You’ve seen them in comic books and movies. The quick and stealthy warrior, dressed in all black, with the mesmerizing abilities allowing them to scale walls, drop down from ceilings, and move without a sound. While some of the above attributes may be fictitious, there is one quality that we know to be true: being a ninja is no walk in the park.

 

Take it from the best of the best, the LEGO® NINJAGO™ team. Just like the ones that you idolize in pop culture, the LEGO NINJAGO warriors embody all that it takes to be the ultimate ninja. What exactly does it take? Well, aside from the physical demands, it requires a certain skill set to truly hone the mastery and be a part of the WU-CRU.

 

This summer the LEGO Group is launching The Quest2NINJAGO™ Tour to cities across America to give kids a chance to show off their ninja skills. With only a few cities on the tour, the LEGO Group is turning to one stop-motion animator to highlight the special skills it takes to become the ultimate warrior so that kids everywhere could participate and master the skills of the ninja.

 

What you need to know:

• We’re looking to create FOUR (4) 15-second stop-motion videos incorporating the following NINE (9) ninja skills. You can mix and match which skills you’d like to show off in your videos.

• Teamwork

• Problem Solving /Sharpness of mind

• Agility

• Balance

• Precision

• Strategy

• Communication

• Observation

• Quest for knowledge

 

• Keep in mind you will need to create two versions of each video – one with a Toys “R” Us end card to recruit participants for The Quest2NINJAGO™ Tour and one with a NINJAGO end card to support general brand awareness for NINJAGO.
• The videos should both promote the tour and be inclusive for kids who are not able to participate in person.
• We’ll need the first TWO (2) ninja skills videos by June 2, and the other TWO (2) by July 5.

 

The goal of this project is to create FOUR (4) fun and exciting 15-second stop-motion videos showing off the following ninja skills:

• Teamwork

• Problem Solving /Sharpness of mind

• Agility

• Balance

• Precision

• Strategy

• Communication

• Observation

• Quest for knowledge

Keep in mind you will need to create two versions of each video – one with a Toys “R” Us end card to recruit participants for The Quest2NINJAGO™ Tour and one with a NINJAGO end card to support general brand awareness for NINJAGO.

The videos should both promote the tour and be inclusive for kids who are not able to participate in person.

We’ll need the first TWO (2) ninja skills videos by June 2, and the other TWO (2) by July 5.

--Key Marketing Messages: 

• A ninja alone is powerful, but a ninja team is unstoppable!

--Target Audience:

• The target audience is boys and girls between 7 and 12 years old.

 

--Executional Mandatories:

• Content needs to be family friendly.
• DO NOT show competing toy lines.
• DO NOT show other LEGO product lines.
• Ninja characters cannot die.
• Do not say ninjas. Ninja plural is ninja.
• DO NOT SAY LEGOS or LEGO BLOCKS, instead say LEGO bricks. Think of “LEGO” as an adjective versus a noun.

 

--Tone: Playful; Funny; Sharable; Engaging

 

--Exposure: LEGO social media and digital channels.

This project will be worth a total of $30,000 and consists of TWO Phases: a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

PHASE 1: PITCH - Submit your pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a suite of ninja skills videos.

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.
• Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
• Treatment (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what’s going to happen in the video.
• Script (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
• Storyboards (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across.
• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us 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.

 

The most compelling pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive $15,000 to help create the videos. Additionally, upon submitting a suite of videos that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning pitch, the pitch winner will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase. So, if your pitch is selected and you execute your pitch effectively in your video submissions, you will win an additional $15,000. For an example of an effective pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the project is complete.    

 

PHASE 2: VIDEO – The winner from the Pitch Phase will create FOUR (4) 15-second videos based upon his/her winning pitch.

• Keep in mind you will need to create two versions of each video – one with a Toys “R” Us end card to recruit participants for The Quest2NINJAGO™ Tour and one with a NINJAGO end card to support general brand awareness for NINJAGO.
• The videos should both promote the tour and be inclusive for kids who are not able to participate in person.
• We’ll need the first TWO (2) ninja skills videos by June 2, and the other TWO (2) by July 5.

--Video Phase Payout: Winner of the video phase will earn the following prizes: 1st $15,000.

 

--Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audioblocks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound. Any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into submissions to this project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.

Tongal members interested in a custom music solution for your project are invited to connect with SCORE A SCORE. They specialize in the creation of custom music, on-demand.

Their business model is based on a "name your price" system, so you can tell them what your budget is, and they will work with you to create a deal configuration that will work within the discussed parameters. Check out the FAQ for more information and how to contact SCORE A SCORE.

 

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your video paperwork.

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning video creators in this project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee up to $500. Check out more about our Referral Program in our FAQ.

 

1. The videos MUST not exceed 15 seconds in length. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should you win, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec

 

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. In the event that fewer than 25 pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to FOURTEEN (14) days at their discretion.

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, winning video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning 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 prize.

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.