SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: SpongeBob SquarePants is an animated series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures and endeavors of SpongeBob and his aquatic friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The fifth-longest-running American animated series, its popularity has made it a media franchise with over 100M social fans. It is the highest-rated series to air on Nickelodeon. The success of the series has also spawned shows such as Kamp Koral and The Patrick Show - all of which, along with the original Spongebob Squarepants series, make up the Spongebob Universe.

• SpongeBob Instagram
• SpongeBob Facebook

The beloved Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants has some big milestones to celebrate this July. Not only is July 14th SpongeBob's birthday, but July is also the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the show. Can I be excused for the rest of my life to go celebrate?!?! No? Well, then what's a better way to celebrate a big milestone than with CAKE? And not just any cake - Nickelodeon wants to jump in on the viral trend of "burn cakes" with a special SpongeBob twist. So, if you are an aspiring star baker with some filmmaking friends or a director who knows an amazing cake sculptor, this project is for you!

The goal here is, first and foremost, to create an incredible cake that shows off and captures SpongeBob's playful spirit, and then with that, a cool short social video revealing the cake. In terms of the overall look of the cake, this assignment is wide open to artistic interpretation, but the cake should feature the iconic quote, "What's funnier than 24?" at the top, and it should then burn away to reveal the logo for SpongeBob's 25th Anniversary (which will be shared with the greenlit creator). On top of the cake design, we do still want an interesting reveal, so be thoughtful in how you might approach that element. 

In terms of edit structure, Nickelodeon wants to see the finished cake at the beginning of the video, and then transition to a montage sequence with the making of the cake, before we see a burn away reveal at the end. Importantly, any depictions of the characters must be wholly original works (i.e. not still images pulled from the show), and the characters must stay as close to the original designs as possible. Nickelodeon is open to both live-action and stop-motion approaches, but the real focus of the video should be the cake itself, showing off inventive details brought to life in sugary sweetness.

In your pitch, please include any cake design past work, or if you're planning to work with a baker, please include links to their past work as well. We'd also encourage you to submit an optional proof-of-concept video that illustrates how your idea would come to life. Your proof of concept should be designed for TikTok, shot in a 9x16 aspect ratio, and up to 30 seconds. You can even create your proof-of-concept video in the TikTok app itself. Feel free to include links to any existing social videos (they don't have to be your own) that represent the style you'd be aiming for. 

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

DELIVERABLES: Each greenlit creator will create one video:

• One up-to-:30 social video (9x16)

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 it is NOT limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• TikTok and Instagram Reels

TARGET AUDIENCE: 

• Young adult/older Gen Z nostalgic fans; Millennial nostalgic fans
• Your ideas should NOT be aimed at young kids.
• Assets should feel contemporary and adult-facing while remaining family-friendly.

TONE/FEEL: Funny, smart, authentic, good-natured, diverse, supportive, celebratory

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• You MAY be able to use the SpongeBob theme song as the background music for your video, but you CANNOT use any sounds or voiceover from the show, unless it's explicitly permitted and provided by Nickelodeon. Approved music cues will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker, if desired. 
• Any depictions of the characters must be wholly original works. Official references images of the characters will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker, if necessary. 

OPEN BID:

• This is an open bid project, so you'll get to submit your own budget proposal up to $4,000. If it makes sense, you may submit multiple versions of your bid at a budget, target, and reach price point.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid 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.

• 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.
  
  
• BID/BUDGET (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, and the Sponsor would like you to create ALL of the content listed in the Deliverables within a budget total of up to $4,000. You can download the budget template HERE.
  
  
• PROOF-OF-CONCEPT VIDEO (Optional): If helpful, we encourage you to submit an optional proof-of-concept video based on the information provided in the Objectives section. Your proof of concept should be designed for TikTok, shot in a 9x16 aspect ratio, and up to 30 seconds. You can even create your proof-of-concept video in the TikTok app itself. Feel free to include links to any existing social videos (they don't have to be your own) that represent the style you'd be aiming for.  The goal is to make your video feel as native to TikTok as possible.

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.