Anime North 2023 Model Contest

The Anime North Model Contest returns once again for 2023!

Welcome back to the annual Anime North Model Contest. Last year we had a record number of entries and we expect the competition to be as fierce as ever in 2023, so Pick out your kits, ready your tools, and let inspiration take hold; it’s time to get building!

As always, there are prizes for the top 3 placements in each category. Each year we also award the Best in Show prize dedicated to the memory of John Martin, who organized the Anime North Toy Display and Model Contest for many, many years. There is also the Best Junior Builder prize for the best entry submitted by anyone 18 and under.

And for 2023, we are offering a special prize to the best entry based on a kit from the anime series “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury”; we hope to see many builders taking 2 big steps forward towards this special prize.

Categories

Bandai Gunpla kits 1/144 or smaller, except oversized kits (Neo Zeong, Dendrobium, etc.). Whether an entry is oversized or not will be dealt with by the judges on the days of the con.

Bandai Gunpla kits 1/100 or larger as well as oversized kits which are disproportionate for the Small Scale category.

Macross, Votoms, Evangelion, Patlabor, Super Robot Wars, Dougram, Pacific Rim, Full Metal Panic!, Layzner, Mospeada, Break Blade, etc. If it's mecha and not Gundam it goes in here, unless it goes into the special categories below!

Characters from Dragon Ball Z, Kamen Rider, Star Wars, Star Trek, Ultraman, Godzilla, Space 1999, etc. If it's not Gundam or mecha or any of the special categories, it goes in here!

Vehicles, AirCraft, and Spacecraft from Space Battleship Yamato, Dragon Ball Z, Kamen Rider, Star Wars, Star Trek, Ultraman, Godzilla, Space 1999, etc.

We are offering a special prize to the best entry based on a kit from the anime series “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury”; we hope to see many builders taking 2 big steps forward towards this special prize.

Out-of-Box Entries must be built straight out of the box and will be judged on technical modeling skills only: construction, seam/gap filling, painting, decals/markings and overall finish quality. You MAY re-scribe panel lines lost during seam sanding but you may NOT add any additional panel lines or detail or make modifications to the kit. Everything must come from the original kit box and follow the manual, however aftermarket decals are allowed. You MUST provide the kit manual or a copy with your entry.

*Please note there are NO categories for tabletop miniatures as they are not eligible for the Anime North Model Competition.

Entry Period

All entries will be accepted during Anime North 2023, from 5pm on Friday May 26th to 12pm noon on Sunday May 28th. No entries will be allowed after this period. The judging will take place on Sunday from 12pm noon to 3pm

The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 28th at 3pm.

General Rules

  • You MUST have an Anime North badge to participate.
  • Maximum of two entries per category. Maximum of five total entries per person.
  • No entrant may win more than one prize in any given category; only the top achievement will be awarded if an entrant has 3 kits scoring in the top 3.
  • The entry MUST be the work of the entrant.
  • Models entered into other model competitions prior to August 8th, 2022 are not eligible.
  • The entry MUST be a licensed PLASTIC INJECTION kit. Unlicensed kits are NOT ALLOWED.
  • You may modify the kits or scratch-build using common modeling raw materials.
  • Resin, vinyl or white metal kits or conversion sets are NOT ALLOWED.
  • Resin may only be used if you are casting parts that you yourself have built.
  • The entry must be PG-13 as they will be displayed in the common area.
  • While there is no specific size restrictions on entries, please be mindful in not taking a disproportionate amount of table space. Admittance of oversized entries is at the discretion of judges. It is wholly the entrant's responsibility to ensure their oversized entry can be displayed in a stable and safe manner.
  • Judges reserve the right to move an entry into a more appropriate category.
  • Judges' rulings are final.
  • Photography of the contest entries will be allowed.

Judging

The entries will be judged using criteria inspired by but not wholly identical to International Plastic Modellers' Society (IPMS) contests, allowing for evaluation of the full spectrum of model making skills.

Scope of Effort* - out of 30 points

This considers the creativity of your entry and the amount of work required in executing that idea. Examples include kit-bashing, adding surface detail, re-sculpting and reshaping, and many more modeling skills. The quality of work is just as important as the quantity of work. Well done modifications will usually score higher than an out-of-box build. Ambitious but poorly done modifications might score lower than a flawless out-of-box build.

Paint - out of 30 points

This considers the finish your entry such as painting and weathering. Is the overall finish consistent with the story the model tells? Is the paint texture appropriate?  Does the weathering have a logical pattern? Are the decals blended in?

Craftsmanship - out of 30 points

This evaluates the Construction of your entry. Are the kit artifacts such as mold lines, seam lines, gate marks, etc taken care of? Are there sanding/filing marks showing through, uneven panel lines, or other defects?

Pose and Presentation - out of 10 points

They say presentation is everything! That’s not necessarily true, but it will nab you more points for having a good pose for your entry.

Four judges will each award out of 100 points using the criteria above for a total score out of 400 for each entry. In case of numerical ties the judges will debate and decide the final top 3 placements for each category.

*The Out-Of-Box Category will not have 30 points for Scope of Effort as there is no customization allowed

Entry Forms & Registration

Entry Forms will be available Online ahead of time and during the Anime North convention. Registration Forms can be submitted online as well. Details to follow.

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