GPM Anime Challenge is an anime character making contest run by NASA and JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Overview
Anime is a Japanese style of animation popular around the world. Anime characters have filled television shows and comics, and inspired costumes and educational activities. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) and our partners at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are holding a design challenge for people around the world to develop an Anime character for GPM. You will need to learn about the GPM mission and science themes, including the water cycle, weather and climate, technology, and societal applications, and incorporate them into your Anime character design.
NASA
[Update 2013-03-17] Someone in 2-channel found [J] that NASA/JAXA plagiarized the girl with umbrella from another anime Card Captor Sakura, the other guy from the game Ace Attorney.
The contest page has a warning, “The work you submit must be 100% original, with the exception of official GPM and NASA imagery and logos. You are responsible for ensuring that your submission meets copyright and fair-use laws.” Ouch.
