demonstrated that great works don’t always stem from extensive experience. “A Shared Horizon” actually began with a simple opportunity they discovered through an open call and the courage to try a medium they’d never worked with before. Driven by that curiosity, they brought their first work to the international stage and returned home with an award.

By Melinda Chang | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan Program Studi Informatika | Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen | Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.