Season 8 begins with three returning champions joining the competition as coaches.

Oscar winner Rick Baker is the guest judge for the first Spotlight Challenge, which finds the artists working in teams to create two original alien characters, plus a primate leader.

The remaining 14 artists take part in a deadly predator challenge featuring guest judge Josh Hutcherson ("The Hunger Games").

The thirteen remaining artists must make playing cards come to life in the whimsical style of Tim Burton for their first individual Spotlight Challenge of the competition

The artists have to design creatures based on unique sound effects created by sound designer Erik Aadahl.

The remaining artists and their coaches feel the stress of a challenge where they must create trolls inspired by iconic bridges.

The artists learn that for their challenge, they will be body-painting nude models in the middle of the woods.

The artists create their own stylish horror villain inspired by the work of Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Nightbreed).

The contestants must take inspiration from the planets in the solar system to create alien queens who compete in a intergalactic beauty pageant.

The Artists must make their Imaginary Friends from their childhood as a film character or creature.

The artists must create serial killer doll characters

The artists must create western steampunk cyborgs, in order to make it into the finals at the Vinpearl Land Amphitheater in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The final three artists must each create four original characters worthy of starring in their own film franchise, at the Vinpearl Land Amphitheater in Nha Trang, Vietnam.