24 Hours Animation Contest Returns October 2 With Daniel Chong
The 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students opens its 24th edition on Friday, October 2, with Daniel Chong revealing the 2026 theme at the livestream kickoff.
The 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students is back for its 24th edition, kicking off on Friday, October 2. Daniel Chong will announce the 2026 theme during a livestream at 3 p.m. PT, giving teams one hour before the clock starts on the main event.
The 24-hour production period begins at 4 p.m. PT on Friday, with finished films due at the same time on Saturday. Seven teams will receive prize packages that include cash, drawing tablets, software, festival passes, art books, and studio merchandise.
Winners will be revealed during a livestream on October 16 at 12:30 p.m. PT. The 2026 jury includes Daria Khil, Toby Cochran, Karina Gazizova, Nigel Tierney, and Carol Wyatt.
Chong is no stranger to the animation world: he directed the Pixar feature Hoppers, released earlier this year, and created the series We Bare Bears. The contest itself was founded by Cal State Long Beach animation professor Aubry Mintz as a classroom exercise, and it has since grown far beyond those origins.
More than 20,000 students from 280 schools in 50 countries have taken part over the contest's history, according to cartoonbrew.com. Last year's prize pool exceeded $120,000.
Quick answers
When does the 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students start?
The 24th edition kicks off with a livestream at 3 p.m. PT on Friday, October 2, and the 24-hour production period begins at 4 p.m. PT the same day.
Who is announcing the 2026 theme?
Daniel Chong, director of Pixar's Hoppers and creator of We Bare Bears, will reveal the 2026 theme during the livestream kickoff.
When are the winners announced?
Winners will be announced during a livestream on October 16 at 12:30 p.m. PT.