GUANGZHOU, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 4th China International Cartoon Festival will kick off in Guangdong Province later this month.

Dozens of cartoons from home and abroad will vie for the Golden Dragon Award Original Animation and Comic Competition (OACC) at the festival on Sept 29 in Guangzhou, capital city of Guangzhou Province.

This year's competition for the award has attracted a total of 7,453 entries, an increase of 10 percent from the previous year.

"The increase indicates the ever rising passions for creation by the participants," said Cao Xiaohui, a judge of the competition.

"Cartoonist should develop their art taste and pay more attention to the content and form of the cartoon works so as to establish the international status of China's original animation and comics," Cao added.

More and more cartoonists from Taiwan and Hong Kong have entered the mainland market in recent years.

Seven cartoons from Taiwan and Hong Kong have been nominated for a variety of awards so far, according to the organizing committee of the competition.

As a main communication platform of Chinese cartoons, the Golden Dragon Award (OACC) plays a vital role in promoting the development of China's original animation and comic, said Shi Renyi, another judge of the competition.