LogInThe competition invites animators to push the limits of real-time character animation using the Motorica toolkit. Motorica empowers teams to create high-quality character animation at a massive scale by automating chores while enhancing creative control.
Welcome to Motorica Masters, the $3,000 animation challenge where creativity takes control. We're inviting a select group of expert animators to push the limits of real-time character animation, leveraging the Motorica full enterprise toolset (Motion Stage + Motion Factory + Style Cloning), which enables creative empowerment at scale in animation workflows, eliminates drudgery, and delivers quality at scale with physically accurate, character-consistent motion without trade-offs on control.
Participants will animate within Motorica's motion-authoring environment – built for speed, control, and expressive movement – and compete to create the most compelling performance using real gameplay-ready workflows, already trusted by such companies as Quantic Dream, Far Out Games, and Digital Continue. We’re on the lookout for your innovative approaches to motion matching beyond the freely available GASP templates. Standout entries will exhibit a thoughtful approach to integrating Motorica-generated animations into a custom Motion Matching system. The more creative your system, the better!
About Motorica
Motorica is an animation toolset built for creative control and AAA production quality. It gives animators the freedom to shape motion in two powerful ways: style control that defines the feel and personality of animation, and metric-based motion control driven by precise root motion data for technical accuracy in real time.
Meet the Judge
Harvey Newman is a Game Director and Animation Consultant with 20+ years of experience helping studios elevate their animation pipelines and creative output. Founder of Proxima Studio and Animworks Ltd, Harvey has contributed to acclaimed projects including Battlefield V and Horizon Zero Dawn.
Judging Criteria
1. Creative Distinction
How uniquely the animation and system(s) stands apart from pre-existing mass market systems (e.g., GASP). Judges will look for originality, personality, and expressive intent that makes the movement feel truly authored by the animator and AAA quality. Unlimited use of characters and crowds.
2. Technical Use of Motorica
Effective and inventive use of Motorica’s products and tools, such as motion editing, blending, and refinement and to expand beyond preset motion matching limitations. Judges will reward entries that push the platform to achieve results that weren’t possible with traditional setups.
3. Execution & Control
The precision, polish, and believability of the movement. This includes body mechanics, timing, and the animator’s ability to maintain control while achieving fluid, responsive, and dynamic results.
4. Innovation & Exploration
How far the entrant pushes Motorica creatively and technically. Judges will value bold experimentation, clever problem-solving, and exploration of what the tools can do when pushed beyond expected boundaries
Timeline
- Oct 30 – Contestant applications open
- Nov 14 – Competition Begins (2 weeks for competitors to work)
- Nov 30 – Submission deadline
- December 3 – Winners announced
Rules
1. Eligibility
- Motorica Masters is aimed at technically skilled animators and technical animators with prior experience in motion matching or real-time animation workflows.
- Participants must register through the official Motorica Masters entry form.
- Limited to animation professionals.
2. Theme & Brief
- Animators must create their submission using the Motorica toolset.
- The final output should be a short real-time animation sequence showcasing expressive movement, timing, and control.
3. Submission Requirements
- Entries must be exported as a rendered video (up to 30 seconds).
- Include a short breakdown or capture from within Motorica showing the workflow (Casual, Loom-style explainer video).
- Unreal project file.
- Submissions must be original work created by the participant during the competition period.
- File naming and upload instructions will be provided upon registration.
4. Ownership & Rights
Participants retain ownership of their animations.
By submitting, participants grant Motorica permission to showcase entries for marketing and educational purposes (with credit).
5. Prizes
Cash awards, exposure across Motorica’s channels.
1st $1500 USD, 2nd $1000 USD, 3rd $500 USD.
6. Disqualification
Use of existing out-of-the-box 3rd party animations/systems (GASP, etc.) without meaningful alterations.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Use of copyrighted or non-original assets without permission will result in disqualification.