The challenging, creative 24 HOURS Animation Competition for Students ran young artists from around the world through the event’s first ever all-virtual gauntlet this month. Remote-working teams of five students each were charged with creating a fully realized half-minute short within the infamous 24 hours based on this year’s theme: “How this pandemic has affected you.”
Now in its 18th year, the 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students is hosted by animation professor Aubry Mintz, at California State University, Long Beach. The 2020 virtual contest was busy with official updates and behind-the-scenes snaps and videos from the 197 participating teams on the contest’s Facebook page. Competitors represented 64 schools (colleges and high schools) 11 different countries — Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.K. and the U.S.
Mintz also announced on social media that the event set a sponsorship record this year, receiving nearly $170,000 worth of prize donations from 23 companies. He wrote: “We have been able to achieve great new things this year, including awarding incredible prizes to six teams of college students and one team of high school students, purchasing equipment for students in need so that they are able to participate in the contest and also use their new tools for future online learning, hire a small staff to help bring this contest to the next professional level and more!”
In addition to the six winning films, which were determined by point score assigned by this year’s jury of working artists and creative execs — Galen Chu, Alessandra Sorrentino, Karina Gazizova, Mark Ackland, Lesley Headrick, Eric Calderon and Alison Mann — the contest also awarded a special prize for the best Behind the Scenes material, which went to team L̸̋̇Ẽ̸̎S̵͗̕O̶̊̉Ú̴̓E̴͛͒F̵͊̈́D̷͑̈́U̸͂̄R̶̂̅S̶̏̉ from Columbus College of Art and Design (Ohio). Their project, which reflected on the important role pets play in our lives, especially during times of upheaval, was titled Essen-tails.
The 2020 winners are:
1st Place: Au Revoir Hands | Sheridan College, Ontario; A Ray of Hope
2nd Place: Rat Den | Sheridan College, Ontario; Scrub
3rd Place: The Lactose Tolerants | San Jose State University, California; Only 99.99% of Germs
4th Place: The Five da Vinkys | Sheridan College, Ontario; Quarantine Blues
5th Place: BLÅHAJ 303.735.88 | Kingston University, London; I Wandered Lonely
High School Winners: PeePo Pain | Sisler High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Hostile Headlines
Behind the Scenes: L̸̋̇Ẽ̸̎S̵͗̕O̶̊̉Ú̴̓E̴͛͒F̵͊̈́D̷͑̈́U̸͂̄R̶̂̅S̶̏̉ | Columbus College of Art and Design, Ohio
You can replay the winners announcements here: https://youtu.be/0xeYLPoXLts
Watch all of this year’s impressive one-day films on the 24 Hours YouTube channel 2020 playlist.
