About the challenge

An invite-only hackathon for builders, storytellers, and creative coders who want to push the boundaries of what an animated map can be. Over the course of this hackathon, you'll use plain English to vibe-code stunning travel animation videos, 3D route maps, flight animations, and moving maps. No traditional motion graphics software required.

Registration link: https://tally.so/r/44PDZA

This is a small, focused event with only about 10 participants, so every submission gets attention and every prompt matters. We're partnering with two of the most exciting tools in the AI motion graphics space to give you everything you need to ship something you'll actually want to share.

Powered by VYDEO, an AI vibe-coding interface that turns plain English into motion graphics. Featuring Mappi Studio, the map animation maker behind some of the smoothest animated roads, flight map maker sequences, and train maps you've ever seen, now exposed through their brand-new API.

What makes this hackathon special:

  • You'll get access to a dedicated VYDEO hackathon interface built specifically for this event, with the new Mappi Studio API wired in by default.
  • Every video you create will be a fully customizable, AI-generated animated map — drop in GPS coordinates, summon icons, render 3D models, animate cars, planes, and trains.
  • This is one of the first chances anywhere to vibe-code with a true map animation AI workflow end-to-end.
  • The prompt is the craft. The best travel animator in the room is going to be whoever writes the most clever, evocative, technically sharp prompt.

Get started

  1. Confirm your invite. This is an invite-only event capped at ~10 participants. If you got in, you're in.
  2. Wait for the dedicated interface link. On the day of the hackathon, we'll send out a private link to the VYDEO hackathon interface. This is where all submissions must be created.
  3. Claim your credits. VYDEO credits will be distributed the day of the hackathon. Keep an eye on your inbox and the event channel.
  4. Start vibe-coding your map. Think road trips, flight paths, GPS-traced runs, multi-city tours, fictional fantasy maps, travel recap reels. Anything where geography meets motion.
  5. Iterate on your prompt. The judges care a lot about prompt quality. Refine, remix, retry.
  6. Submit before the deadline. Judging takes place 2 days after the submission deadline.

Requirements

What to Build

Build an animated map video using the dedicated VYDEO hackathon interface, which calls the Mappi Studio - Map animation creator API under the hood to render the animated map itself.

Your video can be anything, but it must be primarily a map animation. Some directions to consider:

  • A travel animation video that recaps a real or imagined trip, with animated roads, route lines, and labeled stops.
  • A flight animation showing a plane tracing a path between cities, with altitude, weather, or 3D terrain.
  • A 3D route map of a hike, marathon, road trip, or commute — bonus points if you import real GPS coordinates.
  • A train map sequence showing a rail journey across a country or continent.
  • A car animation following a driving route, with custom icons, points of interest, and timed callouts.
  • A moving map intro for a YouTube channel, podcast, documentary, or product launch.
  • Anything else where motion + geography + a clever prompt produces something memorable.

Judging will weigh things like:

  • Smoothness and polish of the animation
  • Creative and effective use of icons, labels, and 3D models
  • Use of imported GPS coordinates or custom data
  • Storytelling and emotional impact of the final video
  • Quality, clarity, and inventiveness of your prompt

You must use VYDEO as your primary tool. Because VYDEO is a vibe-coding environment, you're free to layer in any additional libraries (via npm) that the vibe-coding interface allows — go wild, but keep VYDEO at the center.

What to Submit

Every Devpost submission must include:

  1. The full prompt you used inside the VYDEO hackathon interface to generate your video. Submit it as plain text. Every word counts.
  2. The final video of your animated map, uploaded or linked from your Devpost project page.
  3. A short project description (a paragraph or two) — what were you going for, what was the concept, and what made the prompt work.
  4. (Optional but encouraged) A second prompt iteration showing how your prompt evolved, plus any GPS data, custom assets, or 3D models you brought in.

Code of Conduct

All attendees, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff at our hackathon are required to agree to the following Code of Conduct. Organizers will enforce this Code throughout the event, and we expect full cooperation from every participant to help ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Code of Conduct url: https://vydeo-mappi-hackathon.notion.site

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
Motion graphic credits
1 winner

The details of this prize will be later announced

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Viet Le

Viet Le

Judging Criteria

  • Motion graphics

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

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