Cartoons Underground 2026: Interview With Chun Kit - Creator of Animation Film "Drive On, Mr Otter"

If you are already tired of the AI slop permeating in the world around us, you can feast your eyes on 28 specially selected animated films by truly human creators from 17 countries at this year's Cartoons Underground. The event which is South-East Asia's largest independent animation festival, will be held at the Filmhouse on 14 November 2026.

One of the selected animation films is “Drive On, Mr Otter” by San Francisco-based local creator Chun Kit. Chun Kit is a recent graduate from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) with a BFA in Character Animation. During the Covid era, he had a lot of time on his hands and started drawing a bunch of digital fan art, experimenting more with colours in this creations, whilst connecting with the art community as well as those who appreciated his art style. Then, in 2024, Chun Kit had the opportunity to illustrate for the Land Transport Authority of Singapore, and his artwork was seen in various train stations and bus stops.

Red Dot Diva connected with Chun Kit for a Q&A session to find out about what makes him tick:

Red Dot Diva: Your animation short “Drive On, Mr Otter” has been selected for Cartoons Underground 2026. Congrats! What were the key decisions in choosing this storyline and visual concepts for this film?
Chun Kit: From the very beginning, I wanted to create a film that reflects the person that I am at this current stage of life. The goal was to be as true to myself as possible; my interests, beliefs, experiences, friends, family, I wanted to somehow pour everything that I love into this film. When putting all of these together, something began to take form… akin to the shape of an otter.

It took me a while to figure out the overarching narrative and meaning of this film. Through Mr Otter, I wanted to convey feelings of isolation in a foreign place and explore the idea of what ‘home’ truly means. He begins the story having a physical home, the inciting incident being the risk of losing it due to his poor performance at work. His job seems to be the only way for him to survive in the city, even though it involves evicting other’s out of their homes.

I had all the pieces of the story floating in my head, like a puzzle waiting to be completed. My usual approach to filmmaking is to simply start boarding scenes that I can envision clearly. Once I see the characters actually exist in space, it’s a lot easier to figure out scenarios that would follow. It reached a point where I boarded most of the story, up to Mr Otter’s low low point (he has multiple), and I still didn’t know what the resolution was going to be! Eventually, I settled on a simple scene that would decisively help Mr Otter realise what he was truly lacking the entire time. Once I figured out the plot, I didn’t put too much thought into visual concepts. I just approached it in a way that felt the most natural to me.

Red Dot Diva: I have to ask – is the otter your favourite animal? If yes, why? Did you spend a lot of time researching about otters for “Drive On, Mr Otter”?
Chun Kit: Yes, otters are my favourite animal! (leaning towards river otters as they’re native to Singapore) I vividly remember the first time I ever saw one when I was four. My parents brought me to the aquarium and I was instantly drawn to these cheeky guys. Knowing I was watching them, one of the otters repeatedly performed somersaults and would swim along following me as I ran about. My parents bought me my first otter plush toy afterwards, firmly cementing them as my favourite animal.

Though I didn’t conduct any specific research for this film, I did use it as an excuse to take a trip to a place called Morro Bay. It’s a quiet seaside town 3 to 4 hours north of LA where tons of sea otters live. It was mating season when I visited and the pier was filled with moms and their newborn pups! Anyway a fun fact about sea otters - they have a pouch under their armpits where they store their favourite rock (awww)

(Just to clarify - Mr Otter is a river otter!)

Red Dot Diva: What or who inspires you as an artist and animator??
Chun Kit: When I first picked up digital art, I was really inspired by artists with a strong sense of colour and shape, like Kat Tsai, Kevin Dart, and Jasmin Lai. Right now though, the ones that really inspire me are honestly my friends. Seeing them grow, hearing about their interests and struggles, and being able to connect over our shared love for capturing life, it just leaves me with the strongest desire to push myself and continue creating.

Red Dot Diva: How would you describe your art style? In the deep wide ocean of artists around the world, how do you hone an art style that you can call your own?
Chun Kit: Though I don’t normally think in terms of art styles, I guess mine would have an emphasis on shapes and lighting? To me, someone’s art style is derived from certain sensibilities that influence how they observe and interpret the world, and their unique approach in capturing that. I think these would change and evolve as they grow, as I’m sure mine would.

In order to develop a more personal style, it’s important to find things that inspire you from everyday life. Many of us were probably inspired by other artists when we first started drawing and would emulate their style. While there’s merit in doing so, the key to developing a more personal style is probably by observing and referencing reality. Everyone's drawn to different things and their unique interpretation of the world will greatly inform their art style.

Red Dot Diva: What is the best career-related advice you have ever received?
Chun Kit: Anyone can pick up technical skills, but one’s artistic voice is unique to the individual.

Red Dot Diva: After “Drive On, Mr Otter”, what’s next for you in terms of your goals and upcoming projects?
Chun Kit: There’re more stories that I want to tell, but we’ll get there when we get there! Four years of art school was pretty intense. For now, I want to live at my own pace for a bit and create things for the sake of creating, without any external pressure!


You can watch Chun Kit's “Drive On, Mr Otter” during Programme B - Rip Tides segment of Cartoons Underground. “Drive On, Mr Otter” is about the timid, soft-spoken Mr. Otter who is pressured by a suburban redevelopment project to evict an elderly couple from their rural home. If not, poor Mr. Otter will face losing his own company-issued housing. Don't miss the film - remember to get your tickets to festival!


Cartoons Underground 15th Edition
Date: 14 November 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
Time: Programme C: Playground (All ages) – 1:30 PM, Programme A: Held Breath – 4:30 PM, Programme B: Rip Tides – 7 PM
Tickets: Buy them at https://filmhouse.sg/seasons-events/cu2026/
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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Cartoons Underground 2026: Interview With Nadya Neo - The Festival's Key Artist And Creator of Animation Short "White Carousel"

For its 15th edition, Cartoons Underground, South-East Asia's largest independent animation festival is set for a day of screening and activities at the Filmhouse on 14 November 2026. The festival features a screening of 28 animated films from 17 countries across three different segments.

The colourful visuals for Cartoons Underground 2026's key art entitled “Velvet Parade”, comes from the imaginative mind of its key artist Nadya Neo. Nadya is also the creator of “White Carousel”, one of the animation films included in this year's screening in the Students Category. The film has also been selected for a number of international animation festivals like Czech Republic's Anifilm, Italy's That's Animato and Japan's Tokyo Anime Award Festival.

A graduate of ADM at NTU, Nadya now works at Finding Pictures, a local based animation production studio. She is especially drawn to old toys, retro interiors and architecture from the 80s and 90s, and these styles are what inspires most of her artwork.

To get to know Nadya Neo better, Red Dot Diva managed to sit her down for a short Q&A session:

Red Dot Diva: Congrats for getting selected for Cartoons Underground! What made you decide on the theme and visuals for your short film “White Carousel”?
Nadya: Thank you! I became quite fascinated with the vintage toy aesthetic a bit before I started working on my film and wanted to create something that I would be excited and passionate to work on for my last year in University! I approached the film from a very visual perspective, often envisioning how I’d want a certain shot to look and seeing how it could fit into the narrative. When I started diving deeper into the rabbit hole of vintage toys and toy illustrations, I felt incredibly inspired and excited about the possibilities of the visual world I could build. I collected a visual library of images that excited me, which became sort of a visual bible for the film, something that I returned to everyday when I needed inspiration. The theme of repetition and cycles came about organically as I thought about how I could come up with a format that would allow me to explore a lot of different environments, because environments are what I most enjoy doing! I think it was the idea of the cuckoo clock that helped to tie the visuals and the theme of routine and repetition together.

Red Dot Diva: You have described your art style aesthetic as vintage and retro. In “White Carousel”, the story unfolds in a cuckoo clock. Have you ever visited or viewed any famous heritage cuckoo clocks as part of your research for the animation short? If you have, which ones were there and what did you learn from them?
Nadya: Unfortunately, I have not visited any in-person, but I spent quite a bit of time looking at videos of them online and appreciating the intricate mechanisms and all of its moving parts! German cuckoo clocks are a classic, but I actually quite enjoy the Seiko cuckoo clocks as well. They are more modern-looking than the German ones, but I really like the mechanisms of how the clock face spins and opens up with the music-box melody. There’s something enchanting about the Seiko clocks, I wanted to evoke that same whimsical feeling in my film.

Red Dot Diva: What were the most challenging aspects you faced while working on “White Carousel”?
Nadya: The most challenging thing about working on this film was embracing a more experimental, non-linear approach to storytelling. I questioned if viewers would be able to find meaning in something more abstract, especially when I approached the film more as a playground for visual experimentation. I think I struggled with the idea that everything needed to serve a purpose, or that everything needed to tie up nicely at the end. Because otherwise what would make each scene important other than just being visually interesting? I had to learn to become comfortable with the uncertainty and accept that maybe not everything needed an explanation, and that maybe exploring these different visual worlds could be meaningful in itself!

Red Dot Diva: Do you have a favourite animation movie, and why is it your favourite?
Nadya: My favourite animated movie is Shrek. I think the humour is top-tier and I really like the gritty, medieval fairytale look of the world. Sometimes I just want to watch a movie for the sake of being entertained without feeling the need dissect every little thing, even though that can be fun too sometimes! Shrek is one of those movies I can always return to and enjoy every time.

Red Dot Diva: You are also Cartoons Underground 2026’s key artist. The art you designed for the festival is so whimsical. Firstly, how did you get this gig as the festival’s key artist? Secondly, how did you arrive at the ideas for the key artwork?
Nadya:Jia reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested to work on the festival’s key art! They had discovered my work through White Carousel, so that’s how the opportunity came about!

I attended Cartoons Underground for the first time last year and really liked the underground, alternative vibe. Since that was my impression of the festival, I wanted to capture a similar energy in my artwork. I still wanted to explore the toy aesthetic that I had become so familiar with, but incorporate a more Southeast Asian flavour rather than the western influences I had usually gravitated towards.

Red Dot Diva: What advice do you have for someone who is just starting out in 2D Animation?
Nadya: I recently attended a masterclass by João Gonzalez who made the film, Ice Merchants. He said that something that you might think is a limitation can actually become a defining part of your visual style, the thing that sets your work apart. I am not great at animating very fluid, dynamic movements, so I made the choice to embrace the more mechanical, stiff movements instead. I actually found that it suited the world I was trying to create better!

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Want to check out Nadya Neo's short film “White Carousel”? Grab your tickets to Cartoons Underground 2026 pronto! “White Carousel” will be screened during Programme B - Rip Tides segment, which begins at 7:30 PM on festival day.


Cartoons Underground 15th Edition
Date: 14 November 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
Time: Programme C: Playground (All ages) – 1:30 PM, Programme A: Held Breath – 4:30 PM, Programme B: Rip Tides – 7 PM
Tickets: Buy them at https://filmhouse.sg/seasons-events/cu2026/
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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Cartoons Underground 2026 Returns With A New Programme For Its 15th Edition (14 November 2026)

South East Asia's leading animation festival Cartoons Underground is back this year for its 15th Edition on 14 November 2026! The event will be returning to one of its favourite locations, which now called Filmhouse.

This year, there is a new programme launched at Cartoons Underground - a screening specially curated with younger film fans in mind. It is called Cartoons Playground and kicks off at 1:30 PM in the afternoon. With this new segment, Cartoons Underground hopes to inspire and nurture a new generation of young animators and directors in order to put Red Dot Island's talent and stories on the world stage.

“From its inception, Cartoons Underground has aimed to make space for upcoming Singaporean animators,” says Jerrold Chong, Programme Director of the festival. “Now, by opening the festival to children for the first time I’d like to think that by spreading its love of indie animation it’ll captivate young fans who maybe will be my future students and making films themselves five or ten years from now.”

LASALLE College of the Arts continues to be the festival's Education Partner. Their support and partnership provides a platform for young creatives to explore new ideas, refine their craft, and bring their stories to life.

Chris Shaw, Head of the Puttnam School of Film & Animation, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore says, “We are very happy to continue LASALLE's educational partnership with Cartoons Underground for the 10th year running. From its inception the festival has aimed to provide space for upcoming Singaporean animators, making it a fertile training ground and a great springboard for our students to showcase their work, as well as a valuable platform where they are exposed to a wide range of immensely creative international animated short films. We also welcome the inclusion of children's programming for the first time, which expands the learning opportunities even more for students.”




This year's audience can expect an eclectic and vibrant selection of 28 films from 17 countries at Cartoons Underground 2026. The list also includes seven animation shorts by emerging Singaporean student filmmakers.

“The more we’re bombarded with soulless Ai-generated content the more we’ll crave art that’s truly human” says festival co-founder Vicky Chen. “What I love about this year’s films is that each one is a reflection of its maker, a story direct from them to us, each the product of experience, imagination and the desire to connect. Animation has always been about pushing creative boundaries, and we want to champion the next generation of filmmakers who have something original to say.”

Highlights of the day's programme include:

* Silence by Yoona Hwang - a story about a deaf child’s enjoyment of a musical concert though vibration and hearing aids. This film will be screened during the family friendly Cartoons Playground.
* Five Orphans from Japanese animator Sarina Nihai - a group of five orphans wander along a ditch in the midst of rising protests and finds a dead body
* A Pint Of Bitter from Irishman Conor Kehelly, who was also Cartoons Underground's 2023 winner - a man trying to have a quiet drink when two other patrons start harassing him
* Drive on, Mr. Otter by California-based Singaporean Chun Kit - timid Mr. Otter gets his last chance to evict an elderly couple or risk losing his own home
* Everything’s Peachy, LASALLE College of the Arts graduate Nah Yee Chern's first stop-motion film, which will be screened at Cartoons Underground’s Singaporean student programme as well as at this year's the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). The film is about a kitchen hand called Pipa who lands her dream job working for a head chef whom she greatly admires, but then discovers something grisly.
* White Carousel from local artist and animator Nadya Neo - a surreal animation sequence about a wooden doll trapped in a cuckoo clock

Nadya Neo is also the artist for Cartoons Underground 2026's key art, and designed the Official Poster ‘Velvet Parade’ which consists of old toys at a mini festival held in a whimsical landscape. Nadya, who is a graduate of ADM at NTU, is currently working at Finding Pictures. Outside of work, she enjoys watching familiar sitcoms, particularly Friends.



Cartoons Underground is an event that Red Dot Diva looks forward to every year. The sheer range of creativity and originality is like a buzzy dopamine trip. For someone who watches a lot of shows and movies regularly, Red Dot Diva can usually anticipate when the usual story tropes would occur. This does not happen often at Cartoons Underground. The animation shorts are usually full of surprises! So, if you desire to watch something different, do get a ticket to the festival for a wondrous audio-visual experience.

For a sneak peek of what you can expect at Cartoons Underground, check out the trailer below. You can explore the full programme at cartoonsunderground.com.

TICKET PRICES
Playground (NEW! Family friendly, for young audiences) : SGD 13
Held Breath - International & SG Student Films: SGD 18
Rip Tides - International & SG Student Films: SGD 25
Students get 10% off Standard tickets for Held Breath and Rip Tides.
If you're a CU Megafan, CU merch is included in your ticket.


Cartoons Underground 15th Edition
Date: 14 November 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
Time: Programme C: Playground (All ages) – 1:30 PM, Programme A: Held Breath – 4:30 PM, Programme B: Rip Tides – 7 PM
Tickets: Buy them at https://filmhouse.sg/seasons-events/cu2026/
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2026 Returns With A List of Comic Book Guests Including Michael Golden, Clayton Crain and Peach Momoko

The annual geek fest Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) will be returning to Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 5 and 6 December 2026 at Level 1 and B2, with a special preview night on 4 December 2026. The convention has been announcing their guests since the middle of the year, and comic book fans will be pleased with the list of creators and artists who will be visiting Red Dot Island this time around.



For starters, Red Dot Diva noticed that the Scott Collectibles team, who usually take up a sizeable corner with their usual posse of comic book guests, will not be at this year's show. Not to worry - local online store Fat Snake Comics has already invited a number of wonderful guests appearing at their booth. Their guest list includes veteran Michael Golden, Alex Sinclair, Steve Leialoha, Renee Witterstaetter, Terry Dodson, Arthur Suydam and Santa Fung.

Acclaimed Japanese comic artist and two-time Eisner Award winner Peach Momoko will also be returning to SGCC 2026. She was last here in 2024, so if you have missed meeting her or getting your books signed back then, here is your second chance!

Other returning guests are Eisner award-winning writer and screenwriter Tom Taylor, reknown Eisner award-winning French comic book artist Olivier Copiel (who was a guest more than 10 years ago in 2014!), Philippines-based artist and Co-founder/ Creative Director of HMT Studios Harvey Tolibao, and local artist/ co-founder of Imaginary Friends Studios Stanley Lau aka Artgerm, who has been a stalwart of the show for several years. South Korean artist, writer and illustrator of the supernatural thriller comic GUMAA Jeehyung Lee also makes a comeback to the pop-culture fest.

In addition, fans can meet the co-founder of Image Comics and creator of fan favorite X-Men character Bishop, Whilce Portacio. Joining him at SGCC 2026 are Clayton Crain the Co-creator of Toxin, who has recently launched his own new comic book series, Out To Hell, Claudio Castellini who is best known for his artwork in titles like Marvel vs. DC, Silver Surfer, Man and Superman, and Wolverine: The End, as well as Davide Paratore, cover artist for Marvel's ongoing series the Moon Knight.

There is one thing that Red Dot Diva noticed from this year's list of announced guests. There seems to be more focus on showcasing Asian creators and artists, like:

* Japanese artist Terada Katsuya, a master of traditional pen and ink techniques,
* 鄺東原 (Kwong Tung Yuen) also known as 上官小寶, Hong Kong’s artist known for his work in the longest running (4 decades!) comic《李小龍》Bruce Lee. He will be accompanied by his son 鄺世傑 (Kwong Sai Kit), Second-Generation Leader of Kwong's Publishing and Editor-in-Chief of 拳皇97,
* South Korean art instructor, illustrator, and painter and the founder of Superani and established AniChanga art school Hyun Jin Kim,
* Malaysian artist Ivan Tao, best known as the cover artist for Boom! Studios Power Rangers comics, Something Is Killing the Children and Vampirella,
* Filipino comic book colourist Ellery, who has worked for top publications such as DC Entertainment, Dynamite Entertainment, Image Comics,
* Singaporean homie Derrick Chew whose artwork can be seen in projects with Marvel, DC Comics, Square Enix, Epic Games and Mobile Legends.

Oh, will there be celebrities, you ask? Power Ranger actors have been part of the guest list in recent years, and it is no different this year. Event company Retro Experience are bringing in Catherine Sutherland (Pink MMPR, Zeo and Turbo Ranger) and Nakia Burrise (Yellow Zeo and Turbo Ranger). To secure a meet and greet with these two actors, head to this Eventbrite to book your slot - https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-zeo-turbo-sgcc-2026-tickets-1979575665103.



SGCC has also invited Tracy Lynn Cruz aka Ashley Hammond the Yellow Ranger to meet her fans at the convention. So, hardcore Power Rangers fans have an exciting weekend to look forward to!

Besides the Power Ranger actors, SGCC's guest list includes Japanese actors Uji Kiyotaka (Sho / Ultraman Victory in Kamen Rider Revice, Kamen Rider Fourze, Lesson of the Evil, Another and Detective Chinatown 3), Negishi Takuya (Hikaru Raido / Ultraman Ginga, Bokutachi wa Mada Sono Hoshi no Kousoku wo Shiranai in Netflix's Ikugasami, Shogo Aoyama in Actors High) as well as voice actress Rin Tateishi, who is best known for her role as the guitarist Anon Chihaya from BanG Dream!'s MyGO!!!!!. Uji Kiyotaka and Negishi Takuya will only be at the convention on 5 December while Rin Tateishi will be on SGCC stage on 6 December. Photo and/or autograph opportunities can be purchased via the ticketing link at https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/tickets, from the Bundles tab.

You can check out the convention's guest list announced so far at this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/guest


TICKETING INFORMATION

In addition to a range of tickets options for SGCC 2026, this year's event introduces an all-new SGCC Superhero Pack. The special pack offers fans premium access (e.g. fast lane and early entry), exclusive collectibles, and a brand-new collection of artist collaboration merchandise featuring original artwork by internationally acclaimed comic artists.

To attend Preview Night, you can choose to purchase a ticket to soak up in the entire convention 2.5-day weekend, or get the access to the Friday evening as an add-on. For more details including the various pricing options, click on this link to purchase your ticket: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/tickets.

Best of all, to help lessen the load of your annual geek expenses, you can use the SG Culture Pass to purchase tickets to SGCC 2026. Just head to this link to use your SG Culture Pass credits - https://sg60culturepass-online.globaltix.com/attraction/singapore-comic-con-sgcc-2026-121396

Geeks who love collecting SGCC merchandise have loads of limited-edition collectibles and exclusives to choose from. The 2026 collection includes:
* Artgerm SGCC Exclusive A5 Notebook
* Lucio Parrillo & Carla Cohen SGCC Exclusive Tote Bag
* Peach Momoko or Olivier Coipel Exclusive SGCC T-Shirt
* Official SGCC T-Shirts available in two designs.

Grab them while stocks are still available!

There is still about 6 weeks to go before the wild celebration of the best of Eastern and Western pop culture begins. Red Dot Diva says it is not too late to gather your geek posse, start planning for your cosplay/ fun geek wear, and save up for the item that you have been wishing to add to your collection. See you there!


SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2026
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 5 & 6 December 2026 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 4 December 2026 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 5 & 6December 2026
Admission: Refer to details here - https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/tickets

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