The highest honour for creative media & entertainment students
About The Rookies.
Our History
The Rookies was established in 2009 with the goal of showcasing the amazing creative talent emerging from educational facilities around the world. Over the years it has become a right-of-passage for all graduates as they start their careers.
Who Can Enter?
The Rookies 2018 is for students and recent alumni 18 years or older. To enter the main categories you must be able to show proof that you studied between January 2017 and May 2018. Additional categories are open to everyone, but please read rules carefully.
Prizes and Benefits
Entrants can win weekly prizes, jobs, educational scholarships and even studio internships. Entrants also receive an official industry ranking, become confident presenting their work and can see how their skills compare with other students.
2018 Awards Timeline.
March 7th: Open for Submissions
Eligible entrants are asked to create an entry page and upload their best work for the judges to review.
May 31st: Submissions Close
No extensions are ever allowed. This is a solid date, just like a production deadline. Don’t miss it!
June 30th: Finalists Announced
Our Judging panel reviews every entry, awarding them an industry ranking and selecting top people per category.
July 16th: Winners Announced
All judging completed and winners of jobs, internships, scholarships and People’s Choice are announced.
Success Stories.
Three Rookies talk about Working at Weta Digital
How Entering The Rookies got this Guy a Job in Visual Effects
The Rookies was the springboard for my career in Visual Effects
High School Student to Rookies Young Gun
What Kenson Wang has to say about a Rookies Internship
From Rookie to Compositing Supervisor on Guardians of the Galaxy
The School of the Year Report is of relevance to both students and tutors, studios and recruiters. It has been produced to assist and enable prospective students to find a school that is best suited to their desired career path.
The report includes a detailed breakdown of all the data collected from student submissions for 2017. Included inside a further breakdowns and additional ranking for other schools that participated. We hope this report will help ensure schools continue to push their curriculums to the edge and to guide students in demonstrating learnt skills that are perfectly matched to the requirements of production.
Categories from Traditional to Tomorrow.
Feature Animation
Digital media content created specifically for the use in a stylised Feature Animation film similar to Pixar and Dreamwork.
View ExamplesDigital Illustration
Illustrations and concept art created for feature film, computer games, story narrative, advertising and fanart purposes.
View ExamplesVisual Effects
Entries with a focus on live action visual effects for film and advertisements. Skills ranging from roto through to comp.
View ExamplesGame Development
3D based content used in the creation of video games for console systems and mobile devices.
View ExamplesVirtual Reality
Content created specifically for use with virtual reality headsets is the goal here. This includes games, apps, and all VR experiences.
View Examples3D Motion Graphics
Entries which showcase video projects that feature 3D components, animated still images, or live action with graphics.
View ExamplesProduct Visualisation
Focused on product, furniture, and gadget design that are to be manufactured through techniques of mass production.
View ExamplesArchitecture Visualisation
Content created to help visualise building interiors and exteriors, landscaping, town planning and sustainability.
View ExamplesFilm of the Year - Visual Effects
Films created by both teams and individuals that include live action visual effects used to help tell a story, add that wow factor, or just improve raw footage.
View ExamplesFilm of the Year - 2D Animation
Looking for the very best in 2D animated short films. The films can be created by both teams and individuals. Trailers and unfinished projects allowed.
View ExamplesFilm of the Year - 3D Animation
Looking for the very best in 3D animated short films. The films can be created by both teams and individuals. Trailers and unfinished projects allowed.
View ExamplesGame of the Year - Console and PC
We are looking for teams and individuals who have created console games. Trailers and incomplete games are allowed to be submitted. Finished games preferred.
View ExamplesGame of the Year - VR / AR
Team and individual games that have been designed to use the latest virtual reality systems. Completed projects preferred, but game play examples and trailers accepted.
View ExamplesGame of the Year - Mobile
Team and individual games that have been created for mobile devices. Completed projects preferred, but game play examples and trailers accepted.
View Examples
