Canadian prodco Portfolio Entertainment has announced the eight finalists of its In Toon with Tweens animation contest.

The projects, which stood out for their creativity and potential marketability as a tween-focused comedy series, will now move on to a panel of industry judges that will announce the first and second place winner at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in October.

The finalists are Jeff Young-Sterling and Ai Rei Dooh Tousignant, Feel the Noise; Ron Doucet, The Zerds; Stitched High; Jim Bryson and Adam Jeffcoat, The Smart Class; Mike Shiell, The Fizzleflops Network; Kristin Shier, FABB; Chris Voigt, Ragemelon and Glen Wyand, The Weird Files.

The first place prize package includes US $7,300, a two-year development deal with Portfolio Entertainment, Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium Software and Toon Boom’s Enterprise Solution including Harmony and Storyboard Pro for one year.

The second place winner receives US $2,400, a one-year development agreement with Portfolio Entertainment, Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium Software plus the use of Toon Boom’s Enterprise Solution for 6 months.