The trailer of the prize-winning prairie-themed animation. [Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A prairie-themed animation was recently awarded the "Special Prize" at the 23rd Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF), according to local media reports.

Selected from among 2,565 works from 93 countries, the prairie-themed animation Tears of God was produced by a team from Qingdao University of Science & Technology in North China's Shandong province.

The animation is set in the prairie in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. It tells a legendary story about people and wolves living on the grassland and shows that man and nature can coexist. Coexistence is a core concept behind environmental protection, which strives to respect and protect life.

SICAF is an international event that focuses on Asian animation. It started in 1995 as a small animation screening event and later became an official member of the Association of Animated Film Festivals (ASIFA) in 2005. Over the past 24 years, it has grown into a reputable international animation festival. 

The SICAF program shines the spotlight on a variety of works, from classic masterpieces to the latest hits, that push the boundaries of animation, aiming to transform the animation environment. SICAF also hands out Animation Awards and encourages young artists to lead the future with its International Competition and Production Support Program for Short Animation.