🏆 New 3D Animation Challenge: Gift Factory [ENDED]

Hey everyone!

Today’s @Zacharias Reinhardt’s birthday, and since last year we had so much fun with the Birthday Cake Madness challenge, we decided to run another 3D animation challenge with the theme: “Gift Factory” 🎁🏭

⏰ Challenge Deadline is November 6th, 2026 (16:00 CET)

Imagine a gift you would love to receive or give to someone you love (or hate 😉).

It could be a bunch of boring socks, a delicious cake, a funny toy, a useful gadget, or a magical surprise. The only limit is your imagination!

Now imagine a factory assembling and packing this gift for you.

Will it be a magical workshop, an old factory with sweaty workers and wooden conveyor belts, or a futuristic facility full of robotic arms? It's completely up to you!

Read below how to join the challenge.

Birthday Sale! 🎂

Along with our challenge, we are running our yearly big CG Boost Birthday Sale!

Treat yourself and grab one of our courses 20% off, or one of our bundles with an additional 10% off.

🎫 Coupon Code: HBD26

👉 Check out our courses here

Expires October 30th, 2026 (23:59 / 11:59 pm CET)

🎯 How to join the Challenge?

  1. First, read the challenge rules below.

  2. We created an animated Blender template file that you need to use as the basis for your challenge entry. Download the template file here (check out the video below to see it in action):

    Gift_Factory_Template.blendGift_Factory_Template_Render.mp4

  3. Watch this quick tutorial that explains how to use the template file:

  4. Don't change collections marked red ("don't touch"), including the camera, animation timing, and conveyor belt movement.

  5. Change shapes, materials, textures, and details in the Customize collection.

  6. Replace the example objects in Assembly → Assembled Object with your own animated gift assembly. Stay within the provided space guides.

  7. Add your own environment, machines, effects, or simply use a plain background.

  8. Render out your animation with these specs:

    • Resolution: 1080×1080 or 2160×2160

    • Frame Rate: 30fps

    • File Type: mp4 (codec h.264)

    • File Size: Keep it as small as possible but still with good quality

    • Audio: Sound and music are optional

  9. (Optional) Share your work in progress in the #Challenge space under the “In Progress” category to get feedback.

  10. Submit your final rendering and a viewport screenshot (as proof that it is your work) using the link below.

  11. Submit your work before the deadline, November 6th, 2026 (16:00 CET).

📜 Challenge Rules

  • Your final artwork must be a 3D Animation created using the template file above.

  • The submitted artwork should be a new work done specifically for this challenge.

  • AI-generated, altered, or “enhanced” artworks are not allowed.

  • Follow the community guidelines in the #Welcome to the CG Boost Community! 🎉 section.

🧐 Judging Criteria

Since this is a beginner-friendly challenge, we are not looking for the most polished, technically perfect render; we are rather interested in fun creative ideas.

Judging Team: @Zacharias Reinhardt , @Masha Bazueva, @Jarosław Dzedzej , @Jim Morren, @Martin Klekner, @Daniel Nees and @Louis du Mont.

⭐ The CG Boost team will be regularly online checking your work-in-progress posts to help with feedback on your renders.

🏆 Prizes

Here is what you can win by participating:

  • Improvement of your own 3D skills 💪 (the best part 😉)

  • Artists who submit a final challenge artwork will get a unique community badge (you need to be a member of this community):

📤 Final Submission

Use the link below to upload your final submission for this challenge, along with a viewport screenshot of your 3D scene.

👉 Upload your Challenge Submission here

Good luck, everyone!

⁉️ FAQ

Any open questions? Read the FAQ below or post a comment.

Do I have to be part of the community to take part in this challenge?

No, this challenge is open to anyone; just follow the rules and use the submission link above to submit your entry.

Can I generate or “enhance” my submission using “AI”?

No! We are looking for human-made art.

Can a team participate in the challenge?

No. This challenge is for individuals only.

Can I submit multiple submissions to the challenge?

No, you can only submit one artwork. However, you can resubmit an improved version of your artwork before the deadline. If you submit two completely different artworks, only the latest will be considered.

Do I need to upload a viewport screenshot along with my final submission?

Yes. This serves as proof that this artwork was created by you. If you don’t submit a viewport screenshot along with your final entry, we can’t accept your submission.

Can I share my final submission on social media before the challenge is over?

Yes, feel free to share your artwork and tag us (@cgboost).