Young Animator of the Year UK 2026 is live!

We have some very exciting news to share 🥁🥁🥁…

Young Animator of the Year UK 2026 is live and open for entries!!!! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that HUE is once again sponsoring the Stop Motion category of the 2026 Young Animator of the Year UK Awards, the UK’s biggest animation competition for young filmmakers aged 11–22.

At HUE, we’re passionate about sparking creativity in young minds through tools like HUE Animation Toolbox and HUE Clay, so supporting YAY UK is a natural fit for us. It’s an inspiring celebration of young talent and the power of imaginative storytelling.

What is YAY UK?

YAY UK is a one of a kind animation competition that offers young animators an incredible opportunity to:

Showcase their work
Get noticed by industry professionals
See their film screened at the prestigious Manchester Animation Festival (MAF)

Co-created by Tom Box, Co-founder of Blue Zoo Animation Studio, YAY UK is a collaboration between ACCESS:VFX and MAF. Its mission is to discover, support and celebrate the brightest young animation talent across 2D, 3D and stop motion.

What About This Year?

This year’s theme for the competition is the word OPPOSITES.

Competitors are not required to use this theme but this word can be used to inspire an idea. The animations will not be judged on how well they relate to this theme.

New for 2026, YAY has introduced a dedicated Best Group Project category, created to “open the competition further to young filmmakers already working collaboratively and to recognise the value of shared creativity.”

The competition is free to enter and open to anyone 11–22 living in the UK. You’ve got until 1st September 2026 to submit your film so don’t delay and START YOUR ENTRY NOW!

Why Enter?

Whether you’re just starting out or already creating amazing films, YAY UK is your chance to:

Build confidence and creative skills
Gain recognition from industry experts
Connect with other animators
Experience your work on the big screen

Entries are judged by leading figures in the animation industry and this year’s winners will also be invited on exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of multi-award-winning studios Aardman in Bristol and Blue Zoo Animation Studio in London.

Winning films will be unveiled at the Manchester Animation Festival on Sunday 8th November in a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating the year’s most outstanding talent.

The winners will also take home an incredibly cool YAY UK 2026 trophy, hand painted by Blue Zoo’s very own Tom Box! 😎