24 Hours Animation Contest Marks Record-Breaking Year With Global Winners

The 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students has wrapped its 2025 edition with record-breaking participation. Now in its 23rd year, the contest continues to stand out as the largest student animation competition in the world, attracting an increasingly large and diverse group of ambitious young talent each edition.

A Global Celebration of Creativity

This year’s theme, Flip Your Perspective!, was announced by special guest Pete Docter, chief creative officer at Pixar Animation Studios. Nearly 800 films were submitted from teams of students, with seven teams taking home prize packs valued at over $130,000, including cash, studio swag, art books, software, festival passes, and drawing tablets.

Reflecting on this year’s contest, founder Aubry Mintz noted how far the competition’s reach has grown:

With winners from India, France, Israel, and Canada this year — and past winners from Thailand, Brazil, and Lebanon — we are showcasing incredible talent from every corner of the globe,” says Mintz. “These students are just as gifted as those from Ivy League schools in the U.S., and seeing their reactions when their films are recognized by industry judges is nothing short of magical.

Judges, Sponsors, and Industry Powerhouses

The 2025 panel featured top industry professionals, including Toby Cochran (Netflix, Disney, Marvel), Tale Linh Do (Netflix, Paramount, DreamWorks), BAFTA and Annie Award-winner Nina Gantz (Edmond, Wander to Wonder), Howie Hoffman (Trix Rabbit, Bugs Bunny), Daria Khil (DreamWorks), Lucija Mrzljak (Eeva, Toonekurg), Nigel Tierney (Lil Dicky, Bad Bunny, Willow, DreamWorks, Disney, YouTube), and Carol Wyatt (Rick and Morty, Over the Garden Wall, The Simpsons).

Major sponsors this year included Toon Boom, Lucasfilm Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, ILM, Warner Bros. Animation, Wacom, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks, Netflix Animation Studios, Cartoon Saloon, and more.

The contest’s top films screened at the Animation Is Film Festival over the weekend and will next head to Lightbox Expo on October 24, with additional features made available on the 24 Hours YouTube channel.

A Legacy of Creating Opportunities

Since its founding at California State University, Long Beach, the 24 Hours Animation Contest has grown into an international phenomenon. Over 18,000 students from 312 schools in 50 countries have participated. The competition is free to enter, with organizers encouraging donations to support future participants and maintain access for students from underserved regions.

“It’s a global event, but it feels like a family,” Mintz said, sharing a sentiment that seems to define the contest’s enduring appeal after more than two decades.

2025 Winning Teams

1st Place
Team: Afterimage
School: Indian Institute of Technology
Country: India

2nd Place
Team: P4SSW0RD1234
School: Sheridan College
Country: Canada

3rd Place
Team: Cabillaud
School: EMCA
Country: France

1st Runner-Up
Team: Aroomkü
School: Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
Country: Israel

2nd Runner-Up
Team: The Pack
School: Sheridan College
Country: Canada

Best High School
Team: In Fifth Place…
School: Sisler High School
Country: Canada

Behind-the-Scenes Prize
Team: Furnarius Rufus
School: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Country: Brazil

Watch the top 160 Films here:

• Watch the top 160 films from →  2025 YouTube Playlist
• Watch all past winners → YouTube Playlist
• Behind-the-scenes reels → YouTube Highlights