IIT Guwahati Students Win Global Animation Contest, Triumph Over 764 Teams Worldwide
Guwahati, October 23, 2025: In a remarkable achievement that has brought global recognition to Indian creativity and design, students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have clinched the first prize at the prestigious 24 Hours Animation Contest 2025, defeating 764 teams from 185 institutions across 35 countries.
The annual competition, organized by Toon Boom Animation, challenges participants to produce a 30-second animated short film within a strict 24-hour period. This year’s theme, “Flip Your Perspective,” tested the limits of imagination, technical skill, and teamwork among 3,820 students worldwide.
The winning team from IIT Guwahati—Arin Bandyopadhyay, Aditya Ravi Pawar, Aseel Pasha, and S. Balasankar—worked under the guidance of Dr. Mriganka Madhukaillya, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design. Their innovative interpretation of the theme and mastery of animation tools helped them stand out among hundreds of international entries.
Congratulating the team, 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 24 Hours Animation Contest, known globally for its intensity and rigor, prohibits the use of pre-made assets or AI-generated visuals and sounds. Participants must conceptualize, storyboard, animate, and finalize their films from scratch within the limited timeframe. Even a one-second delay in submission results in automatic disqualification, underscoring the competition’s demanding standards.
This year’s edition was sponsored by several global animation giants, including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Sony Pictures Animation, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Animation, DreamWorks, Netflix, and Toon Boom Animation.
As winners, the IIT Guwahati students have been awarded passes to the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) 2026, along with professional software licenses, studio memberships, and exclusive mentorship sessions with Disney animators.
The victory highlights IIT Guwahati’s growing reputation as a hub of creativity, innovation, and design excellence—proving once again that India’s young minds are ready to make a mark on the global stage.
