GIPHY GIFs and Stickers are highly shareable communication tools. If you've ever agonized over selecting the perfect reaction GIF across any number of the most popular social networks, it was likely powered by GIPHY. 

Tongal is looking to deepen our connection to current community members while appealing to filmmakers, writers, animators, and editors everywhere by developing owned, branded GIFs that will be a perfect addition to these creators' social conversations. For the purposes of this project, we're most interested in the application of GIFs across Instagram Stories.

Make sure to see what we've already created for our GIPHY channel and dig into some GIPHY stickers to see what's possible.

According to GIPHY, effective stickers share these traits:

• Easy to use in conversation.
• Appeal to a wide audience.
• Universal and easy to understand.
• Emotive and covering a wide range of expression.
• The more complex and interesting the animation, the better the sticker.
• Timely and relevant.
• Colorful, unique, creative and fun!
• Useful as an overlay, like accessories or effects.
• Edges are smooth.
• No fine details that might get lost when the sticker is at its smallest size

Some creative thought-starters:

• Tongal slate 
• Now rendering
• Now playing
• In production
• That's a wrap
• #SetLife
• Filmmaker Friday
• Video village
• Pressing a 'Submit' button
• Animated Tongal Logo
• Lightning bolt imagery
• Writing
• Emotions a creator might have as they participate in a Tongal project 
• Storyboarding
• Animating
• Any cool design with our logo on it
• Or pitch us any other great idea you have!

Tongal is looking for animators, artists, and designers to create original animated transparent GIFs - called stickers - for Tongal's GIPHY channel, specifically in regards to their application in Instagram Stories. Pitch us your vision for a highly shareable design that will speak to the Tongal community of creators and social users at large.

Never made a GIF before? No sweat! There are a number of ways you can go about designing and animating one, but it's probably best if you have Photoshop (or another photo editing software). Click here for a quick tutorial.

There are a lot of directions you could take this in and we're excited to see what you come up with. We've provided several thought-starters to get your creative juices flowing, as well as more information about creating for GIPHY, in the Background/Additional Details section, so make sure to check that out.

EXPOSURE:

• Tongal’s GIPHY channel
• GIPHY-powered GIF searches in places such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram Stories, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and more

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Tongalers
• Filmmakers, editors, writers, and animators in general
• General social media users

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• To be considered a sticker, at least 20% of the first frame must be transparent, and the source file must be a GIF.
• Crop the canvas to fit the sticker.
• Do not include unnecessary borders or edges since the background is meant to be transparent.
• You must design in RGB color mode.
• You must set the GIF to loop "forever" before exporting.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute the project objectives.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous animation, design, or other relevant work.
  
  
• CONCEPT ART (REQUIRED): Additional concept art, sketches, storyboards, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

1. Preferred file format for upload to the Tongal website is .gif.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
7. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. 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 filmmaker.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.