Back on the Lot: Animation Edition — Call for Submissions
Open Call · Animation
An open call for original animated shorts. Bring your own story, or build one around a character from our reference gallery — we want to work with you to get it made, and get it seen on the Fox Studios Lot.
Overview
FoxNXT is looking for talent.
FoxNXT is opening a call for original animated shorts. If you've got a strong original idea, we want to help you get it made — and get it seen. Don't have your own IP to develop? You can use one of the characters from our style reference gallery as the storyline for your submission.
Original Animated Short
Submit an original animated short (and supporting creative docs) based on a character, world, or story that is fully yours — or build your short around a character from our reference gallery if you don't have a project of your own ready.
Animation Showcase
5–7 selected films screen live at Back on the Lot: Animation Edition.
Short Development
Three films from the screening are chosen to receive $5,000 to further develop their short.
Pitch Your Concept
After development, our judges review the final versions and choose a winner. The winner gets lunch with Head of FoxNXT, Jon Flynn, and a pitch with Fox Entertainment CEO, Rob Wade.
Visual Reference
The style we're looking for.
There's no single look we're after — these stills show the range of what could work, from rotoscoped noir to stop-motion, claymation, woodcut, and mixed media. Bring your own visual voice.
Click any image to view it larger and download the full-resolution file. Don't have your own IP yet? These characters are yours to use — build your submission's storyline around any of them.
How to Submit
Submission instructions
Four steps from your short to the studio.
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01
Prepare your package
Your animated short, a pitch deck, visual style references, and character sheets. Using a reference-gallery character? Just tell us which one.
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02
Submit through the form
Upload your materials via the submission form below before the deadline.
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03
Studio review
The FoxNXT team and creative leads review every submission against the brief.
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04
Selects move forward
5–7 chosen projects screen at Back on the Lot: Animation Edition. Of these, 3 receive development funding.
Key Dates & Criteria
Mark your calendar.
Eligibility & requirements
- By submitting, you are agreeing that the IP is wholly original and fully owned by you, or is a character from our reference gallery.
- Submission package must include your animated short, a pitch deck, visual style references, and character sheets.
- Any animation style or medium is welcome — 2D, 3D, stop-motion, mixed media, and beyond.
- 3 minute max runtime.
- One submission per creator or team.
- All materials must be submitted through the form below by the deadline. Late or incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
Submit
Submit your animated short.
Ready to submit? Click below to open the submission form. You'll need to be signed in to a Google account to complete it.
Open Submission Form →