Digital ANIMATION
Digital Animation allows members to design and present an original animated video that demonstrates creativity, storytelling, and technical skill. This event assesses members’ understanding and application of fundamental animation principles through a pre-judged asset and a live presentation.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Pre-judged Project and Presentation with a Topic
Pre-judged Component: Video URL due by date specified in State Conference registration packet
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation time, 3-minute question & answer time
Career Cluster Framework Connection: Arts, Entertainment, & Design
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Critical Thinking, Communication, Leadership, Professionalism, Technology
Items Provided by Competitors: Technology and presentation items for presentation, Photo Identification, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Items Provided by FBLA: Table for presentation
2025-2026 Topic
"Nail That Presentation!"
Create an animated video that teaches effective presentation skills; like speaking clearly, using visuals, staying confident, and engaging your audience. Your animation should be helpful, creative, and easy for others to learn from.
How can your animation make someone say, “Now I’m ready to present!”?
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top ten of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top ten of an event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
· Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block of the official FBLA hotel in order to compete.
· Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each competitor can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report).
· Identification: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
· Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare their pre-judged component. They must also set up their presentation by themselves.
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule. The decision is solely up to the judges.
· Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event has two parts: pre-judged project and final presentation
· Pre-judged Project
o Submission Deadline: A URL of the animated video must be uploaded in the conference registration system by the date specified in the State Conference registration packet.
o This is the first round of competition. Individuals or teams that do not make finals will not be refunded registration fees.
Asset Requirements:
· The animated video must not exceed two minutes in length.
· Competitors may use any animation platform of their choice.
· All content must be original and created specifically for this competition.
· QR codes are not allowed in the project.
· Advisers or others may not assist in preparing the project. It must be created entirely by the competitor(s).
· Projects must be new, original work and may not have been submitted at any previous National Leadership Conference.
Responsibility for Access
· Competitors are responsible for ensuring the video URL is accessible to judges. If the video cannot be viewed, a score of zero will be given for the pre-judged portion. Best Practice Note: If using a platform such as Google Drive or OneDrive, make sure sharing settings allow access to anyone with the link. If using YouTube or Vimeo, the video must be set to “Unlisted” (not “Private”) to ensure it is not publicly searchable but still viewable by judges.
Judging & Ownership
· Assets will be judged prior to the State Leadership Conference (SLC).
· Pre-judged assets will not be returned. All submitted projects become the property of FBLA and may be published or reproduced for promotional purposes.
Research
· Information must be supported by credible, well-documented sources.
· Any use of copyrighted material, images, logos, or trademarks must be properly documented.
Event Specific Information
· Project Concept & Design: Design elements should support and enhance the concept.
· Project Execution: Demonstrate creativity, clarity, and consistency, with smooth and professional edits or transitions that enhance the overall presentation. Content should follow a logical flow.
· Final Presentation
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Important: Time allocations are exclusive. The presentation must begin immediately after the 3-minute set-up time concludes. Time may not be shifted between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned.
o Based on the pre-judged project scores, only the five highest scoring teams will move on to the presentation round of this event.
o Presentations are not open to conference attendees.
o The presentation is judged at the SLC.
o Competitors present directly from a laptop/device. Screens and projectors are not allowed for use, and competitors are not allowed to bring their own. Power will not be available.
o Technology
· Internet Access: NOT Provided
· Presentations must be delivered using one or two personal devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or monitor approximately laptop-sized).
· If using two devices, one must face the judges and the other must face the presenters.
· Projectors and projector screens are not permitted, and competitors may not bring their own.
· Wireless slide advancers (e.g., presentation clickers or mice) are allowed.
· External speakers are not allowed; audio must come directly from the presenting device(s).
· Electricity will not be available.
o Visual aids, samples, notes, and other physical materials related to the project may be used.
o Items may be placed on the provided table or on the judges table, if space allows.
o No items may be left with the judges following the presentation.
o Restricted items: animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Linds and QR codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges before, during, or after the presentation).
o If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.
Event Specific Information: Competitors should incorporate the following aspects in response to the topic
· Video Showcase
o The pre-judged asset (video) must be played as part of your presentation.
· Presentation
o Development Process: Explain how the animation was planned and developed. Use industry terms and include tangible planning materials.
o Production Process: Describe how the animation was created from concept to final edit. Use correct animation terminology and include examples of drafts, revisions, or timelines.
o Tools & Decision-Making: Explain what software and hardware were used and why. Compare alternatives and justify the final choices based on project goals.
o Animation Techniques: Identify and explain the animation techniques used with accurate industry terminology.
Scoring
· The project score will be added to the final presentation score to determine the top winners.
· The project score will be used to break a tie.
· All judging decisions are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.
Recording of Presentations
· No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
· Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
National
If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/