From a field of 44 nominees across the UK, 7 emerging artists were celebrated for their outstanding original short films across 2D, 3D, and stop-motion categories.
The winners of the Young Animator of the Year (YAY) Awards were recently announced at Manchester Animation Festival (MAF).From a field of 44 nominees across the UK, seven emerging artists were celebrated for their outstanding original short films across 2D, 3D, and stop-motion categories.
Winners of the YAY UK competition won a trophy as well as the opportunity to visit major animation studios in the UK, such as Aardman, Blue Zoo, and Wild Child Animation.This year, YAY was proud to be sponsored by HUE Animations for the stop-motion categories and introduced a new age category (19-22) to expand the opportunities for young people.Following the awards ceremony, nominees were invited to a special reception to meet, network, and celebrate with leading figures from across the industry.
As part of the collaboration with MAF, two events were programmed in the series.Acclaimed stop-motion director, animator, and puppet maker Laura Tofarides shared insights from her decade-long career in .Meanwhile, brought together leading industry voices for a candid panel discussion on navigating careers in animation.
The winners include: Stop-Motion (Age 11-14): Sophie, 12, Sheffield 2D Animation (Age 11-14): Nelson, 13, Rochdale 3D Animation (Age 11-14): Timothy, 14, York Stop-Motion (Age 15-18): Eliana, 17, Ipswich, Suffolk 2D Animation (Age 15-18): Billy, 17, Wolverhampton 3D Animation (Age 15-18): Ezra, 16, Harrow Stop-Motion (Age 19-22): Ben Mullan, 20, Bedford 2D Animation (Age 19-22): Vincent Tyson-Dieroff, 21, Bristol 3D Animation (Age 19-22): Nishaan Bahra, 20, London “The volume of entries this year, with a shortlist of 44 incredible short films, is a testament to the surging passion for animation across the UK,” said Tom Box, a founder of the competition.“We were over the moon to see returning entrants and brand-new talent in all the films.So outstanding were the entries that our industry judges had quite a tough job on their hands this year! We are so proud every year to bring a platform to young and vibrant animation talent.” “In an age where AI is dominating the conversation, it's important that we celebrate these true originals, these amazing young artists that will be the future of an industry that thrives off uniqueness and ingenuity in storytelling,” added Steve Henderson, Festival Director at MAF.
“It's always a pleasure to see what springs from the minds of these brilliant young creators and have them be part of MAF.”
YAY UK is an initiative by ACCESS:VFX, partnered with the Manchester Animation Festival.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
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