We are excited to announce that The Walt Disney Company and Blue Zoo Animation Studio have come together to set up a competition to discover, support and develop diverse writing talent in the animation industry.
With generous funding from Disney+, the initiative will support six winners from the competition with mentoring and development support from professionals from the industry. Two final winners will be selected and offered a six-week paid internship at Blue Zoo.
This exciting initiative will be supported by professional writers and scriptwriters to help aspiring diverse writers start and develop a career in the industry and get valuable industry experience.
Blue Zoo is thrilled to be working on this exciting initiative with our friends at Disney. There is a considerable way to go in the children's media industry to offer meaningful employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. The audiences we serve come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and the people who write the stories we tell should be too. We are excited to play a part in making this happen!
The competition will open on 18th March 2024 and will be hosted on Blue Zoo’s website. The deadline for applications will be 12th April 2024 and the initial six winners will be announced in May 2024. We’re excited to see all the applications!
The purpose of this Writing Competition is to find and nurture new talent. In this regard, neither Blue Zoo or Disney will take ownership of any treatment or script brought to it by an entrant and every entrant shall retain full ownership and control of their entry.
However, Disney or Blue Zoo may have a similar or identical idea, format or story which has been independently developed or produced by Blue Zoo or Disney or submitted to Disney by a third party, and the entrant acknowledges that the entrant will not be entitled to prevent either Blue Zoo or Disney from exploiting such idea or claim any remuneration or participation from it.
We are seeking stories that captivate, inspire, and reflect the diversity of our communities.
Your submission should embrace the theme of belonging and highlight the importance of representation in storytelling. Whether you choose to explore themes of identity, culture, heritage, or personal growth, your narrative should resonate with authenticity and empathy.
Submissions can be in written form or presented via spoken word or video. We encourage creativity in storytelling mediums, so feel free to express yourself in the format that best suits your voice.
Your story should centre around characters and experiences that are underrepresented in mainstream media. This includes but is not limited to characters of diverse races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Written submissions should be no longer than 1,000 words, while video submissions should be no longer than 5 minutes.
We value original stories that offer fresh perspectives and unique insights. Plagiarism or unauthorised use of copyrighted material will result in disqualification.
The competition will open on 18th March 2024. The deadline for applications will be 12th April 2024 and the initial six winners will be announced in May 2024. We’re excited to see all the applications!
Please note you must have the right to work in the UK to do the winning internship at Blue Zoo.
Submissions must be sent to success-story@blue-zoo.co.uk by the deadline.
Now more than ever, your story has the power to spark change and inspire others. We look forward to creating animation through your unique perspective. Together, let's create a more inclusive and vibrant storytelling landscape.
Please send your written submissions or video entry to...
success-story@blue-zoo.co.uk
Deadline: 12th April 2024
The winner of the Success Story Competition will have an internship opportunity to develop TV scripts for Blue Zoo, one of the UK’s leading animation studios. This internship offers invaluable hands-on experience and storytelling mentorship, providing a platform for your narrative voice to be heard.