AI Competition

2nd KEAN CUP

AI COMPETITION

THEME: ANIME
Deadline: Feb 9th
Partner with AI and join the party!

Submission portal will open in the next two days — please come back soon!

↓

PRIZES & AWARDS

UNIVERSITY WIDE GRAND PRIZE

🥈
2ND PLACE
$250
Gift Card
🏆
GRAND PRIZE
$500
Gift Card
🥉
3RD PLACE
$100
Gift Card

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIZES

For students in the Department of Computer Science and Technology

🥈
2ND PLACE
$50
Gift Card
🏆
1ST PLACE
$100
Gift Card
🥉
3RD PLACE
$50
Gift Card
🎁
Top 10 in the department will receive exclusive department merchandise!

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Welcome to the 2nd Kean Cup AI Competition.

All Kean students are invited to create original work using AI, inspired by the theme Anime. Submissions can include images, music, manga, animation, or other creative projects. No prior AI experience is required.

2026
SPRING COMPETITION
∞
CREATE ANYTHING
$1K+
TOTAL PRIZES
Feb 9
SUBMISSION DEADLINE

COMPETITION IDEAS

🎨

ANIME ART

Generate stunning anime-style characters, scenes, or illustrations using AI tools. Create manga panels, character designs, or fantasy worlds that capture the essence of Japanese animation!

🎬

ANIME VIDEO

Create short anime-style videos, animated sequences, or music videos with AI-powered animation tools. Bring your stories to life with dynamic motion and vibrant visuals!

🎵

ANIME MUSIC

Compose anime-style background music, opening themes, or soundtracks using AI music generators. Create melodies that capture the emotional depth of anime storytelling!

✨

Are you new to AI? Check this out! It is really easy!

Getting Started with AI Prompts: A Beginner's Guide

RULES & REQUIREMENTS

  1. Who can attend? All Kean students currently studying at the Union campus.
  2. Originality: Submissions must be original works created specifically for this competition. All materials must be copyright-free.
  3. AI Contribution: AI must be a core component. You can definitely refine and retouch the outputs generated by AI.
  4. Presentation: Submit a finished, complete piece, such as a complete song, video, game, image series, or manga. Consider how to best present your work to engage voters.
  5. Team Size: Solo team—AI is your partner! AI can create images, videos, music, help you develop storylines, and assist with writing prompts.
  1. Format Requirements: No specific file requirements, but there is a size limitation of 100MB for the creative work.
  2. Full conversation with AI: Include the full conversation with AI, from idea creation to all parts for the AI model. Incomplete AI workflow will not be eligible for the competition.
  3. Citation list: Cite any copyright-free material that was not created by you.
  4. Deadline: Feb 9th, end of day.
  1. Content Policy: All submissions must be appropriate and free from offensive or inappropriate content.
  2. AI Tools: Any AI tool or platform is allowed.
  3. Originality: Submissions must be original works created specifically for this competition. All materials must be copyright-free.
  4. Rights: By submitting, you grant Kean University permission to showcase your work and cite you as the author.

COMPETITION TIMELINE

REGISTRATION OPENS
Sign up and prepare your submission materials. Registration period opens for all participants.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Submit your original anime-style AI creation. All entries must be submitted by this date.
JUDGING PERIOD
Expert judges evaluate all submissions based on creativity, technical skill, and AI integration.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Celebrate the winners! Awards ceremony and showcase of winning entries.
KEAN RESEARCH DAY
Winner presents work at Kean Research Day.

JUDGING CRITERIA

40%
CREATIVITY & ORIGINALITY

How unique is the idea? Does the work show fresh thinking rather than copying existing styles or concepts?

20%
THEME ALIGNMENT

How well does the submission reflect Japanese anime aesthetics, storytelling, or visual language?

20%
AI UTILIZATION

How effectively is AI used as a creative tool? Judges look for intentional, skillful use—not just raw output.

20%
ENTERTAINMENT

Is the piece engaging, fun, or emotionally compelling for the audience?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can participate in this competition?
The competition is open to all Kean University students. Individual entries only—you'll work solo with AI as your creative partner.
What AI tools can I use?
You can use any AI tool or platform available. The key is to demonstrate creative and effective use of AI in your submission.
How do I get started? Do I need prior experience or technical skills?
No prior technical or AI experience is needed! This is a creative challenge open to everyone. Check out our Getting Started with AI Prompts: A Beginner's Guide tutorial to help you begin your creative journey. To get you started, you can try Google Gemini's Nano Banana for image generation and editing. You can get the Google One Student Plan for free for a year and access all the pro features, including Google's video generation feature Veo. OpenAI's ChatGPT and Sora can also generate images and videos.
Can I submit multiple entries?
Yes! You can submit multiple entries. Additional details will be announced soon.
Can I see the 1st AI competition submissions?
Absolutely! Check them out here. Note: The first round was a department-wide competition. You'll need to work hard to compete in the university-wide competition!
Who should I contact if I have questions?
Please contact Dr. Zimeng Lyu at zimeng.lyu@kean.edu if you have any questions about the competition.

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