The SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival has concluded successfully, yet its brilliance continues to resonate! As a top-tier event in the field of computer graphics and interactive techniques, SIGGRAPH has long served as an exceptional platform for animation creators, visual effects artists, scientists, and industry pioneers from around the world to gather and exchange ideas. This year’s event was grandly held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada, from August 10 to 14, attracting widespread attention.
About SIGGRAPH 2025
Since its inaugural edition in 1974, SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) has celebrated a glorious 52-year journey. It has witnessed the evolution of computer graphics from an emerging field into a profoundly influential industry today, encompassing animation, visual effects, gaming, scientific visualization, and more. As a key component of SIGGRAPH, the Computer Animation Festival has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as a qualifying event for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film since 1999. Its “Best in Show” shorts are eligible to compete for an Oscar, which is undoubtedly the highest recognition of the quality and innovation of animated works.
This year’s SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival once again brought together the world’s top creative and technological achievements. Through spectacular screenings at the Electronic Theater and Animation Theater, it showcased outstanding accomplishments in computer animation, visual effects, advertising, film, real-time graphics, and scientific visualization to the audience.
Award-Winning Works
Thanks to the Oscar qualification of its “Best in Show” shorts, the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival presented honors to four top-tier works, highlighting its prominent status and influence in the animation industry. These works not only demonstrate the creators’ remarkable achievements in creativity and technological innovation but also deliver profound artistic experiences to the audience through unique perspectives and emotional expressions.
Electronic Theater Audience Choice Award
Wednesdays with Gramps
Wednesdays with Gramps, the winner of the Electronic Theater Audience Choice Award, is a collaborative work by Chris Copeland, Justin Copeland, and Shabrayia Cleaver. This short film tells the story of a teenage boy who visits his grandfather at a nursing home. Amid seemingly ordinary daily moments, the boy gradually discovers that he and his grandfather share many commonalities.
Though the work contains no dialogue, it conveys age-transcending connection, communication, and resonance between people through delicate visuals and emotional expressions—allowing the audience to feel the warmth and power of family affection.
Best in Show Award
Trash
The winner of the Best in Show Award is Trash, a collaborative work by creators including Maxime Crançon, Fanny Vecchie, and Margaux Lutz, in partnership with École Supérieure Des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA).
In a dark alley, a skinny rat and a pigeon engage in a thrilling chase over a tiny piece of pizza. From the top to the bottom of the street, the chase is filled with intense speed and breathtaking moments, showcasing the fierce confrontation driven by the instinct to survive. It takes the audience on a visual and emotional roller coaster in just a few minutes.
Best Student Project
The Mooning
The recipient of the Best Student Project is The Mooning, a collaboration between Mason Klesch, Vivian Osness, and Ringling College of Art and Design.
This animation uncovers the “truth” behind the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing through a mockumentary format, in a humorous and unique style. With vivid imagination and creativity, it offers a reinterpretation of the historical event—letting the audience reflect on the line between reality and fiction while laughing. It fully demonstrates the bold creativity of student creators and their distinctive perspective on classic topics.
Juror’s Choice Award
Jour de vent
The recipient of the Jury’s Choice Award is Jour de vent, a collaborative work by creators including Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, and Elise Golfouse, in partnership with École des Nouvelles Images (ENSI).
When a gust of wind blows through the park, people start to float along with it. With simple yet poetic visuals, this work tells a story that seems straightforward yet is filled with fantasy. Through its unique visual style and imaginative plot, it immerses the audience in a dreamlike world, allowing them to feel the freedom and wonder brought by the wind.
Special Events
30th Anniversary Commemoration of Toy Story
SIGGRAPH 2025 also hosted an extraordinary event—the 30th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of Toy Story. As the world’s first full-length computer-animated feature film, Toy Story not only ushered in a new era of animated movies but also became a classic in the hearts of countless people with its innovative technology, touching story, and unique artistic style.
Co-hosted by the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival and ACM SIGGRAPH Pioneers, this commemorative event took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre at 12:30 PM on August 10.
SIGGRAPH 2025 also hosted an extraordinary special event—the 30th Anniversary Commemorative Screening of Toy Story. As the world’s first full-length computer-animated feature film, Toy Story not only ushered in a new era of animated movies but also became a classic in the hearts of countless people, thanks to its innovative technology, touching story, and unique artistic style. Co-hosted by the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival and ACM SIGGRAPH Pioneers, this commemorative event took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre at 12:30 PM on August 10.
The event featured a keynote speech by Ed Catmull—co-founder of Pixar and a pioneer in the field of computer graphics. He shared the breakthroughs, challenges, and successes during Toy Story’s creation process, guiding the audience through a review of the stories behind the film and its profound impact on the animation industry.
After the speech, the audience also enjoyed a Q&A session, a fun quiz, and a lucky draw. The event concluded with a special screening of Toy Story, allowing the audience to revisit the wonderful memories that mark the magical start of the CG revolution.
The SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival has come to a successful close, yet its brilliance continues to resonate. Here, we witnessed how creators from around the world perfectly blended technology and art to produce stunning visual works. These works not only let us feel the charm of technology but also revealed the boundless possibilities of human emotions and creativity.
With the successful conclusion of SIGGRAPH 2025, we are already eagerly looking forward to the grand opening of SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 in Hong Kong! We believe that there, we will see more remarkable innovations and technological breakthroughs—let’s look forward to it together!
