HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION/TONE:

• LEGO x Barnes & Noble | Gingerbread Lane Set
• LEGO x SCHEELS | Hero Video

With several brand new brick and mortar store openings on the horizon for 2026, Barnes & Noble has a big year ahead, and they're teaming up with The LEGO Group to create a short stop-motion video that can generate excitement for the store openings, and encourage people to check out all the fun LEGO sets that are available in Barnes & Noble stores. There will be multiple stores opening around the country, and there are no specific sets tied to any of these openings, so LEGO wants like to create a single video that can work in any market, for any store, rather than creating unique videos for each store. That kind of general approach allows for a ton of flexibility, and LEGO is wide open for creative ideas, as long as they bring a sense of playfulness, and are still achievable with an early April delivery.  

The goal here is to create a single :30 stop motion animated video, playful and full of wonder, and to use that video to promote local store openings in different markets across the country, while making it clear how LEGO fits into the Barnes & Noble experience. LEGO wants the stop motion animation to reflect and encompass the entire store experience, so however you go about things, you should plan to incorporate areas like the café, the games section, and the toy section (with a robust LEGO presence, of course), alongside all of the areas devoted to books, and they'd also specifically love for you to include a kids section, a gifts section (like journals), and vinyl records section. 

In terms of concept and execution, as we said, there are a lot of directions that you could take this, and they want something that can really surprise and delight, but it'd probably help to capture the joy of reading. The LEGO Group and Barnes & Noble are open to on screen text, titles, or messaging, if you feel like they can be incorporated in clever ways, but you should not include any dialogue, and there's no requirement for messaging, nor any need to specify a location, and there are no specific LEGO sets that you'd  need to feature. The video will need to conclude with an end card that says "Coming Soon" with the Barnes & Noble logo, but that's about it. 

While the main format is 16x9, you will need to consider framing of shots to work in both 9x16 and 1x1 environments as well. Tongal will reimburse you for reasonable brick purchases necessary for filming, separate from the production budget.

Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are 3 total video assets.

• One video up to :30 (16x9, 9x16, 1x1)

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE

EXPOSURE: We expect content will be used on the platforms below, but if casting talent, be sure they review our required Talent Release before they're cast, as we CANNOT guarantee that usage is limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• Barnes & Noble Stores
• BarnesandNoble.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Vimeo

TARGET AUDIENCE: Fans of The LEGO Group of all ages, families, and Barnes & Noble customers

TONE/FEEL: Fun, happy, positive

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Greenlit filmmakers MUST strictly adhere to all The LEGO Group guidelines, which will be provided upon selection.
• Avoid any special bricks from sets associated with specific IP (i.e. no Harry Potter or Marvel sets).

AI USAGE: You may not use AI generated visual or audio assets in your final content. However, for the purposes of your pitch and pre-production materials, you are welcome to use generative AI to create visuals, storyboards, animatics, proofs-of-concept, etc. that might help the Sponsor understand your vision for creating the final content. Additionally, assistive AI tools (e.g. object removal, compositing, color grading, sound mixing, subtitling, etc.) may be used in post-production to supplement your workflow. Please keep record of any AI usage deployed in your submissions in the event that the Sponsor requests AI disclosures. If you have questions about any specific usage or tool, please ask your Tongal producer.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period, but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

1. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 16x9). Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
6. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES - SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
7. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor's organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
8. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.