The World University Animation Awards (WUAA) is now open for submissions!
• Submission Deadline: [May 20, 2025]
• Event Launch: [September 15-17, 2025]
• Submit Your Work Now: [https://filmfreeway.com/hkmuwuaa]
The first World University Animation Awards (WUAA), presented by Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), will officially launch in September 2025.
HKMU is widely acclaimed for its creative arts education, which has nurtured creative talent, many of whom have become celebrated literary authors, film and animation makers, visual artists and designers. They cover important ethical issues in the Humanities in their writing, and visual art and moving image works.
WUAA is a continuation and celebration of HKMU's creative arts education, and extends its beliefs and ideas to other universities around the world. The awards focus on outstanding works in Animation art, including 3D animation with imaginary story-telling or documentaries, and forms of art x technologies composing future animation arts. While this is the first WUAA, the University is expecting a good volume of submissions from countries and regions around the world. The adjudicators are distinguished animation professionals, visual artists, animators, documenters, art tech experts and scholars. WUAA will invite animation submissions from University students that cross formal and conceptual boundaries.
Whether you're an aspiring animator, an academic leader, or a professional in the field, WUAA invites you to join us in shaping the future of this extraordinary art form.
• Celebrate Excellence: Recognize and reward outstanding university-level animation works that demonstrate artistic vision, technical mastery, and originality.
• Promote Innovation: Encourage interdisciplinary exploration by blending art, technology, and storytelling to expand animation's creative potential.
• Foster Connection: Build a global network of young animators, academic leaders, and industry professionals to exchange ideas and inspire collaboration.
• Elevate Hong Kong: Position Hong Kong as a global hub for animation arts and education, contributing to international dialogues in creative arts and technology.
• Inspire Impactful Works: Motivate animators to explore cultural, environmental, and technological themes, crafting works that leave a profound artistic and humanistic impact.
Animation is more than an art form—it is a transformative medium that connects cultures, explores new ideas, and inspires future generations. From its historical roots in early visual storytelling to its innovative future, animation reflects humanity's enduring desire to tell stories, create beauty, and explore the unknown.
In the WUAA motion logo, the antelope serves as a metaphor for animation's evolution and the pursuit of dynamic storytelling. Its graceful movement, inspired by early attempts to depict motion—such as Paleolithic cave paintings and the 5,200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh—symbolizes creativity, innovation, and the relentless spirit of pushing artistic boundaries.
WUAA celebrates works that:
• Push the Boundaries: Conceptually, technically, and artistically.
• Fuse Disciplines:Blend art and science to create new visual languages.
• Embrace Innovation: Use cutting-edge technology and experimental methods to craft bold, visionary works.
• Inspire Change:Address cultural, environmental, or technological themes with depth and creativity.
• Showcase your talent on a global stage. Shortlisted animations will be screened during WUAA 2025.
• Gain recognition from distinguished industry professionals and scholars.
• Join a vibrant network of animators, artists, and academics.
• Explore opportunities for collaboration and exposure to cutting-edge animation trends.
Join us in celebrating the transformative power of animation as we connect talents from across the globe and empowers the next generation of creators to lead the industry forward.
Together, we animate the world, one frame at a time.
