Anime North 2024 Model Contest
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 2024, so pick out your kits, ready your tools, and let inspiration take hold; it’s time to get building!
Prizes
As always, there are prizes for the top 3 placements in each category. 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.
Entry Period
All entries will be accepted during Anime North 2024, from 5pm on Friday May 24th to 11:30am on Sunday May 26th. No entries will be allowed after this period. The judging will take place on Sunday May 26 from 12pm noon to 3pm
The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 26 at 3pm.
The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 26 at 3pm.
Entry Forms & Registration
Entry Forms will be available online for you to print and fill; ahead of time and during the Anime North convention. Registration forms will be available on site during the entry period. (see also Entry Period)
General Rules
- You MUST have an Anime North badge and submit a completed registration form 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 one of their 2 kits scoring in the top 3*.
- The entry MUST be the work of the entrant.
- Models entered into other model major competitions (GBWC, Golden Demon, Torcan, IPMS, Conventions) prior to January 1st, 2024 are not eligible.
- The base model kit 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.
Unlicensed kits/Garage Kits/Resin Vinyl or white metal conversion kits are NOT ALLOWED. - The entry MUST not exceed 50 cm in length, width, or height.
- Resin may only be used if you are casting parts that you yourself have built, and must be declared during entry - proof of work in progress may be requested on a case by case basis.
- The entry must be PG-13 as they will be displayed in the common area.
- 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.
- If an entry is found to be in violation of these rules, it will be disqualified.
- Photography of the contest entries will be allowed.
- Please note there are NO categories for tabletop miniatures/Non-Fiction Military models/Action Figures as they are not eligible for the Anime North Model Competition.
Categories
- Gundam Open - Small Scale
- Gundam Open - Large Scale
- Other Mecha - All Scales
- Open Figures Sci-fi/Fantasy/Retro - All Scales
- Open Vehicles Sci-fi/Fantasy//Retro - All Scales
- Out-of-Box – All Scales
- Special Category - Gundam SEED
Bandai Gunpla kits 1/144 or smaller (such as SD scale or Artifact kits), 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 convention.
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, 30 Minute Sisters, Frame Arms Girls, Megami Devices, 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.
**Special Note: You MUST provide a physical kit manual at time of entry (a digital printout is acceptable - if you forget your manual it will be placed and another category until a hard copy manual is presented)**
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. However, Everything must come from the original kit box and follow the manual. Aftermarket decals are allowed. (Note, oversized kits such as Dendrobium/ Neo Zeong/ Nightingale may be entered into this category) - For Out-of-Box and Artifact kits - A base may be used for stability of pose - however only the technical aspects/pose of the kit will be judged.
This year we're allowing dedicated add-on parts to be included with the build (print-out/digital instructions will be allowed for add-ons, but they must be declared on entry & all prior out of box rules apply to add-on parts) some examples being;
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. However, Everything must come from the original kit box and follow the manual. Aftermarket decals are allowed. (Note, oversized kits such as Dendrobium/ Neo Zeong/ Nightingale may be entered into this category) - For Out-of-Box and Artifact kits - A base may be used for stability of pose - however only the technical aspects/pose of the kit will be judged.
This year we're allowing dedicated add-on parts to be included with the build (print-out/digital instructions will be allowed for add-ons, but they must be declared on entry & all prior out of box rules apply to add-on parts) some examples being;
- Demi Trainer/Aerial/Aerial Permit Score 6 - Mirasoul Backpack
- Demi Trainer/Chu Chu’s Demi trainer - Demi expansion parts.
- RG Strike Gundam - RG FX550 Skygrasper Launcher / Sword pack
We are offering a special prize to the best three entries based on a kit from the anime series universe of “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (including Destiny, Stargazer, Astray, Freedom & Eclipse)”; if you enter any kit that is from Gundam Seed it will automatically enter into this category on top of any other category you are entered into.
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
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