Curtain Raiser for Young Animator of the Year UK 2025: Future Stars, Your Stage Has Arrived!

– The Young Animator of the Year UK (YAY UK) competition will be open for submissions on May 12, 2025.
– The competition seeks to unearth and applaud the best young animators in the UK, aged 11 to 22.
– YAY UK provides a stage for these talented youngsters to flaunt their skills and gain exposure to leading industry professionals.

Young Unleashed Talent Awaits Discovery

Hot on the heels of the latest 3D animation news, we present an exciting possibility—a beacon of hope for those young, enthusiastic animators itching to thrust their art into the limelight!

Golden Opportunity to Rub Shoulders With the Veterans

No need for fairy godmothers to transform pumpkins into carriages: YAY UK readily crafts a grand stage for the young animation stars, offering an unmatched opportunity to network with top-tier animation veterans. The spotlight isn’t far away!

My Hot Take:

If I were a budding young animator, I’d be flipping through my animations faster than a monkey peeling a banana right now! This announcement is even hotter than a dragon’s burp! So polish up those pens, brushes, tablets, and software, you cinematic wizards of tomorrow. It’s time to strut your stuff under the biggest spotlight of them all – the Young Animator of the Year UK.

Photo by Blue Zoo

UK’s Youngest Animation Stars Shine Bright in Young Animator of the Year (YAY) UK 2025 Competition opening submissions this May 12th, 2025. The competition is open to budding animators aged 11 to 22.

This year’s YAY UK competition could be the platform that elevates young animators’ talents and exposes them to leading professionals in the animation industry. Short films, whether 2D, 3D, or stop-motion, are invited for entry, with an exciting opportunity for artists to receive valuable feedback and recognition.

This year, YAY UK proudly announces its partnership with Manchester Animation Festival, the biggest animation event in the UK, and HUE, the innovative animation and education product supplier. Thanks to their generous donations, YAY UK can enhance the participants’ experience and provide more possibilities for each age category’s winners. The winning films’ announcement and premiere will take place at the Manchester Animation Festival in early November.

Ruth Barrett, HUE’s Head of Animation, expressed her thoughts on the collaboration:

At HUE, igniting creativity in younger generations through our HUE Animation Studio and HUE Clay inspires us, and that makes our support for the YAY Awards even more fulfilling. The awards are a fantastic platform celebrating the future of animation and the power of imaginative storytelling.

YAY UK was launched by ACCESS:VFX, aimed at fostering inclusivity and representation in the UK animation sector by identifying and nurturing grassroots level talent.

Entries for the competition open on May 12, 2025, and close on September 1st, 2025. More than thirty animation industry experts will evaluate the films. Nominations for the top films will be released on October 1st, and winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Manchester Animation Festival in early October.

Tom Box, the Co-founder of Blue Zoo Animation Studio and YAY, adds:

Given the overwhelming demand, we are thrilled to announce the competition now includes a new 19-22 age category. This significant step will support young adults, either in animation studies or just beginning their career, providing a major launchpad for this demographic while continuing to support the incredible talent in the younger age groups.

Winners in each category will be awarded at a special ceremony during the Manchester Animation Festival. They will receive coveted trophies, meet the expert judges, and be invited to private studio tours at Aardman Animations, Blue Zoo and Wildchild animation studios.

Mark your calendar as the competition opens this May 12th. Visit the YAY UK website at younganimator.uk to find out how to enter.