Screenwriting : FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: 6th Annual New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest by Pat Alexander

Congratulations, Finalists!

I’m incredibly honored that "The Viking Way" has been selected as a Finalist in Stage 32’s New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest. This story has been years in the making, born from my love of mythic storytelling, my Swedish ancestry, and my belief that animated adventures can carry enormous emotional truth. Below is a look at the project I’m so proud to share with this community!

"The Viking Way" is an animated family action-adventure with mythic roots and a modern heartbeat. It follows Jimmy Svensson, a 14-year-old hockey kid from Minnesota still reeling from the sudden loss of his father-- a local legend and the inventor of the “Svensson Slap-Shot.” A year after the tragedy, Jimmy is struggling at home, struggling on the ice, and struggling to understand who he’s supposed to become without the father he idolized.

Everything changes the day Jimmy’s younger brother Billy discovers a carved runestone their dad left behind-- a mysterious heirloom with three interlocking triangles known as “The Power of Three.” When an argument erupts between the brothers, Odin himself appears, declaring that the wearer of the runestone is destined for greatness. Billy accepts the call without hesitation… and is immediately pulled through a portal into the Viking Age. Terrified but determined, Jimmy dives in after him-- and lands alone in a brutal, beautiful mythic world torn apart by Gods, Druids, Vikings, and Giants.

Jimmy soon meets Norgaard, a rough-edged Viking blacksmith; Sven, his hot-headed teen son; and Nadian, a sharp-witted young Druid who quickly becomes Jimmy’s ally and guide. Together, this unlikely team must set aside generations of mistrust to rescue Billy, who has been captured by Galen, a monstrous Giant wielding the stolen Eye of Odin-- a weapon powerful enough to destroy both the Gods and the mortal world. Loki, the God of Trickery, plays both sides of the conflict as a half-bred God-Giant who only cares about ending up on the winning side. His slithering snake sidekick ShimSham provides gluttony as well as comedy as these epic forces veer catastrophically toward war that can destroy the past-- as well as the future.

As Jimmy journeys across frozen tundra, through lush underground Druid worlds, and over the treacherous mountains of Jotunheim, he learns that true strength isn’t found in muscle or magic-- it’s found in courage, strategy, focus, and heart. Along the way, Jimmy begins to understand that “The Viking Way” isn’t about fighting harder… it’s about fighting smarter, using our individual strengths and our indomitable character. It's about giving everything you have, for the people who matter.

The story builds to a sweeping, emotional climax where Jimmy discovers that Sven and Nadian are not just allies-- they are his and Billy’s distant ancestors, tied together through destiny. With this revelation, Jimmy understands the true weight of legacy: you don’t inherit it-- you forge it. And if Jimmy and Billy can't help save Sven and Nadian, the brothers too will perish.

At its core, The Viking Way is a story about brotherhood, grief, identity, and hope. It’s for families, for kids who feel lost, and for anyone who’s ever wondered if they were enough. While filled with spectacle-- Frost Soldiers, Fire Warriors, flying War Cats, Gods with thunderous tempers, and Giants with world-breaking power-- the emotional spine is deeply human.

Thank you, Stage 32, for celebrating new voices and championing original animated stories. I’m grateful to be a Finalist among such talented creators, and I hope The Viking Way will one day make its way to the screen where families everywhere can experience its heart, humor, and heroism. Again, I am honored.