Short Anime Film Competition
Information
The AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival aims to promote and celebrate Japanese pop culture in Australia. Anime from Japan has become a worldwide phenomenon, and we would like to celebrate this through a short anime film competition in order to promote up and coming creators both locally and worldwide. Each year, a Japanese cultural theme is introduced to encourage cultural learning and understanding of Japan. The focus of the competition is the incorporation of the theme and overall quality. We encourage everyone who enjoys creating animation to apply with an entry.
See below for entry information.
Check out previous year’s entries: AnimeGo! Pop Culture Festival on YouTube
The AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival aims to promote and celebrate Japanese pop culture in Australia. Anime from Japan has become a worldwide phenomenon, and we would like to celebrate this through a short anime film competition. Each year, a theme is introduced to encourage cultural learning and understanding of Japan. The focus of the competition is the incorporation of the theme and overall quality. We encourage everyone who enjoys creating animation to apply with an entry.
This year’s theme is 「妖怪 」yokai. Yokai is a term for various supernatural beings that
appear in Japanese folklore and include the likes of ghosts, demons, shape shifters, goblins
and so forth. They are both malevolent and/or mischievous beings. Having major cultural
importance since the Edo period, yokai stories tell the unexplained, teach ethical concepts
and entertain.
Register and submit a film, and be in the running to win a $1000 towards a trip to Japan!
All films will be reviewed by our juding panel comprised of industry professionals, and the shortlisted films will be screened at this year’s AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival.
Registration for the 2026 competition are opened!
Please read the latest terms and conditions to ensure your entry will be accepted.
Competition Theme: 「妖怪 」yokai. Yokai is a term for various supernatural beings that
appear in Japanese folklore and include the likes of ghosts, demons, shape shifters, goblins
and so forth. They are both malevolent and/or mischievous beings. Having major cultural
importance since the Edo period, yokai stories tell the unexplained, teach ethical concepts
and entertain.
Registration Open: 20th Janaury 2026 at 9:00am (Australian Central Standard Time)
Registration Deadline: 20th September 2026 at 11:59pm (Australian Central Standard Time)
Submission Deadline: 22nd September 2026 at 11:59pm (Australian Central Standard Time)
Results Announcement: AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival 2026
Keep an eye out for the registration opening of the 2024 competition!
Prizes
Grand Prize
The winner(s) will receive $1000 towards a trip to Japan and an additional supporters prize pack, brought to you by the Japan Australia Friendship Association (JAFA)
Judging Criteria
The Short Anime Film Competition is a competition on the innovative use of the cultural theme. JAFA will appoint an independent judging panel to review the films entered in the Short Anime Film Competition. This panel will be comprised of industry professionals and JAFA committee members and others (Panel). The members of the panel will watch and review the films during October 2026. The judges will short list the 20 films which meet all requirements (top twenty films) and then determine the overall best film that will be the winner(s) of the AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival – Short Anime Film Competition (winner(s)). The winner(s) will be announced during the award ceremony at the AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival . The top twenty films and the ultimate winner(s) will be decided based on judging criteria determined by the panel. The panel will be asked to consider the following categories: Theme, Innovation, Technical Skills, and Anime/Cultural Referencing.
The categories will feature these key points:
Theme: How well has the specified theme been incorporated, referenced or conveyed throughout the animation. If there is no evidence of the reference, then the film will be disqualified.
Innovation: The level of innovation incorporated within the animation focussing on the following aspects, narrative style and interpretation.
Technical Skills: Evaluate to what level of success the Twelve Basic Principles of Animation have been utilised throughout the animation.
Cultural referencing: Evaluate the quality of cultural references incorporated throughout the animation. These may be subtle or overt for example: visual cues, compositional style, anime animation technique and storytelling approaches.
The panel’s decision will be final and no communications in relation to their decision will be allowed.
The twenty shortlisted films will be screened during the AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival on October 26th 2025, or an alternative date specified by JAFA. The creators of those films will be notified of their selection within 12 days of the panel’s decision. The shortlisted films may be placed into a people’s choice competition which will be announced after AnimeGO! Japan Pop Culture Festival. The creators will be provided with necessary details such as competition platform and prize once they are confirmed.
2026 Judges
David Blaiklock
David Blaiklock is a lecturer and the founder of the Bachelor of Illustration and Animation program at Adelaide University. He is an internationally recognized Illustration teacher/practitioner, his research centers on the nature of Illustration professional expertise in relation to practice, education, and storytelling.
Email: david.blaiklock@adelaide.edu.au
Instagram: @david.blaiklock
Steph aka Nin
Steph aka Nin is an Adelaide-based Animator and Illustrator with a love for exploring diverse artistic mediums. Inspired by the quirky and the theatrical, she’s often sketching performers or capturing unusual details from everyday life. In 2024, she brought her work to an international stage, creating an animation for The State of Grace by the acclaimed Michaela Burger, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. Nin thrives on crafting whimsical characters and weaving imaginative stories, building a portfolio that blends playfulness with artistry.
Email: punkninillustration@gmail.com
Instagram: @punknin_illustration
Jo Mignone
Jo Mignone is a recognised and awarded illustrator, artist and academic with over 25 years of practice. Jo’s creative practice has been awarded, including as an international finalist by the Mumedi Museum of Design, and three-time international finalist for the Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award, as well as having her creative work displayed in galleries locally and internationally. She has also been recognised for her academic excellence in her field of illustration and drawing as a Fellow by Advance HE and Jo’s current academic research work explores how neurodivergent comic artists may be better supported throughout the creative and publishing process.
Email: jo.mignone@adelaide.edu.au
Gabriel Cunnett
Born in Laura, South Australia, Gabriel Cunnett is an Adelaide-based illustrator, mural artist, and miscellaneous creative. A freelancer by nature (and occasionally a 9-to-5 drone), he has spent the past 20 years creating character-driven artwork across children’s books, educational illustrations and resources, public art projects, and whatever other interesting ideas come his way.
Gabriel has a particular fondness for playful characters, bold visual styles, and visual storytelling. He is always looking for opportunities to sneak a little humour into unexpected places, ie Public Service roles. He believes the best illustrations don’t just look good; they communicate, connect, and leave people smiling. He’s delighted to be judging this year’s AnimeGo competition and is looking forward to seeing the creativity and imagination on display
Email: gabe@gabe.com.au
Website: https://gabrielcunnettillustration.com/
Ethan Harris
Ethan is an Australian illustrator and comic creator. He has a passion for creating diverse sci-fi/fantasy narratives and bringing them to life through his illustrations and comics.
He has studied a bachelor of Design, Illustration & Animation and a bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) at the University of South Australia. He now tutors illustration and character model making at the university.
Ethan is a co-founder of the Illustration & Animation community Squish Squash, an Australian community connecting emerging creatives, active professionals and industry sectors. Details can be found here: Squish Squash.
Instagram: @ejharrisart
James Calvert
James is an educator, researcher and internationally recognised VR director, animated film maker and game designer. With over 20 years’ experience creating engaging content for all screen types, he has an enduring passion for immersive storytelling. James is the Program Director of Bachelor of Illustration and Animation program at Adelaide University. Prior to joining academia, James was a founder and director at the People’s Republic of Animation, where he directed short films and projects for international clients. He is also a video game designer with two successful mobile games released on the app market.