AniGen

THE WORLD'S FIRST SHORT-FORM AI ANIMATION COMPETITION

Sponsors:
Hedra Logo
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Hailuo Logo
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Komiko Logo
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AniShort Logo

Where AI Meets Animation

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

Welcome to AniGen, the world's first vertical short AI animation competition hosted by Komiko, Hedra, Hailuo, and AniShort. We're bringing together cutting-edge AI technology and creative storytelling to pioneer a new genre of animation.

AniGen aims to discover and promote emerging creators in the field of animation. You are invited to push the boundaries of what's possible in animation with AI. Whether you're an AI creator, a traditional animator exploring new technology, a scriptwriter, or an animation enthusiast — this is your chance to showcase your talent and win exceptional prizes, free AI tool subscriptions, and even opportunities to publish your shows on the AniShort streaming app.

PRIZES

Animation Track

🏆 Grand Prize (1 winner)

  • $3,000 USD
  • 6-month free pro subscriptions to Hailuo, Hedra and Komiko
  • Opportunity to further develop the animation with funding and to be showcased on the AniShort streaming app

🥈 Second Prize (1 winner)

$1,500 USD + 3-month pro subscriptions to AI tools

🥉 Runner-Up Prize (2 winners)

$500 USD + 2-month pro subscriptions to AI tools

Excellence Award (30 creators)

1-month pro subscriptions to AI tools

Winning entries will be promoted across sponsor social channels, invited to release on the AniShort streaming platform, and might even have the chance to further develop their animation with funding or studio support.

Scriptwriting Track

🏆 Grand Prize (1 winner)

$1,000 USD

Excellence Award (3 creators)

$100 USD

Selected scripts may be adapted into animations and released on the AniShort streaming platform with a revenue share.

Meet Our Panel

THE JUDGES

Our distinguished panel of judges includes industry leaders and creative pioneers:

Ben Waller

Ben Waller

Chief Creative Officer at Story Engine Inc., Screenwriter, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Roborockaylpse.

Michael Lingelbach

Michael Lingelbach

Founder & CEO of Hedra

Garrett Pollack

Garrett Pollack

Social media influencer in the anime space

Aiden Guo

Aiden Guo

Animator of One Piece, AI animation creator & influencer

Leanna Ren

Leanna Ren

VP @ MiniMax

TIMELINE

April 29, 2025

Competition Launch

April 29 - May 20, 2025

Submission Period

May 20 - June 1, 2025

Judging Period

June 1, 2025

Winner Announcement

REQUIREMENTS & RULES

🎬 ANIMATION TRACK

Create a vertical short animation that tells a compelling story

Format:

9:16 vertical (mobile-optimized), MP4

Duration:

30 seconds to 3 minutes

Content:

The animation should tell a full story or should be the opening story of a longer series. We do NOT accept trailers or music videos.

Key Requirements:

  • Use AI tools for at least 50% of creation, including:
    • At least one character talking scene using Hedra's Character-3 model
    • At least one character/scene image generated with Komiko
    • At least one animation clip generated with Hailuo, either through Hailuo platform or through Hedra/Komiko
  • Original work only - no copyright infringement
  • English voiceover or subtitles required
  • Post your work on social media and tag #AniGen @hedra_labs @KomikoAI @Hailuo_AI @AniShortApp so official accounts can repost
  • You must be 18 or older to qualify
  • No NSFW content, hate speech, extreme violence, or copyrighted material

✍️ SCRIPTWRITING TRACK

Craft an original concept for a vertical short animation series

Format:

Concept package with scripts for the first 5 episodes

Duration:

Each episode should be 1-2 minutes, designed for fast-paced, attention-grabbing storytelling

Genre:

All genres are welcome, e.g., action, romance, fantasy, isekai, shounen, etc.

Requirements:

  • Title, plot synopsis, character overview, and complete scripts of the first 5 episodes
  • Language: English or with English translations
  • Original work only - no copyright infringement
  • No NSFW content, hate speech, extreme violence, or copyrighted material

OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Hedra

Hedra

AI avatar video generation model

Hailuo

Hailuo

AI video generation model

Komiko

Komiko

AI animation & comics creation toolkit

AniShort

AniShort

Short animation streaming platform

JOIN THE FUTURE OF ANIMATION

Submit your entry today and pioneer the next wave of AI-powered animation.