The YAY UK Competition has launched!

Excited to announce that the Young Animator of the Year UK Competition has landed! YAY UK are challenging teenage animators across the UK to make a short animation inspired by the theme ‘Growth’. Awards will be given for the Best Young 2D Animator, 3D Animator, and Stop-Motion Animator across age groups 11-14 and 15-18. The lucky winners will win tours of the UK’s best animation studios, including our London studio as well as Aardman Animations in Bristol. Plus their work will be screened at Manchester Animation Festival! The deadline for entries is midnight on the 31st of August 2021.

Building future UK animation talent

Some of the world’s best TV shows, films and games are animated all across the UK and YAY UK encourages young people to pursue creative skills to help build the talent of tomorrow. There are a number of careers and opportunities within the UK animation industry, and the YAY UK Competition, run by ScreenSkills and ACCESS:VFX, empowers gifted young people to pursue the career of their dreams.

Opening doors and entering the industry

Last year’s competition winner, Josh Palfrey, won in the 16-18 3D animation category. The competition provided Josh with the perfect opportunity to work on developing his animation skills, and since then he has secured an internship here at Blue Zoo, which he is doing this summer. You can watch all of last year's winning films on the Young Animator of the Year website.

For young animators, the YAY UK website is well worth a visit. With challenges set by a variety of UK animation studios and the chance to get feedback from industry professionals, there is plenty to help nurture and develop their animation skills.

Find out more about the competition and submit an entry on the YAY UK competition page. Best of luck to the applicants!