The Rookies

The Rookies Platform to help digital artists get discovered without having to compete with professionals.

The Rookies is an International Awards for young designers, creators, innovators, and artists. The Awards were created to discover and showcase the outstanding talent emerging from higher education facilities and help launch them into careers at the world’s top studios. Our legacy is from Visual Effects, Animation, and Next-Gen Gaming having created the CG Student Awards – the largest online Awards for creative students. Established in 2009, 74 paid internships and over $900,000US in prizes has been given away. The Rookies is the exciting next step in the Awards evolution as the “Oscars for young creative minds”. To kick things off we have introduced ten additional prize divisions focusing on the most highly competitive artistic industries. We are excited to invite our existing sponsors, new brands, studios, and most importantly students from around the world to join us and celebrate the next generation of creative minds.

MAGES Institute graduate Marcus Lim shares his mecha project of the year and breaks down the exact concept art workflow ...
17/10/2026

MAGES Institute graduate Marcus Lim shares his mecha project of the year and breaks down the exact concept art workflow behind the final design.

Panda Warrior by shady ahmed el-laithy from CGMA | Computer Graphics Master Academy - https://www.therookies.co/projects...
17/10/2026

Panda Warrior by shady ahmed el-laithy from CGMA | Computer Graphics Master Academy - https://www.therookies.co/projects/106615

"A personal project I started as a study during my free time, inspired by TMNT: The Last Ronin. I imagined him starting his journey after losing the other turtles, driven by one goal — to avenge them. One of the most enjoyable projects I've worked on. I experimented with a lot of new techniques and learned a lot through"

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: Maxon Zbrush, MARVELOUS DESIGNER, Houdini.
Technology stack: ASUS, Other, Huion.

Coco winter by Kevin Trigoso from ISIL - https://www.therookies.co/projects/103610"Model created based on the art book f...
16/10/2026

Coco winter by Kevin Trigoso from ISIL - https://www.therookies.co/projects/103610

"Model created based on the art book for the anime Witch Hat Atelier."

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: autodesk maya, 3D Modeling & Animation - Maya, ZBrush.

Harvest Witch's Cottage by Alex Brearey from University of Greater Manchester (formerly Bolton) - https://www.therookies...
16/10/2026

Harvest Witch's Cottage by Alex Brearey from University of Greater Manchester (formerly Bolton) - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90785

"This piece was done in collaboration with Atomhawk for my mentorship that I won at the Game Republic student showcase for winning first in the Art and Animation category. It was super fun to do this concept and enjoyed being guided by the Atomhawk team through this piece so thank you!"

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: 3D Modeling & Animation - Maya, ZBrush, autodesk maya, Maxon Zbrush.
Technology stack: Other, ASUS, Wacom.

Hangman's Hill by from ISART Digital - https://www.therookies.co/projects/89727""Set in a supernatural version of rural...
16/10/2026

Hangman's Hill by from ISART Digital - https://www.therookies.co/projects/89727

""Set in a supernatural version of rural England, the story follows young apprentice Tom Ward as he trains under a Spook to battle witches, demons, and the forces of the Dark that threaten humanity.""

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: Abode Photoshop, environment design, Photobash.

NOX is a 3D product visualization short film by Brassart student Aure Leger that explores the precise craft of watchmaki...
16/10/2026

NOX is a 3D product visualization short film by Brassart student Aure Leger that explores the precise craft of watchmaking through the time-distorting power of a black hole.

Jennifer's Body Fan Art by .art from L'Idem Creative Arts School - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90210"A personal p...
15/10/2026

Jennifer's Body Fan Art by .art from L'Idem Creative Arts School - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90210

"A personal project I made for Halloween in my spare time. Absolutely inconic movie for me - Jennifer's body. I'm a huge fan of horror stuff, especially with such cool characters as Jennifer. I made two looks of her - the lighter iconic shot and the horror one at the end of the movie. Scroll down! wink"

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: Pixologic ZBrush, Marmorset Toolbag.
Technology stack: Acer, Acer, Wacom.

Groceries by from Job Formazione - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90002"Me and Matteo Ascente finally got a bit of...
15/10/2026

Groceries by from Job Formazione - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90002

"Me and Matteo Ascente finally got a bit of time to do a little project together for Halloween 🎃 I did the modeling part he did the texturing and shading, this time back in Maya rendered in Arnold with a toon shader. The concept is by the super talented Sam Nassaur"

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: autodesk maya, Arnold, 3d Substance Painter.

Pumpkin Lab by from NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90877"This is my visual t...
15/10/2026

Pumpkin Lab by from NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - https://www.therookies.co/projects/90877

"This is my visual take on the CGBoost monthly challenge, “Pumpkin Lab.” I explored environment design from blocking to fine detail and camera composition. I imagined a greenhouse-lab taken over by a giant Halloween pumpkin. Inspired by Phil Lockwood’s Passion Amongst the Palms for open spaces and lush vegetation."

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: Blender, Abode Photoshop.
Technology stack: Apple, MSI, LG, Other, Wacom.

The Root of It All by from Uppsala University – Department of Game Design - https://www.therookies.co/projects/99289"Co...
15/10/2026

The Root of It All by from Uppsala University – Department of Game Design - https://www.therookies.co/projects/99289

"Concept art book for a visual novel pitch based on Hungarian folklore"

Every creative career starts somewhere. Publish your work, level up, and prove what you're made of. therookies.co

Software used: Procreate.
Technology stack: Lenovo, Huion, iPad.

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