// Programme 02
Animaticon
International Animation Competition
A globally unique animation competition with a structured three-track system that acknowledges the full spectrum of how animation is made today — from hand-drawn to AI-generated — without establishing a hierarchy between methods.
Animaticon carries full cultural prestige. No sponsor naming. Independent jury. Screenings and events at the Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw.
// Three-Track System
Regular · Hybrid · AI-Assisted
Track 01
Regular Track
Traditional animation in all its forms — hand-drawn, stop motion, CGI, claymation, rotoscope. No generative AI tools used in the production pipeline.
Eligible Formats
Hand-drawn 2D, stop motion, puppet animation, traditional CGI, claymation, rotoscoping, cut-out animation.
Target Creators
Classical animators, film school students, studio professionals working in traditional pipelines.
Track 02
Hybrid Track
Animation combining traditional techniques with AI-assisted elements. The creative vision is human-led, but AI tools are used meaningfully in production — for backgrounds, in-betweening, texturing, compositing, or other pipeline stages.
Eligible Formats
Hand-drawn characters on AI-generated backgrounds, AI-assisted in-betweening, traditional animation with AI color/texture, mixed-media with generative elements.
Target Creators
Animators exploring AI as a collaborative tool, studios integrating AI into existing pipelines, hybrid creators.
Track 03
AI-Assisted Track
Animation primarily created or significantly enhanced through generative AI tools. The artistic intent and creative direction remain with the filmmaker, but the production relies substantially on AI generation, synthesis, or transformation.
Eligible Formats
Fully AI-generated animation, AI character animation, neural style transfer animation, AI-driven motion synthesis, prompt-based animation with extensive creative direction.
Target Creators
AI-native creators, Machine Cinema community, generative art practitioners, experimental animators.
// Why This Model
A Global First in Animation
Acknowledging Evolution
The animation industry is undergoing a fundamental shift. AI is not a replacement — it's a new tool in the animator's kit. Three tracks acknowledge this reality without forcing creators into false categories.
No Hierarchy
A hand-drawn film is not inherently better or worse than an AI-assisted one. Each track has its own jury evaluation within the same artistic framework. Excellence is measured, not method.
Globally Unique
No other animation festival in the world offers this three-track structure. Animaticon is the first to create a formal, institutional-level framework for evaluating animation across the full spectrum of production methods.
Industry Statement
The three-track model communicates a clear position: AI is a tool for collaboration, not a replacement for creators. This addresses real concerns in the animation industry about authorship, rights, and employment — and attracts both traditional and AI-native creators.
// Award Categories
11 Categories
Best Animated Film
The highest honour in Animaticon. Awarded across all three tracks for the film demonstrating the greatest artistic achievement. Evaluates vision, execution, and emotional impact regardless of technique.
Best Hybrid Animation
For the best film in the Hybrid Track — recognizing the most creative integration of traditional and AI-assisted techniques. Celebrates the bridge between handcrafted and machine-augmented animation.
Best AI-Generated Animation
For animation primarily created through generative AI tools — neural style transfer, prompt-based generation, AI-driven motion synthesis, or fully AI-generated sequences. Judged on creative direction, artistic intent, and how effectively AI tools serve the narrative vision.
Best Motion Graphics
For excellence in motion design — title sequences, explainer animations, kinetic typography, data visualization, and abstract motion art. Evaluated on timing, composition, and visual communication.
Best Animated Music Video
For animated music videos that elevate the song through visual storytelling. Any animation technique welcome — 2D, 3D, stop motion, AI-assisted, or hybrid. Judged on the synergy between sound and image.
Best VR/Immersive Animation
For animation designed for virtual reality, augmented reality, or immersive environments. Evaluates spatial storytelling, viewer agency, and how the animated world responds to or envelops the audience.
Best Animation Technique
For outstanding technical craft in animation — innovative use of tools, exceptional frame-by-frame quality, pioneering workflows, or mastery of a specific animation discipline. Recognizes the art behind the art.
Best Student Animation
For animation created by students currently enrolled in film, art, or animation programmes. Reduced entry fees apply. Supports emerging talent and the next generation of animators.
Best Character Design
For outstanding character creation — visual design, personality, movement, and expressiveness regardless of production method. Characters that live beyond the screen.
Best Worldbuilding
For exceptional creation of animated worlds — environment design, atmosphere, internal logic, and visual coherence. The art of making imaginary places feel real.
Audience Choice — Animation
Voted by festival attendees and the online community. The audience's favourite animated work across all tracks and categories. Determined by public ballot during the festival.
Best Cosplay
Awarded during the Animaticon Cosplay Competition on Saturday. Judged on craftsmanship, accuracy, creativity, performance, and stage presence. Open to all cosplay styles — anime, gaming, film, original characters.
Best Cosplay Group
For the best group cosplay performance. Teams of 2+ cosplayers are judged on coordination, collective craftsmanship, narrative cohesion, and stage choreography.
Best Cosplay Craftsmanship
Recognizes exceptional technical skill in costume construction — armor, props, electronics, textiles, and special effects. The builder's award.
Animaticon Hub
Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw
All Animaticon screenings, art installations, and immersive experiences take place at the Museum of Modern Art — where animation meets the avant-garde. A dedicated space for the animation community within the broader Warsaw Glitch ecosystem.
Submit to Animaticon
Traditional, hybrid, AI-assisted. Student fee waivers available. Films completed after January 1, 2024.