THE WORLD’S FIRST
AI ANIMATION COMPETITION
Welcome to the world’s first AI animation competition. Time to flex those storytelling muscles.
We are thrilled to announce the first AI animation competition in the world hosted by Curious Refuge and Promise Studios.
This is your chance to showcase your animation skills and earn some serious prizes! Not only is this the biggest cash prize we have ever offered, but the winner will get the chance to pitch your film for a real-world development deal (boo-yah).
Submissions are now open. You have until March 28th at midnight PT to submit your project.
We will allow you to vote on your favorite based on finalists chosen by our curators. Voting will open on April 3rd and will close on April 8th.
This is your chance to win up to $7,000 in cash prizes.
You can download the full brief and view the judging criteria by clicking the rules button below. Judges will select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, but the audience favorite will be determined by the community.
Winners will be announced April 14th at Noon pst.
THE PRIZES
1st Place Winner
The First Place Winner will Receive:
$7,000 USD
Free Enrollment in a Curious Refuge Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
Opportunity to Pitch your Film to Promise
2nd Place Winner
The Second Place Winner will Receive:
$2,000 USD
Free Enrollment in a Curious Refuge Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
Opportunity to Pitch your Film to Promise
Your very own pair of Socks that Hold Hands
3rd Place Winner
The Third Place Winner will Receive:
$1000 USD
Free Enrollment in a Curious Refuge Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
Opportunity to Pitch your Film to Promise
Audience Favorite
The Audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film based on the top films selected by our talented curators. The winner of the audience favorite award will receive:
Free Enrollment in a Curious Refuge Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
THE JUDGES
Caleb & Shelby Ward
Founders of Curious Refuge
Dave Clark
Chief Creative Officer at Promise
Lesley Silverman
Head of New Tech at UTA
Ryan McNeely
Head of Animation at AGBO
Albert Bozesan
Co-Instructor of AI Animation, Creative Director at Storybook Studios
Rob Minkoff
Animator & Co-Director of The Lion King
Rules FAQ
AI must be used to on every shot.
Royalty-free, non-AI music, and sound effects are allowed.
You can use subject replacement and mocap tools like Wonder Studio to generate character movements, but live-action backgrounds must be manipulated with AI in each shot.
Your submission must not be longer than 5 minutes.
Your Submission must thematically be in the animation genre, including but not limited to anime, stop-motion, 2D animation, experimental, etc. Live-action or real-world aesthetics will be disregarded.
Projects must be submitted no later than March 28th at Midnight PST.
You must include the required end card at the end of your film. (download on the rules page)
Need Inspiration? Check out our AI Film Gallery