The primary goal is to create a short 15 second animation test and full character and background designs to provide a strong indication of the look and feel of the multi-episode series you would go on to produce if greenlit!

Please note that if your animation test is greenlit and you move on to create a series, you will be working very closely with a writing team, which we’ll be identifying through a separate contest – you will NOT be responsible for generating scripts for the series.

**This project will be split into three phases: Pitch Qualification, Animation Pitch, and Animation Test & Design.

The Pitch Qualification Phase is a helpful first step that essentially allows animators to raise their hands and let us know if they’re available and have the desire and ability to take on this project. The Sponsor will be selecting at least four animators to move forward into the Pitch Phase. After executing a Non-Disclosure Agreement, they will be given access to the Brand Bible to help them flesh out their pitches!

Please note – the animation test will NOT be based on a script, but rather on character personalities as described in the brand bible and guidance provided by the brand. It will NOT include VO.

Directly below is a summary of requirements to submit a pitch qualification and an animation pitch (and there’s a more comprehensive explanation in the Details section).

What is Required to Submit for your Pitch Qualification:

Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less telling us why you’re right for this opportunity.
Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, animator, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
Confirm Availability: Please check the timelines provided, and confirm you’re available to produce an animated pilot and series from 9/12 to 4/26 (please check out the more detailed full timelines at the bottom of this section!).

Pitch Qualification winners will each receive $500 to move onto the Pitch Phase, gain access to the brand bible under NDA, and develop their pitches further. Only pitch qualification winners will be eligible to submit pitches.

What is Required to Submit for your Animation Pitch:

Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsis of your approach to this animated series.
Treatment (REQUIRED): This PDF should contain:
- At least 2 rough character sketches and 2 rough background sketches
- Description of your team members and their past work.
- Explanation of your CGI or 2D animation capabilities.
Pitch Video (REQUIRED): A 1 to 3-minute pitch video introducing yourself, telling us why you’re right for this project, and summarizing your qualifications. Feel free to include examples of your previous work or quick visual references here.

*If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.

--Animation Test & Design Deliverables:

15 second animation test - must include all 8 characters in movement.
At least 8 character designs (including full character rigging).
At least 8 environment / background designs.
You MUST also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment. You will be responsible for the costs associated the hard drive (if necessary) and shipping. This includes 3D asset files in their native format including rigging, textures and source images. If 3D format is something other than Maya or 3D Studio Max, also provide an .fbx export of each character.

--Target Audience: Kids 3-7 (though the sweet spot is 5-7)

--Tone: Action-centric, Heroic, Adventurous, Energetic, dramatic but not scary

--Executional Mandatories:

· All content must be kid friendly. We're looking for high action, but at the same time keeping it kid-friendly.

· Do not feature any violence.

· Any conflict must be presented in a kid friendly way and should not be scary.

Timeline for Animation Test & Designs:

Character Design:

Character Design creation: 9/12 - 9/19

First Draft of Character Designs Due to Tongal: 9/19

Tongal Feedback on Character Designs Due: 9/21

First Round of Character Designs Due to FP/Mattel: 9/24

FP/Mattel Feedback on Character Designs Due: 10/1

Character Design Revisions: 10/1 - 10/4

Revised Character Designs due to FP/Mattel for Approval: 10/5

FP/Mattel Final Approval due: 10/12

Background & Prop Design:

(same cadence as character design)

First Draft of Background and Prop Designs due to Tongal: 9/19

Tongal Feedback on Designs Due: 9/21

First Round of Feedback on Designs Due to FP/Mattel: 9/24

FP/Mattel Feedback on Designs Due: 10/1

Background and Prop Designs Revisions: 10/1 - 10/4

Revised Designs due to FP/Mattel for Approval: 10/5

FP/Mattel Final Approval due: 10/12

Production:

Animation: 10/12-10/24

Rough Cut due to Tongal: 10/24

Tongal Feedback on Rough Cut due: 10/26

Animation Tests due to FP/Mattel: 10/30

FP/Mattel Feedback on Animation Test: 11/5

Animation revisions: 11/5-11/8

FINAL version due to FP/Mattel: 11/9

Internal Testing: 11/9-11/23

FP/Mattel Decision on which animation style Due: 11/26

Estimated Series Timeline (for reference):

Series Pre-Production EPS 1-7

Character Modeling/Texturing/Rigging: 11/26-12/21

Additional Character/Background/Prop Design: 11/26-12/21

VO Casting: 11/28-12/21

Voice Recording: TBD - first week of January

Series Production EPS 1-3:

Animatic: 12/21-1/21

Animation: 1/21-2/20

Rough Cuts due to Tongal: 2/20

Feedback and Revisions: 2/22-3/22

MASTER FILE DELIVERY: 3/25

Production EPS 4-7:

Animatic: 1/22-2/15

Animation: 2/15-3/25

Rough Cuts due to Tongal: 3/25

Feedback and Revisions: 4/25

MASTER FILE DELIVERY: 4/26

Details

This project consists of 3 phases: Pitch Qualification Phase, Pitch Phase, and Animation Test Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: PITCH QUALIFICATION - This project will include a Pitch Qualification Phase which gives animators the opportunity to submit a synopsis, confirm their availability for production, and provide samples of previous work.

At least 4 pitch qualification winners will move forward into the Pitch Phase and will be awarded $500 each to further develop their pitches.

Please note that pitch qualification winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production. If you have any questions about the Pitch Qualification Phase, please post to our forum or reach out to us at info@tongal.com.

Required for your Pitch Qualification submission:

Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less telling us why you’re right for this opportunity.
Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, animator, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
Confirm Availability: Please check the timelines provided, and confirm you’re available to produce an animated pilot and series from 9/12 to 4/26.

PHASE 2: ANIMATION PITCH - Submit your Pitch convincing the sponsor why you should be selected.

NOTE: ONLY PITCH QUALIFICATION WINNERS WILL MOVE ONTO THIS PHASE.

Required for your pitch submission:

Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsis of your approach to this animates series.
Treatment (REQUIRED): This PDF should contain:
- At least 2 rough character sketches and 2 rough background sketches
- Description of your team members and their past work.
- Explanation of your CGI or 2D animation capabilities.
Pitch Video (REQUIRED): A 1 to 3-minute pitch video introducing yourself, telling us why you’re right for this project, and summarizing your qualifications. Feel free to include examples of your previous work or quick visual references here.

The Sponsor will choose how many winning pitches they would like to greenlight (at least 2). These winners will move forward into the Animation Test phase and will be awarded $5,000 each.

PHASE 3: ANIMATION TEST & DESIGNS – Once the Pitch Phase has closed, the animators with winning pitches that have been greenlit by the Sponsor will enter the Animation test & design phase. During this phase, the animator will create a 15 second animation test (featuring all 8 characters) and full character design (including rigging) and background designs, based on his/her pitch.

--Video & Design Phase Payout: Upon submitting a Video and designs that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor, each winner will receive a final payment of $2,500 (for a total project payment of $8,000).

If the Sponsor decides to greenlight your animation test into a series order, then the cost per minute will be determined at that time.

Requirements

1. The Video 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. 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. Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Video 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.

16. Submissions from Germany and France are ineligible and will be immediately disqualified.

Background

Objectives

Details

Requirements