Registration for the 24 HOURS Animation Contest is now open

Long Beach, California — This year’s 24 HOURS: Animation Contest for Students takes place online, from Friday October 13th to Saturday October 14th. This free event challenges students around the world to compete in teams of five to produce a 30-second animated film in under 24 hours. Now celebrating its 21st year, this international competition is hosted by animation professor, Aubry Mintz, at California State University, Long Beach.

A volunteer panel of esteemed industry professionals judges the completed 30-second films. Interested in joining this year’s challenge? Students can register their team of five online before Wednesday, October 11th, 2023.

“I am thrilled to announce we are in our 21st year and more than 10,000 students from 180+ schools have benefited from participating in this event," said Aubry Mintz. "This challenge has featured participants from 25 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the USA."

"This year, industry supporters are getting behind this contest with additional prizes and funding efforts to support students in new ways."

An example of these new initiatives is an equipment request program for underserved students, which will not only allow them to participate in this year's 24 HOURS challenge, but provide tools to aid in their virtual learning and production of art. The organizers encourage eligible students to apply to the program.

The contest is free to enter. In 2022, the contest prizes had a total value of over $180,000. This year, seven teams will be eligible to win amazing prize packs, including cash prizes. Generous supporters have included: Toon Boom Animation, Illumination, ASIFA-Hollywood, Animation Educators Forum, Bento Box, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, CSU Summer Arts, TAAFI, Wacom, TVPaint, DigiCel, Animation Magazine, Huion, CRC Press, Xencelabs, CTNX, X in a Box, Legends Animated, Mac Hollywood, Stuart NG Books, DreamWorks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Sony Pictures Animation, Animation is Film and more!

How does it work?

Student must have permission from their school to participate and will register in teams of five. Teams have the option of working from their school or from home (with their school’s permission). We ask that each team have a faculty advisor to ensure that all teams are currently students and that this contest falls in line with each school’s student learning outcomes. Teams at the same school may share faculty advisors. Teams can register here.

All teams start at the exact same time and submit a YouTube link of the completed films to the contest before the deadline, Saturday October 14th at 4PM PST. Late submissions are not accepted. Teams are encouraged to plan ahead and troubleshoot issues, including making time for unsent emails and fixing broken YouTube links. Finished films will be judged by a panel of industry experts and prizes will be awarded to seven teams. 

How did it start?

In 2002, Aubry Mintz challenged his students to work through the night to see how much they could accomplish. When the sun rose, Five students remained and Mintz was impressed by what they were able to produce. 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students was born. Aubry Mintz decided to continue to offer this contest once a year to students in search of a challenge. 

“It brings out the best in students,” said Aubry Mintz, after watching entries from 300 teams in 2022. “It pushes them to their limits but teaches them to make creative decisions in a severely limited time. Working with a team of five challenges artists to learn how to work collaboratively. Sometimes this creates tension and obstacles that the teams must work together to overcome. It’s a rapid speed lesson in animation production.”

“Although this contest sounds crazy — the model seems to work. The top films are as good as some completed student films that take several months to produce. I think it's their chance to set personal goals and work outside of the classroom structure on a creative project.”

What's new this year?

For our 21st year we have some special guest artist lined up to give advice to our students that will surely motivate teams to do their best in a compressed amount of time, including a special message from Cartoon Saloon’s founder and director Tomm Moore. 

About Tomm Moore

Over Cartoon Saloon’s history, Tomm has worked as Director, Art Director, Storyboarder, Animator and Illustrator across a range of the studio's projects. Tomm has directed 3 universally successful feature films. All three were nominated for Best Animated Feature at the ACADEMY AWARDS® The Secret of Kells in 2010 and the spiritual follow-up, Song of the Sea in 2015. His latest feature film Wolfwalkers, which he co-directed with Ross Stewart, received several prominent critics awards including LAFCA Award and NYFCC Award as well as nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA as well as wins in several categories including Best Director and Best Independent Feature at the 2021 Annie Awards. Both Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers won the IFTA for best film while The Secret of Kells won best animation and rising star awards at the IFTAs.

Having completed the informal “Trilogy” of Irish folklore and history inspired films he is researching a new direction for the next cycle of features focusing on the Irish diaspora and its connections with other cultures . He is currently working as creative producer across several of Cartoon Saloon’s new film and series projects as well as refocusing on his personal art training, focusing on figure drawing and oil painting. Tomm is a lifelong tattoo and comic book art enthusiast.

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• Interested in entering the 24 HOURS: Animation Contest for Students? Find the full rules on the official registration form.
• Curious to see the top-placing films from previous years? You can find a playlist of previous entries on YouTube.