A team of students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has won first prize at the 24hourscontest 2025, an international 24-hour animation challenge organized by Toon Boom Animation. The competition featured 764 teams from 35 countries and over 3,800 students.

The winning team, consisting of Arin Bandyopadhyay, Aditya Ravi Pawar, Aseel Pasha, and S. Balasankar, worked under the guidance of Dr. Mriganka Madhukaillya, Assistant Professor, Department of Design. The theme for this year, “Flip Your Perspective,” required participants to create a 30-second animated short film within 24 hours. The IIT Guwahati team’s creative approach and technical execution earned them the top position.

Congratulating the winners, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, said, “This achievement reflects the creativity and hard work of our students and faculty. Winning an international competition of this scale is a testament to the world-class talent nurtured at IIT Guwahati.”

The 24hourscontest is known for its strict rules and professional standards. Participants must storyboard, animate, and submit their work within 24 hours, without using pre-created artwork or AI tools. Late submissions lead to automatic disqualification.

As part of the first prize, the IIT Guwahati team will receive student passes to the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) 2026, along with professional animation software licenses, studio memberships, and mentorship sessions with Disney animators.

This year’s contest was sponsored by leading animation companies including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Sony Pictures Animation, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Animation, Netflix, DreamWorks, Toon Boom Animation, and others.

The winning animation can be viewed on YouTube here, and the official winners’ list is available at 24hourscontest.com.