Teens: Tap into your creative side with OL’s new animation contest

Fancy yourself the next Tim Burton? Think PES is a genius? Or maybe, Hayao Miyazaki is your creative hero? Well, Operation Lifesaver Canada’s new “Get on Board with Rail Safety” animation contest is just the thing for you! Not only is it a chance to show off your creative side, but you’ll also learn about rail safety at the same time—and that could be more valuable than any prize.

“Operation Lifesaver’s goal is to make sure Canadians stay safe around tracks and trains. But to stay safe, young people need to know the rail safety basics,” explains Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. “That’s why we’re launching our new animation contest as part of this year’s Rail Safety Week. We want to challenge young people to be creative—while learning how to stay safe around tracks and trains.”

Put your creative talent to good use—it could help save a life

The contest is open to Canadian youth aged 13 to 18. Entries will be split into two categories: 13- to 15-year-olds and 16- to 18-year-olds. There are three awesome prizes to win in each category, including a 13” Wacom graphic tablet, an Oculus GO headset and a permanent licence for Harmony Essentials by Toon Boom.

So how do you walk away with a prize? Be as creative as possible—and show us you know the rail safety rules!
 
We are asking teens to produce a short (1-minute) animated video using hand-drawn, stop-motion, 2D or 3D animation. The catch? It must emphasize one of these five important rail safety messages: 
 

• Never use tracks as a path or a shortcut
• Don't hang out near tracks or on train equipment
• Only cross tracks at designated crossings
• Always obey railway warning signs and signals
• Leave one ear out when wearing headphones near tracks

 
All entries must be received by midnight (ET) on October 7, 2020. Check out the full contest rules here !  And follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. We’ll be sharing some of the entries on our social media networks throughout September and October. See if yours is one of them!