In its efforts to discover new original content and kids animation talent from the Southeast Asia region, Cartoon Network Asia’s SNAPTOONS (Short New Asia Pacific Cartoons) program has announced three shortlisted finalists from Singapore and the completion of two animated shorts from Malaysia.

The finalist shorts from Singapore, which were chosen based on creativity, originality, and the criteria of being fun and character driven, are 101 Ways: The World by Sabreena Shanu, Maxine Starr Last Vanguard of the Zodiac from Kane Wheatley-Holder, and DNA – Definitely Not Animals by Dreamforest Animation.

All three shorts are scheduled to be completed by 2014.

The two completed 4 x 10-minute Malaysian shorts, which took a year to complete, are Blox Brigade by Unizaru and Ziro The Wizard…In Training (pictured) by Tomato Animation.

SNAPTOONS is supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and MDeC from both Singapore and Malaysia.

The Singapore initiative, its second with CN after a multi-year deal with Singapore’s Scrawl Studios to develop, produce and distribute content on the channel across the Asia Pacific Region, was launched in 2011 and Cartoon Network has previously launched SNAPTOONS in India, Malaysia and Australia.

SNAPTOONS invites animation industry professionals, individual animators and animation studios to send in pitches, with the potential to see their ideas eventually come to life in an original series. Up to 10 pitches are shortlisted, based on their development potential, with up to five eventually created into broadcast shorts.