Check the entries and winners of our earlier contests: 28 Feb 2003, 31 May 2003, 31 Aug 2003, 30 Nov 2003. 29 Feb 2004. 31 May 2004. 31 Aug 2004. 30 Nov 2004. 31 May 2005. 30 Nov 2005. 31 May 2006.

Check out our Star Gallery to see out all our contest entries and everything else we have for download. You'll even see any entries in the current contest.

How do you enter?
It's easy. First download the latest ANIMOIDS Program. Then use it to create a unique animated character, prop, behavior, set or scene.

Once your work is ready, use the ANIMOIDS Program's File, Upload () feature to upload the work as an entry into the contest.

See the Upload Tutorial for full details on uploading a file for contest entry.

When: enter soon to increase your chances
The sooner you enter, the greater is your chance of winning.

Why? Because ANIMOIDS is a collaborative system. Soon after you enter the contest, staff at Troy Studios will check that your entry is suitable for general audiences. If so, it will become visible to everyone in our Gallery.

At that point, other ANIMOIDS users will be able to use your Animoid, or components of it, in their own contest entries. If the winning Animoid uses part of your Animoid, you'll share in the prize! (Share of winnings will be determined by Troy Studios based on our estimates of creativity and development effort.)

(ANIMOIDS software can track the fact that one Animoid uses parts from another.)

Our judges will look at things like number of downloads and ratings by other users to help pick the winners. The longer your entry is visible the more chance other users have to download it.

So, spend your time creating a really good face (or eye, hand, hair do, etc.) and hope that everyone else wants to use it!

Everyone can submit up to 10 entries per contest. So don't delay. Get started now.

Why are we offering this prize?
Because we want to get people like you interested in our 3D Animation program.

ANIMOIDS is a system where you can share your creations with others. Over time we hope to build a fantastic library of Characters, Props, Behaviors, Sets, Scenes, Sounds, Textures and everything else you need to make 3D animated movies.

We'll provide the animation software - but we are looking for you to do the art work!

You've got time on your hands? You want to have a go at 3D animation? Then go for it!

Today you can have some creative fun with 3D animation. You may even win up to $1,000.

In the near future you may even be able to earn much more with ANIMOIDS. But we don't want to give that game away just yet. Get started now and stay tuned!

Who can enter?
You can! (Unless you are an employee of Troy Studios.)

Just use the ANIMOIDS software to build something special and submit it.

What should I create?
It's totally up to you. But, if you want to win the top prize, we'd suggest that your entry has sound, action and a good story!

• Our Movie Scenes are where you can put everything together to build a sophisticated animation. Show your skills as a director using characters and props that you can create yourself or objects created by others.
  
• Into building characters? So, maybe you go for something realistic - a cute babe or guy? Animals can be a good source of ideas. I've got a Pug that I think would make a great Animoid - but don't all rush and do the same thing!
  Lots of great animated characters are unique. They are built out of the minds of artists and don't represent real animals or people.
  
• If you are into props and sets, build a spaceship or perhaps just a door!
  
• Feel free to use any external program you have to make the art files (gif or jpeg) or sounds (.wav, .au, .midi) you need to add texture and sounds to your creations. Adding sounds (your own or from our library) can make a big difference.
  
• If you build a character or prop try to animate it in a Behavior. When our judges see your Character moving it often makes it much more attractive.
  
• Bright entries with lots of contrast often get rated highly. You can put lots of work into a dark entry. But if it does not stand out, it may not be judged highly!

Start with something easy - just to get the hang of Animoid editing. Then go for the prize.

Again, check our Star Gallery to see (and download) examples of what ANIMOIDS can do.

You be the Judge
Yes, you can judge your own entries and the entries of other users - by using our Star Gallery from your ANIMOIDS program and clicking the My Opinion links.

The results of "user ratings" will assist our Judges. But our official judges will still pick the winners of the current contest.

If the results of our user judging look pretty honest(!), we might use that as the primary judging mechanism for the next contest!!

(The results of user judging does directly affect the order of entries in our Star Gallery.)

Just remember - we record individual "votes". So if you judge your own entries high and all other entries low, we'll know, and may remove all your votes from our system - unless it's clear to us that your entries are better than everyone elses!

Publicity
We are running this contest to draw attention to ANIMOIDS. After (and during) the contest, we plan to allow other users to view and download contest entries.

So don't enter if you don't want to see your name in lights! (Well, it may not be lights, but we'll at least try to get it in bold text somewhere. Maybe even a large font!)

Like all artists, you are welcome to use a stage name, pen name, mouse name, ...

Legal
Void where prohibited!

You get to use free software and maybe win a prize. In return Troy Studios gets the right to let other ANIMOIDS users view and use your animated creations.

Don't violate the copyrights of others - it's against the law!