Pixar Head Pete Docter to Announce 2025 Theme for 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students

The 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students (24hourscontest.com) will hold its latest full-on filmmaking challenge from Friday, October 3 (3 p.m. PT) through Saturday, October 4 (4 p.m. PT). This free international event tasks student teams of five with crafting a 30-second animated film in just 24 hours — from concept to final product.

The twist? No one knows the theme until the contest begins!

Now in its 23rd year, the contest is hosted by animation professor Aubry Mintz at California State University, Long Beach. It has grown into the largest student animation competition in the world, with more than 15,000 students from 240 schools across 35 countries participating over the years. Last year’s prize pool topped $120,000, and this year, seven teams will win prize packs filled with cash awards, studio swag, art books, software, festival passes and drawing tablets.

Announced today, the 2025 contest will welcome a special guest appearance by Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios, who will deliver an inspirational message and reveal this year’s theme during the live kickoff at 3 p.m. PT on Friday, October 3. Teams and spectators can tune in at youtube.com/@toonboomanimation/live.

“This event is more than a contest — it’s a transformative experience that takes students beyond the classroom, showing them the power of teamwork, while chasing a shared creative vision,” says Mintz. “What began as a challenge has become a global celebration that rises above borders and politics, connecting students everywhere through their shared love of animation. Having Pete Docter join us this year sends a powerful message: the animation community believes in the next generation — and that belief will inspire students to push their imagination further than they ever thought possible.”

Over the years, the contest has seen participation from countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, the U.K. and the U.S.A.

Entries will be reviewed by a jury of animation professionals, including:

• Toby Cochran – Story artist, writer and director (Netflix, Disney, Marvel)
• Tale Linh Do – Storyboard artist (Netflix, Paramount, DreamWorks)
• Nina Gantz – BAFTA- and Annie-winning and Oscar-nominated Dutch animation drector (Edmond, Wander to Wonder)
• Howie Hoffman – Animation commercial director (Trix Rabbit, Bugs Bunny)
• Daria Khil – Story artist (DreamWorks)
• Lucija Mrzljak – Animation director (Eeva, Toonekurg)
• Nigel Tierney – Director/producer (Lil Dicky, Bad Bunny, Willow, DreamWorks, Disney, YouTube)
• and Carol Wyatt – Art director, designer and color supervisor (Rick and Morty, Over the Garden Wall, The Simpsons)

Winning films will be announced during a livestream event on Friday, October 17 on the Toon Boom animation YouTube channel.

“Our sponsors have gone above and beyond — not only fueling this contest with incredible prizes (including cash), but also breaking down barriers so underserved students can access the tools they need to compete,” says Mintz. “In just 24 hours, these gifted young artists create fully realized films across every medium imaginable — CG, 2D, stop motion, motion graphics, experimental — and some even compose their own original scores. The level of creativity and dedication they pour into such an intense challenge is nothing short of awe-inspiring.”

Sponsors for 2025 include: Toon Boom, Lucasfilm Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, ILM, Warner Bros. Animation, Wacom, XP-Pen, Sony Pictures Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, DreamWorks, Skydance Animation, Netflix Animation Studios, Cartoon Saloon, Bento Box, ASIFA-Hollywood and more.

Key Dates:

• Registration Deadline: Friday, September 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT — Register here
• Contest Kickoff: Friday, October 3, 2025, 3 p.m. PT — Theme announced by Pete Docter at this link
• Winners Announced: Friday, October 17, 2025

How to Support

For 23 years, the 24 HOURS Contest has remained 100% free to students. To sustain and grow the event, donations are encouraged.

The suggest donation is $25 per team (just $5 per student). Donations support free entry, equipment for underserved students, prize funding and staff support. Contributions to the 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students are tax-deductible; the event is fiscally sponsored by Legends Animated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In addition, every donation of $5 or more enters donors into a giveaway for a Wacom Intuos Pro.

Donations may be made through donorbox.org/24hourscontest.

You can watch the films created by student teams in past contests on YouTube, as well as behind-the-scenes clips of the teams in action below: