Animation Lockdown 2026 "Oops" EDITION

• THEME: OOPS
• TEAMWORK: Making an animation over a weekend is tough, get your friends or family to help! Give them a task, get them to hang out! Some jobs we recommend giving to your pals are: Voice actor, Prop creator, Character Designer, Colorist, Background Artist, and/or in-betweener.
• 1x SECRET CAMERA TECHNIQUE: We will announce the specific technique  on the first day. You must use this technique for at least one shot of your film.
• 1x SECRET EDITING TECHNIQUE: We will announce the requirement  on the first day. 
• 1x SECRET LOCAL MUSIC PICK: You must incorporate at least 1x track into your film, however you wish. You do NOT have to use the full track, or make a music video! However, you DO have to use one of these selections. You could even use it to spice up your opening title or credits!

Films that do not incorporate the above theme and technical requirements, or are not finished and uploading by 6pm on Monday May 18 2026, may not be included in the screening and/or prizes.

We strongly recommend that you find at least one person to work with during the QAS Animation Lockdown. From our experience films have a better chance of getting completed when animators can share the work. Even if it is your niece, neighbor, friends or family this can really boost morale in the dark hours of animation! If you are a solo participant that would like to work with others, please indicate so in your registration and we will try to pair you up with teams of 2-4 people. 

QAS Staff will be on-site/available during the entire event for help, tech assistance, and moral support.

The Lockdown is intended to be an in-person event, but you are allowed to work from your own home studio. If you do decide to work from home, please indicate in your registration. Understand that home-studio workers are still expected to come in-person to the orientation and Saturday/Sunday dinners, and deliver your film in-person on a physical hard drive. We cannot provide rental equipment for those working at home, as that equipment is reserved for all in-person participants, so if you choose to work from home you must have access to everything you need. 

Participation is limited to Producing Members who are local+. You must be a current Producing Member to play, and if your membership is expiring soon you will be asked to renew your QAS membership.

By “local+” we mean we can only support Calgary-Mohkinstsis-area animators, Alberta artists, and the QAS global diaspora. This is NOT a worldwide event, we do not have the capacity to host this event for new folks from away who do not have a previous connection to our Society. Reach out if you want to participate but aren’t sure if you are eligible.

Animation experience isn’t necessary, but is highly recommended – this isn’t an intro to animation workshop. New animators, students, and those just starting out are welcome, as are experienced animators wanting a new challenge. Some familiarity with your production method of choice is recommended as well, since we won’t be able to teach you a new software skill over the weekend. We will troubleshoot and advise as best we can.

Older youth (13+) are welcome to participate but must have adult supervision. If we get enough youth we may recommend they team up. Anyone under 18 is advised to have their guardian contact us in advance of registering.

Quickdraw aims to create a safe and welcoming space for all members, and we want our participants to reflect the diversity of our community. We strongly encourage Indigenous peoples, official language minorities, people with disabilities, racialized people and women to register. If you may encounter physical, mental, financial, or other barriers to participation, please let us know and we will do our best to support you.

QAS reserves the right to cancel or refuse registrations, cap the number of participants, or remove participants before or during the event. Signing up is not a guarantee you will participate. We’ll try our best to accommodate everyone, but disrespectful behaviour, harassment, or otherwise unchill actions towards other participants or QAS Staff will get you removed from the event.

• Email Erin to confirm what gear you need for the Lockdown event. This can include requesting specific studio space, but understand that we need to share.  
• Any questions, email: production@quickdrawanimation.ca

• We will host an in-person orientation to introduce the Lockdown, meet each other, and reveal the KEY (aka technical requirements) on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7pm. The requirements will also be sent out over email.
• You can start animating after 7pm Thursday once the challenges have been released. Take the time to do your pre-production, start storyboarding, watch online tutorials, get supplies, choose your music track, etc.

• QAS Staff will support work sessions and tech support 10am to 8pm for each of the three days.
• Participants have these three days to complete the bulk of their animation. You’re welcome to keep your own hours, work all night, etc. but support will only be available during the times listed. (We have to sleep sometime…)
• QAS will provide dinner on Saturday and Sunday - let us know your dietary restrictions when you register!
• You should aim to have most of your animation production finished by end of day Sunday. Leave yourself time for sound, editing, and troubleshooting!

• QAS Staff will be supporting participants 10am to 6pm on Monday
• Final, rendered films WITH SOUND are due at 6pm on Monday May 18, uploaded (or uploading) to QAS FilmDrop server at HQ