The 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students, an international competition challenging students to create a short animated film in just 24 hours, celebrates its 24^th year and announced its 2026 winners today with some surprise results. 

This year’s contest theme: “Everyone Calm Down” was announced by special guest Daniel Chong, Director of Disney•Pixar’s feature film HOPPERS and the creator of the Emmy-nominated Cartoon Network series WE BARE BEARS. 670 films were judged and 7 teams walked away with prize packs valued over $107,000, which included cash awards, studio swag, art books, software, festival passes, and drawing tablets.

The competition — founded and led by Aubry Mintz, animator, educator, and contest creator — continues to highlight emerging talent from regions often underrepresented in the global animation industry. With winners from the Brazil, Canada, China, Jamaica and the U.S.A this year — and past winners from France, India, Isreal, Lebanon and Thailand, — we are showcasing incredible talent from every corner of the globe.

Winning teams share more than global recognition — each receives $15,000–$26,000 in prizes from major studios and industry sponsors, offering life-changing opportunities to young artists who grew up inspired by those very companies.

“A unique feature of the contest is its Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Award”, says Mintz, “it encourages teams to document their creative journey in a short two-minute film. This year, the winning team “Bald Guyz.”, hailed from Jamaica and their BTS video displayed hilarious moments like under the desk confessionals and a lament to a drawing tablet that failed mid-competition.”. After the win the team’s reaction video was priceless and displays the excitement that is felt from students around the globe when getting acknowledged with a prize for their hard work.  

Mintz says, “These films remind us of the power of bringing people together around a shared creative goal—even under incredible time constraints. What I’m most proud of is how this contest has become a global community of students supporting one another through wars, political upheaval, fires, floods, and other challenges. We are the animation community, and we are here for one another. Despite how large our community has become, this contest reminds me that we can still feel like a small family—connected, creative, and never alone.”

Now in its 24^th year, the 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students continues to celebrate creativity, community, and resilience — proving that art can unite people across continents, cultures, and challenges.

As a special 24^th year surprise, the winning film will premiere on the big screen at Animation Is Film Festival on Sunday, October 18th at 12:00 PM, and top winning films from the last 10 years along with a panel from past winners and judges at Lightbox Expo on Sunday Oct 25, 2:45pm, rm 204 or on the 24 HOURS 2026 YouTube Playlist.

About the 24 HOURS Animation Contest
24 HOURS hosted by animation professor Aubry Mintz at California State University, Long Beach has grown into the largest student animation competition in the world, with more than 22,000 students from 377 schools across 50 countries participating over the years. 

The 2025 contest’s films were judged by Angela Abeyti ( Nickelodeon, Netflix, Warner Bros., Titmouse, Bento Box, Green Street Pictures, ShadowMachine), Mark Ackland (Spiderverse movies, Peanuts, Spongebob, Lego Movie), Grace Babineau (Nickelodeon, Titmouse Inc., Cartoon Network, Bento Box Ent,), Toby Cochran (Kuku Studios, Marvel, ReelFX), Karina Gazizova (Wacky Races,Teen Titans GO!), Alan Huynh (Thatgamecompany, Netflix, ShadowMachine, Sky: Children of the Light, Captain Fall, Final Space, Mr. Beast), Daria Khil (DreamWorks), Ira Owens (Sucker Punch Productions – Ghost of Tsushima), Nathan Palm (King of The Hill, Rick and Morty, The Great North, The Black Crowes, Warner Music/Adam Sandler), Nigel Tierney  (Lil Dicky, Goldbeak, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Willow, DreamWorks, Disney, and YouTube), Carol Wyatt (Rick and Morty, Over the Garden Wall, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, The Simpsons)

This contest is free to enter and has seen participation from countries including: Australia • Brazil • Canada • Chile • China • Colombia •  Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Dominican Republic •  Ecuador  • England • Estonia • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Great Britain • Honduras • Hong Kong • Hungary • India • Indonesia • Iran • Ireland • Italy • Israel • Jamaica • Kenya • Lebanon • Malaysia • Mexico • New Zealand • Nigeria • Pakistan • Peru • Philippines • Puerto Rico • Russia • Scotland • Serbia • Singapore • South Africa • South Korea • Spain •  Sweden • Taiwan • Thailand • The Netherlands • Turkey • UK • USA • Vietnam and Wales

Sponsors for 2025 included: Toon Boom, Tierny Corp, Sony Pictures Animation, ASIFA-Hollywood, Bento Box, Disney Entertainment, DreamWorks, Locksmith Animation, Netflix Animation Studios, Wacom, Warner Bros Pictures Animation, Wacom and more 

 Winning films were announced at this Livestream on Friday, October 16, 2026 

Here are the winning teams:

1^st Place 

Team: FIVEGUYS, School: Sheridan College, Canada, Points: 361/400

Points:  357 points 

School: CSULB, USA

Team: The Whomp Whomps

2^nd place 

Team: The Whomp Whomps School: CSULB, USA Points: 357/400

3^rd Place 

Team: 500lb Tungsten Cube, School: Sheridan College, Canada, Points: 356/400

1^st Runner Up 

Team: Leticias e Taxistas, School: Faculdade Méliès, Brazil, Points: 352/400

2^nd Runner Up 

Team: Jam on Fire, School: Communications University of China, China Points: 345/400

With 280 Points

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

From School: Interlochen Center for the Arts, USA

Team: The Collectors 

Best High School 

Team: The Collectors, School: Interlochen Center for the Arts, USA, Points: 280/400

Behind the Scenes Prize 

Team: Bald Guyz, School: The University of Technology, Jamaica

Watch the  top 160 Films here:

• Watch the top 160 films from →  2026 YouTube Playlist
• Watch all past winners → YouTube Playlist all
• Behind-the-scenes reels → YouTube Highlights
• For more details about the contest visit the Website: https://24hourscontest.com

How to Support the Contest

For 24 years, the 24 HOURS Contest has remained 100% free to students. To sustain and grow the event, donations are encouraged:

• Suggested: $25 per team (just $5 per student) – support as many teams as you can!
• Donations support free entry, equipment for underserved students, prize funding, and staff support
• Contributions are tax-deductible (fiscally sponsored by Legends Animated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)

*Every donation of $5 or more enters donors into a giveaway for a Wacom Intuos Pro Please consider a donation at this link: https://donorbox.org/24hourscontest