Young Animator of The Year 2026 Celebrates The Future Of Uk Animation
Skwigly
The Young Animator of the Year (YAY UK) Awards returned to Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) on Sunday 8 November, celebrating the UK’s most exciting emerging animation talent. Run by Blue Zoo Animation Studio and ACCESS:VFX in partnership with Manchester Animation Festival, and supported by HUE and Wacom, the annual competition recognises outstanding young creatives aged 11-22 working across stop-motion, 2D and 3D animation.
Created to identify, support and champion the next generation of industry talent, YAY UK has become the country’s leading animation competition for young people. Central to its mission is building a diverse, industry-ready talent pipeline by connecting aspiring animators with leading studios, professionals and industry bodies. Designed to be accessible and inclusive, the competition welcomes participants from all backgrounds and experience levels, providing a platform for original voices and creative storytelling.
This year’s awards ceremony took place at Manchester Animation Festival, the UK’s largest animation event, where winners, families, judges and industry professionals gathered to celebrate the exceptional creativity, imagination and technical skill demonstrated by young animators from across the country.
2D
Category Age 11-14 – Nelson, aged 14 from Heywood
Category Age 15-18 – Nicholas Newbery, aged 18 from Edinburgh
Category Age 19-22 – Izzy, aged 20 from London
3D
Category Age 15-18 – Arjun Mathur, aged 18 from Hatfield
Category Age 19-22 – Alfie Hembrow-Forrester, aged 19 from Shrewsbury
Stop Motion
Category Age 11-14 – Sophie, aged 13 from Sheffield
Category Age 15-18 – Ptolemy, aged 17 from Exeter
Category Age 19-22 – Kat Mulan, aged 21 from Bedford
New for 2026, the Best Group Project category was introduced to recognise collaborative filmmaking and celebrate the power of creative teamwork and was won by Kitty Bowen and her team.
A huge congratulations to the winners of the YAY competition 2026! The talent on show this year was almost overwhelming, and it’s genuinely a pleasure to see young people embrace the craft of animation so fully. With over 240 animated films created and submitted by young people, this is the biggest YAY so far. So thank you to everyone who submitted a film and their friends, family and teachers who encouraged them to do so.
Tom Box, Co-founder and Managing Director of Blue Zoo Animation Studio and one of the competition’s founders
I was hugely impressed by the quality and creativity of this year’s entries. YAY UK plays such an important role in giving young people a platform to develop their skills, tell their stories and discover what a career in animation can look like. Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who submitted their work.
Ruth Fielding, Joint MD Lupus Films, Chair of Animation UK and YAY UK 2026 Judge
YAY UK continues to play an important role in nurturing future talent, with former participants going on to careers at leading studios including Industrial Light & Magic, Locksmith Animation, Aardman, Blue Zoo and DNEG. Through expert feedback, industry exposure and direct connections with animation professionals, the programme provides young creatives with valuable opportunities to develop their skills and confidence.
In recognition of their achievements, this year’s winners will be invited on exclusive behind-the-scenes visits to the multi-award-winning studios Aardman in Bristol and Blue Zoo Animation Studio in London. These experiences offer rare access to professional animation environments, giving winners the opportunity to meet industry professionals and see first-hand how world-class film and television animation is created.
The 2027 Young Animator of the Year competition will open in Spring 2027, keep up to date on entries opening by signing up to YAY UK newsletter.
For more information visit: https://younganimator.uk