Animation (WA Only)
Description
Using 3D, 2D, and/or stop-motion animation tools, participants develop an animated short (with sound) and portfolio that reflects the theme for the year.
This is a Washington Only event, meaning students cannot compete in this event at the TSA National Conference
2026-27 Theme
Forward to 50: The Future That Almost Was
For generations, people have imagined the technologies, communities, transportation, communication, entertainment, and everyday life of the future. Some predictions became reality. Others never made it beyond our imaginations.
Your challenge is to bring one of those imagined futures to life.
Choose the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, or 2010s as your point of inspiration. Research how people during that era envisioned the future, then create an original animated story set in a world where that vision actually came true.
Your animation must follow a character through an ordinary situation in this extraordinary alternate future. The story should incorporate visual influences from your chosen decade while demonstrating how its ideas about technology and innovation have shaped everyday life.
Your animation must ultimately answer the question:
What happens when yesterday's vision of tomorrow becomes today's reality?
Competitive event guide coming soon
Tesla STEM HS, Team 1, 2026 1st Place
Event Resources
Event Examples
Click on the links to the right to view some entries of this event that placed at state last year!
Event Deadlines
January 21, 2027
Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. Only the team captain will be able to upload the file.
Students will submit completed documentation portfolio for scoring.
March 18, 2027
This is an Early Entry event!
Completed entry due by 5:00 pm, March 19!
Semifinalists will interview at State Conference
Washington TSA Rules
To compete, students must:
Belong to a currently affiliated TSA chapter
Be registered (by their TSA advisor) for competition by December 19, 2025 ($35)
Compete in the January 22, 2026 virtual competition (see individual event pages for details)
Be selected as a top competitor in their event(s) and invited to participate at State
Number of competitors is dependent on specific event
Qualifying competitor lists will be published by February 8, 2026
State Conference registration week February 23-27, 2026 (see state conference page for details)
At the state level, 3 teams (may be a team of 1 at advisor’s discretion) per chapter may compete.
