After reviewing close to 600 submissions from across the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada and Australia, Nickelodeon has picked eight finalists for its 2014 Global Animated Shorts Program, which aims to find new creative talent and original kids content. This year marks the second time the shorts program was open to international submissions.

Since taking the program global, Nickelodeon has been able to expand its international pipeline of kids shows, focusing on comedy and animation. The shorts will have the opportunity to air on the Nickelodeon channel, along with digital platforms Nick.com, the Nick app, MyNickJr.com and on local Nick sites, before being considered for long-form development.

These shorts follow in the footsteps of 2013 projects Monster Pack, produced by Pedro Eboli and Graham Peterson from Birdo Studios in Brazil, and Moosebox, created by Mike Scott from South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios.

The 2014 selections, which all have working titles, include the UK and Ireland’s Duckmanboy from animator Louis Hudson and writer/director Ian Ravenscroft of DICE Productions, Werebeast from Welsh animator James Lancett, Urchin (pictured) from illustrator, animator and creator Hamish Steele (who also created 2013 finalist Nick Short Badly Drawn Animals) and Somewhere Awesome from Eamonn O’Neill and animator Marah Curran.

Other submissions that have made the grade this year include Woodchips from the Barcelona, Spain-based animator and artist Christian Villacañas, Crazy Block from Italy’s Iginio Straffi (Rainbow’s Winx Club), Jo Minkus from Toronto, Canada-based animator Ben Anders, and Feebs and Mr. Timmins from Australia’s Suren Perera (The Dukes of Bröxstônia).

Nick’s animated shorts program has proved successful for the kidnet. Its latest animated hit Breadwinners was discovered as part of the 2012 edition. The series was recently renewed for a second season, and is launching internationally this fall.