International Challenge 2026

GO48! ANIMATE Contest

Anim8�(48 Hours Challenge)

Challenge

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BRING THE CHARACTER TO LIFE!�Animate. Perform. Tell a Story.

THE CHALLENGE

A character comes alive not just through movement, but through expressions, gestures, timing and personality.For this challenge, GO48 will provide you with an audio clip containing dialogue or a performance-based sound sequence.

Your task is to select a freely available character rig and create an animated performance that brings the supplied audio to life. Interpret the audio, understand its mood and intent, and use your character's expressions, body language and movements to communicate the performance effectively.

You have 48 hours to transform a static character into a convincing animated performance.

The challenge is about bringing personality and emotion to a character through animation.

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Objective

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Create a character animation based on the provided audio clip.

Your animation should demonstrate:

• Effective character performance and acting.
• Appropriate lip-sync with the supplied dialogue, wherever applicable.
• Expressive facial movements and emotions.
• Natural body language, gestures and movements.
• Proper timing, spacing and animation principles.
• A clear connection between the audio and the character's performance.

Your character should feel alive, believable and connected to the audio.

Audio Clip Reference

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Your task:

• Listen carefully to the complete audio clip.
• Understand the dialogue, mood, emotion and context.
• Identify the important moments that need visual expression.
• Plan your character's actions and performance accordingly.
• Animate the character to complement the audio.

The audio supplied by GO48 must be used for the final animation. Do not replace it with a different dialogue or independently generated audio.

Reference Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-1mBS55_Y6h8_SI4MNf5Wv8X9Xf39ZUb?usp=sharing

Character Rig Reference

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We have provided a character rig for participants to use. However, participants are free to choose any freely available character rig suitable for the challenge.

Important considerations:

• The character must have a functional rig suitable for animation.
• Facial controls and lip-sync capabilities are encouraged.
• The rig must be legally available for free use.
• You may use a pre-existing character rig, but the animation and performance must be your own original work.
• You are not required to model or rig a new character.

You may use the provided suitable animation software and workflow.

Reference Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-1mBS55_Y6h8_SI4MNf5Wv8X9Xf39ZUb?usp=sharing

Animation Guidelines

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Focus on delivering a convincing character performance.

A. Character Acting

• Make the character's performance suit the audio.
• Use appropriate gestures and body movements.
• Communicate the intended emotion through the character.
• Avoid unnecessary or random movements.

B. Facial Expressions

• Use facial expressions to communicate emotions.
• Make expressions appropriate to the dialogue.
• Include eye movement and blinking where suitable.
• Ensure facial expressions support the overall performance.

Animation Guidelines

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C. Lip-Sync

• Synchronise mouth movements with the supplied dialogue.
• Pay attention to important syllables and phonetic changes.
• Avoid mechanical or repetitive mouth movements.
• Ensure the character's facial performance feels connected to the voice.

D. Body Mechanics

• Use natural body movements and gestures.
• Maintain balance and believable weight shifts.
• Pay attention to timing, spacing and transitions.
• Avoid stiff or disconnected movements.

Animation Guidelines

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E. Timing and Performance

• Identify important beats in the audio.
• Use pauses and reactions effectively.
• Ensure the animation starts and ends appropriately.
• Maintain continuity throughout the performance.

What to Focus On

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Modeling & Animation Workflow

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Remember: The focus is character animation and performance, not the complexity of the character or environment.

Creative Freedom

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You are free to decide how your character interprets and performs the supplied audio.

You may choose:

• A realistic or stylised character.
• A humorous, dramatic or expressive performance.
• Suitable body movements and gestures.
• Appropriate facial expressions and reactions.
• A simple background or camera setup.

However, your animation must remain connected to the supplied audio and must not alter its original meaning.

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Evaluation Criteria

Submission Requirements

Upload your files through the official GO48 submission form.

Submission Form Link: �https://forms.gle/7oCMHGkkVZPFrchDA

Submission Requirements

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Save the filename as

�For Final Animation:�go482026_ANIMATE_Anim8_<yourname>_<city>_<country>_final.mp4

For Project File:�go482026_ANIMATE_Anim8_<yourname>_<city>_<country>_project.<extension>

For Process Screenshots:�go482026_ANIMATE_Anim8_<yourname>_<city>_<country>_process_01.jpg�go482026_ANIMATE_Anim8_<yourname>_<city>_<country>_process_02.jpg��*Do not put your name or any identification in front of the artwork.*

Submission Form : Drop My Entry

Important Rules

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• This is an individual competition. Team submissions are not permitted.
• Participants must use the official audio clip supplied by GO48.
• Participants may use any freely available character rig.
• The character rig may be pre-existing, but the animation must be created by the participant during the challenge.
• Paid or unauthorised character rigs and assets must not be used.
• Participants must ensure that their selected character rig is legally available for their intended use.
• The final submission must be completed within the 48-hour deadline.
• Do not submit someone else's animation or pre-existing completed animation.
• Once submitted, files must not be edited or replaced. Submission timestamps may be checked.
• Any violation of the competition rules may result in disqualification.
• The jury's decision will be final.

Tips for Success

• Listen to the audio several times before starting.
• Understand the emotion and intention behind every line.
• Choose a character rig that you can operate comfortably.
• Start with key poses and blocking.
• Focus on the overall performance before polishing details.
• Pay attention to facial expressions and eye direction.
• Avoid excessive or unnecessary movements.
• Refine lip-sync and body movements together.
• Use pauses and reactions to make the performance believable.
• Keep your animation clean, readable and engaging.

A simple character with excellent acting is more effective than a complex character with poor animation.

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30 mins

Submission Form

48 Hours

Understand the problem

Start → Animate→ Export → Submit

Drop My Entry

Have Questions?

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Ask in the official GO48 communication channel or participant group.

The GO48 team and mentors are available to help with competition-related queries.

Good luck!

Think. Create. Communicate.

GO48 International Design Challenge 2026

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