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Portsmouth’s animation company, Hatching Studios, is continually creating a local buzz surrounding the impressive amount of festival awards given to its latest short "The Toll" completed last year.

It has won more than 40 honors, the second most awards of any one short submitted to festivals across the nation. However, the latest festival the Hatchling boys recently returned from was one of the most competitive festivals and arguably one of the hippest.

MULTIMEDIA Photo Gallery:  Hatchling Studios participates in film festival

"Some would say it’s the third most competitive festival. The odds are one in 25 to be accepted. We thought how ‘the hell did we get in,’" said Zack Pike, writer and director for Hatchling Studios.

Astounding the studio, South by Southwest’s (SXSW) film festival welcomed Hatchling Studios to come down to Austin, Texas, for the film section of SXSW held March 7-15. The festival specializes in underground forms of art whether it is interactive, music or film.

Hatchling stayed for a total of five uproarious, eye-opening and enlightening days. Pike described the independent film fest as "innovative" and "crazy" with constant interactions among artists being made at all times.

"I was staying out well past my bedtime," said Pike.

Big film names such as Morgan Spurlock, featured in "Supersize Me," Adam Sandler and other celebrity names made the rounds at SXSW. Pike even noticed a "Boy Meets World" star not far from his stance during the fest.

"I heard Sandler was there to promote his film ‘Rain on Me.’ Some celebrities came out," said Pike.

The whole point of the festival is to promote artistic interaction and the studio took full advantage of SXSW’s mantra. Pike remembers hitching a cab ride home during the morning hours after eating local tex-mex and listening to the cabbie ramble on about his musical endeavors.

"Everyone had a portfolio. It was a meeting of the minds and everyone had great ideas no matter what they were into. I met a lot of really cool people," said Pike.

SXSW offered non-stop showings of independent films at numerous venues. One of Pike’s favorite spots was called the "Alamo" where there was stadium style seating. The previews exhibited rare "Underdog" cartoons set to quirky music.

"It was bizarre," said Pike.

While there, Hatchling employees partook in open panels that related to the film industry. In turn, the applicants were able to showcase their film to their fellow animators and techies in the hopes of snagging a favorable nod leading to business offers.

"There’s potentially money in winning festivals. Fame brings money," said Pike.

And the fame has been bringing offers and in turn — paychecks. Currently Hatchling is speaking with NBC about prospective animation work. The studio can’t discuss the details as of now; however, the studio can confirm that MTV has employed them to do "webisode content" for their Web sites.

"In a flash we sum up episodes of shows," said Pike.

Pike came home from his trip utterly worn yet still charged with cross-cultural, inventive excitement.

"I was exhausted when I got home. But it was a great exhaustion," said Pike.