A good place to start would be to familiarize yourself with TZGZ's content to get an idea of its tone and subject matter. After that, think outside the box, and then think outside the box you put that box in, take one more hit, and give your idea some kind of genre spin.

Oh, and then exhale. 

RELEVANT TZGZ CONTENT FOR REFERENCE:

• Gary and His Demons
• Science!
• High Wizard
• TZGZ Bedtime Stories
• Magical Mythical Creature Features
• The Lioness

OWNERSHIP/PARTICIPATION: 

• Submissions Not Selected by Sponsor: All rights to entries that are not selected by sponsor will revert back to the submitters 3 months after the close of the Project.
• Submissions Selected by Sponsor: The rights to the entries that are selected by the sponsor will be negotiated in good faith with the submitter and the sponsor, and covered by a separate production agreement, using the Bids & Budgets that have been provided with those entries. This agreement may contain the option for SYFY to order additional episodes. 

We figure you were probably on board the moment you saw "late-night animation," but wait, it gets better: this is TZGZ, SYFY's adult animation comedy block - a dank new hybrid of sci-fi, fantasy, and funny - and SYFY wants you to create original animated shorts for it. 

TZGZ is hilarious, irreverent, self-aware, and playful, and it's where you can expect to meet wild characters like demon porn stars, singing space possums, and bong-smoking wizards. If you love genre content and you're an animator - 2D, 3D, stop-motion, claymation, papercraft, whatever - we're giving you free rein to play around in SYFY's mind-bending sandbox. Intrigued? Hell yeah you are. 

This will begin as a pitch qualification project. You'll be required to provide a 500 character summary of why you and/or your team are a great fit for this project (i.e. past experience or credits, unique style & execution, your unmatched wit), along with a 500 character synopsis of the animated short that you want to create. 6 animators will be selected from the pitch qualification phase and paid $750 each to create a full pitch, including a script, detailing their creative vision for the animated short. Up to 3 pitches will be selected to go to pilot.

The budget range for your pilot should fall between $5,000 to $15,000 per minute of animation, and know that, if you crush it, the door is open to additional episode orders. 

DELIVERABLES:

• One 3-5 minute animated pilot
• One Series Treatment

 

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets tab, but note that this timeline is tentative, and may extend for longer pilots or 3D animated pilots, which require more time to produce.

 

EXPOSURE: Greenlit pilots will air on SYFY during TZGZ programming, and also be posted on SYFY.com, as well on SYFY’s digital and social platforms.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:  Adult fans of late-night genre content.

TONE: Hilarious (did we mention that yet?), wild, provocative, mind-bending, absurdist, playful, and/or a little off-kilter. It's SYFY after you puff puff pass. And on that note, SYFY content is already pretty smart, edgy, provocative, and self-aware, so have a lot of fun here.  

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• There MUST be some kind of genre element to this. By "genre" we mean science fiction, fantasy, comic books, and horror, as well as anything that falls under those categories, or combines them. Think about sub-genres too - science-fiction and fantasy are HUGE categories that include a ton of different styles. Avoid generic and overly broad approaches. 
• This is for animators - NOT live-action filmmakers. Any medium can work, including traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, stop-motion animation, claymation, papercraft, or mixed media. You *may* use real-life photography or video to supplement your animation, but it must still feel stylistic and artful and supplement animation.
• All work MUST be original, and should NOT include or reference existing IP. Any persons, places or things rendered should be of the artist’s own creation and should not be referential of any existing properties.
• AVOID graphically violent or sexual  images, or overtly political subject matter.
• Be funny.

PITCH QUALIFICATION PHASE:

In order to be considered for this project you must include the below materials:

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED):  In 500 characters or fewer, tell us why you think you and/or your team are a great fit for this project (i.e. past experience or credits, unique style & execution, your unmatched wit).
• CREATIVE EXECUTION (REQUIRED): In 500 characters or fewer, synopsize your creative approach/concept for this project.
• 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.  If you haven't created content in this particular vertical or product category before, that’s ok. Just send us your best work that ladders up to the style, tone, and/or technical skills we're looking for.
• TREATMENT (OPTIONAL): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the pilot. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.

PITCH REQUIREMENTS: 

Greenlit animators from the pitch qualification phase must submit the following in their full pitch: 

 

• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): The treatment should describe in detail how you plan to execute the narrative of your pilot, and how you plan to bring the storytelling to life visually. You should include graphic and tonal references when possible.
• SCRIPT (REQUIRED): The script should include all of the action and dialogue for the pilot you intend to create.
• BUDGET (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. You can download the budget template here. The sponsor would like each animator to create a pilot in the cost range of $5,000 to 15,000 per minute of animation.
• PITCH VIDEO (REQUIRED): 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.
• STORYBOARDS (OPTIONAL):  Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.

For your convenience we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a treatment, production budget, storyboards, shot list, call sheet, and a music cue sheet. Additionally, there are templates that will help you clearly present the sponsor cast, location, and wardrobe options. They can all be accessed here.

Hold on... Wait. Woah. Did we say bong-smoking wizards? Noice.

1. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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. 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.