Blizzard To Hold Overwatch Student Animation Festival

Blizzard is asking all Overwatch fans to embrace their creative side and take part in its very own European student animation festival. Blizzard is known for its unique animation style and cast of colourful characters including the likes of Tracer, Winston, and Echo. As we head toward Overwatch 2 and promises of a more story-focused title, Blizzard is reminding us what made its hero shooter so popular in the first place.

Those who take part in the student animation festival are competing for a grand prize of €25,000 ($29,000). Students from across Europe are being asked to create animations of various Overwatch characters and will be given different monthly themes. With the videos being hosted on a new section of the Overwatch site, fans can vote for their favourite while an expert panel of judges will pick the final winner each month. 

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A press release from Blizzard explained, "Animation is a huge part of the Overwatch universe, and a big area of interest for Overwatch community. We believe [animation] is one of the most beautiful and inspiring forms or art and storytelling that enables various talents and passions. At Blizzard, we would love to support aspiring talent – this is why we are announcing the Overwatch Student Animation Festival that will take place through 2020 and early 2021". 

Looking closer at the themes, things will kick off in October with "vacation" and the idea that all your Overwatch players are kicking back and getting some well-deserved R&R from saving the world. You'd better get your chef's hat on for November's theme of "cooking", and finally, December has the broad idea of "day-to-day" life, which is hardly the festive theme many of us were expecting.

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Although the animations that get the most number of audience votes will be awarded the Audience Choice Award, you'll really want to impress the judging panel. Made up of six "industry experts in animation and film production", the illustrious panel includes French film director Christian Volckman, Blizzard lead animator Ryan Denniston, and the company's cinematic director - Benjamin Dai. 

Alongside the monthly prizes, the grand final is offering the winning student (or group) a €6,000 prize and free Overwatch licences. Anyone who wants to take part should head over to the official animation festival application. With this being hyped as the inaugural event, there's every chance we could see another animation festival next year. 

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Images via Blizzard Entertainment