--- title: DIVE IN to the Digital Animation Award description: Learn about this year's theme for the Digital Animation Award which is now open to both FIRST Robotics Competition & FIRST Tech Challenge teams! --- *Blog authored by Collin Fultz and Rachel Moore*   We’re excited to announce that the Digital Animation Award competition is now open for submissions! New this year, the Digital Animation Award is open to both *FIRST*® Robotics Competition and *FIRST*® Tech Challenge teams. Each program will compete in separate divisions of the award, and a winner and finalists will be awarded in each program. This is an optional award that is open to all *FIRST* Robotics Competition and *FIRST* Tech Challenge teams. The Digital Animation Award is offered to help encourage students to cultivate skills in design and creation of animation including, but not limited to, storytelling, creativity, use of computer software, and an understanding of different techniques and forms of animation.   **2025 Theme: Dive** Whether it is an aquatic ***dive*** or an approach to other endeavors, we all ***dive*** into various opportunities as we go through life. The 2025 challenge: Create an animation of “***Dive***” that celebrates your *FIRST* experience. You can interpret “***Dive***” in any way you wish: - Diving into the water - Diving into a new experience - Scuba diving - Diving into a project - Etc. The specific theme chosen is less important than how you use your Digital Animation skills to show your innovative concept. Teams have until [11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 16, 2025](https://www.firstinspires.org/digital-animation-award-closes) to create their animation. Specific details on how to submit and requirements can be found on the [Digital Animation Award webpage](https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/digital-animation-award-sponsored-automationdirect). A big thanks to our friends at [AutomationDirect.com](https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/home/home) for being open to offering this award across both programs and for continuing to sponsor and judge this award! ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/dive-in-to-the-digital-animation-award) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/dive-in-to-the-digital-animation-award) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/dive-in-to-the-digital-animation-award) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) These blog posts have been contributed by members of *FIRST* staff. *FIRST* is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, N.H. ### Related Posts ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) 2026 Digital Animation Award Winners February 25, 2026 ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [FLL](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/fll), [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) FIRST Teams One Step Closer to Global Innovation Awards April 16, 2021 ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) 2025 Digital Animation Award Winners February 6, 2025 ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1200203950045814&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&event=PageVisit&noscript=1)