IIT Guwahati Students Create History, Win Prestigious 24-Hour Animation Challenge 2025
Guwahati, Assam: In a historic feat for India, four design students from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have secured championship at the recently held 24-Hour Animation Challenge 2025. The contest is regarded as one of the most prestigious internationally recognised student animation competitions.
The event saw participation from 3820 students and 755 teams representing 35 countries, making it one of the largest creative competitions of its kind in the world. The competition and theme reveal were held online on October 3 on Toon Boom Animation’s official YouTube channel via live stream.
The team: Aseel Pasha (M. Des. 2) from Kozhikode, Kerala, S. Balasankar (M. Des. 2) from Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, Arin Bandopadhyay (B. Des. 3) from Kolkata, West Bengal, and Aditya Pawar (B. Des. 3) from Pune, Maharashtra, created a stunning 30-second 2D animated short that won over the jury of leading global studio.
This year’s event’s theme, “Flip Your Perspective”, called for ideas that challenged how people see the world. The IIT Guwahati team excelled in replicating the idea by telling a powerful, emotionally resonant story within just half a minute.
Read Also: IIT Guwahati Implements Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to Achieve Educational Excellence In Meghalaya
The achievement marks India’s first-ever victory in the competition in its 23-year history, putting the country’s young creators and its design education ecosystem on the global animation map, as per the data provided on the 24hourscontest website.
Big names in the global animation industry, such as Toon Boom Animation, Lucasfilm Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Netflix Animation Studios, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, Cartoon Saloon, Skydance Animation, ASIFA-Hollywood, among others had backed the competition.
The competition is judged by professionals from the same studios that produce Toy Story, Frozen, Kung Fu Panda, and Moana, making it a challenge on par with the global championship for student animation.
Read Also: IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop High-Performance Materials For Supercapacitors
Along with the global title, the IIT team has been awarded prizes worth $24962, which includes a cash prize, student passes to attend TAAFI (Toronto Animation Arts Festival International) in April 2026, one of North America’s premier animation festivals, and various other amenities.
Speaking to Timeline, Aseel Pasha, one of the participants from the winning team of the IIT, said that the competition is not just about drawing or movement, it’s about how creativity, collaboration, and storytelling can connect cultures and redefine communication. “For those within the industry, it represents one of the highest benchmarks of recognition a student team can achieve, symbolising skill, emotional intelligence, and cinematic craft under pressure,” he stated.
Aseel further pointed out that the IIT Guwahati team’s win is therefore more than a trophy, it’s a moment of national pride. It shows that India’s creative minds are ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best.
Read Also: IIT Guwahati Student With Cerebral Palsy Secures Dream Job In Google
However, the spectacular victory in the 24-Hour Animation Challenge 2025 highlights the growing strength of India’s design and animation education, especially among younger creators who are merging cultural storytelling with global aesthetics.
“The team’s achievement is not just a victory for a university or a state; it is a victory for India’s creative spirit, proving that with passion, persistence, and purpose, even a 30-second story can make history,” Aseel added. It is also important to note that work is showcased at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres located at Ovation Hollywood complex Los Angeles.
Founded in 2002, the 24-Hour Animation Challenge invites teams from around the world to create an original animated short film within 24 hours.
Sponsored by top global studios such as Disney, Pixar, Netflix, and DreamWorks, it is considered one of the world’s most demanding and respected creative contests for student animators and designers. So far, a total of 240 schools from 35 countries have joined the event, and around 15k students have survived the challenge.
