Winners announced at RTÉjr Animation Dingle Awards 2025
Skwigly
In its 13th year, Animation Dingle Festival has once again proven to be a resounding success! From early last year, we engaged the animation community, with over 750 registered animators answering the call and participating in the selection process, culminating in a weekend filled with creativity and inspiration in the beautiful setting of Dingle.
The festival wishes to thank our industry partners Screen Ireland and the support from Enterprise Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán, in achieving this festival.
Special thanks to Jam Media and to our main sponsors RTÉjr and Disney.
We are most grateful for the continued support from: The IDA, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet and The French Embassy of Ireland. Together, with the unwavering support of our partners and sponsors, Animation Dingle continues to serve as a platform for nurturing and showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of Ireland’s animation industry.
“RTÉjr are delighted to be back in 2025 as title sponsor of the Animation Dingle Awards. Animation Dingle is such a special event. Not only does it deliver this incredible synergy between Animation industry experts and students it’s also an incredible opportunity to meet inspiring people from all over the world and celebrate the creativity of the next generation coming through. I cannot wait to see what comes next for all of these inspiring talented young creators and thrilled that RTÉjr can help support them on their journey.“ said Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content at RTE from Dingle.
Here is a complete list of winners:
Young Animator of the Year (YAOTY) sponsored by Disney;
The award went to Athish Srinivasan from St Oliver’s Community College.
Best Irish Student sponsored by RTÉjr:
Awarded to Went to Moncha, by Freya Porrittwessman, TUS LSAD
Best International Student sponsored by BBC CBBC:
Awarded to Went to The Shyness of Trees by Bingqing Shu, Maud Le Bras, Jiaxin Huang, Simin He, Lina Han, Loïck Du Plessis D’Argentré, Sofiia Chuikovska, Gobelins.
Best Animation Award sponsored by MILKSHAKE!
Awarded to Cuttlefish by Ciara Walsh, TUS LSAD
Best Stop Motion Award sponsored by Aardman Animations
Awarded to Detlev by Ferdinand Ehrhardt, Film Academy Baden-Württemberg.
Best 2D, sponsored by Cartoon Saloon
Awarded to CUTTLEFISH, directed by Ciara Walsh, TUS LSAD
Best Director Award, sponsored by Boulder Media
Awarded to Went to The Shyness of Trees by Bingqing Shu, Maud Le Bras, Jiaxin Huang, Simin He, Lina Han, Loïck Du Plessis D’Argentré, Sofiia Chuikovska, Gobelins.
The Best Writer, jointly Sponsored by Animation Ireland and National Talent Academy for Animation
Awarded to Went to My Sisters Nature, directed by Bella Quinn, IADT
Best Design/ Art Direction awards sponsored by JAM Media
Awarded to Moncha, by Freya Porrittwessman, TUS LSAD
Best Sound Design sponsored by Turnip & Duck
Awarded to Samhain by Domhnal Cotter, IADT
Best Original Score, sponsored by Screen Composers Guild Ireland
Awarded to You’ve Got This, Allie! By Wren Petkov and Michelle Saal, IADT.
Best Cinematography, sponsored by Lighthouse Studios
Awarded to Of Minds and Terrors by Simas Abrutis and Joseph Catney, University of Ulster.
Best 3D/CGI, sponsored by DNEG
Awarded to Jour de Vent by Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, Elise Golfouse, Chloe Lab, Hugo Taillez , Camille Truding, ENSI.
Animation Dingle is proud to announce The Best Irish Professional Short
Retirement Plan by John Kelly
Best International Professional Short sponsored by Nickelodeon
Snow Bear by Aaron Blaise, USA
Best Sting
Awarded to Star Collector by Daria Hres, ATU
Best Game Sting, sponsored by 2K
Awarded to The Dingle Mystery by Marcin Zapedowski, BCFE
Best Game Trailer Award, sponsored by 2K was League of Legends – Still Here by UNIT IMAGE.
The Big Pitcher Winner, Marie Kishchuk with their project Fished & Found, wins a 3 month paid internship with Jam Media and will get to pitch at Cartoon Springboard later this year.
Murakami Award 2025 sponsored by Brown Bag Films was presented to Andrew Fitzpatrick
The Murakami Award, named after the legendary Japanese animator Jimmy Teru Murakami (村上輝明 ) (1933-2014) a founding father of Irish animation, recognises individuals who have demonstrated unparalleled innovation, vision, and impact in the field of animation.