Picking up the torch from groundbreaking animated anthology series like MTV's Liquid Television, Nickelodeon's What a Cartoon!, or Netflix's Love, Death, & Robots, Drawn & Quartered is Tongal's showcase of original animated shorts from around the world. We're looking for bold new ideas that work as standalone micro shorts, and that leave audiences eager to see more from their characters, worlds, and creators.

For decades, anthology showcases like Liquid Television, What a Cartoon!, or Love, Death, & Robots have introduced audiences to new voices, experimental styles, and filmmakers that would go on to shape the future of animation. The diversity of artistry and storytelling that these programs fostered is nearly unparalleled; Liquid Television gave us both the avant-garde stylings of Æon Flux and the irreverant shenanigans of Beavis and Butt-Head, while What a Cartoon!'s shorts simultaneously introduced us to the kinetic visuals of Gennady Tartakovsky and the comic genius of Seth McFarlane. With Drawn & Quartered, we're looking for the next generation of unforgettable creator-owned animated worlds.

Twice a month, we're going to premiere four original animated shorts, each between 30 and 90 seconds long, on Tongal's social channels. Every style, every genre, and every tone are welcome. That means we're open to 2D and 3D, or stop-motion, pixel art, mixed media, hand-drawn, motion graphics, puppetry, and any other experimental format, and your stories can be anything from papercraft steampunk slapstick to hand drawn high fantasy. While every short should stand on its own, we're especially looking for projects that hint at a continuing story or a larger world. Maybe it's a character with countless adventures ahead, a world we'd love to explore further, or a story that feels like the first chapter of something much bigger. We want viewers to finish each episode wondering, "When do I get to see more of that?" 

Finished videos are absolutely welcome, even if you're already shared it on your own channels, and we're also excited to see works in progress, proof-of-concepts, and visual tests that capture the heart of a larger creative vision. You can submit in either 16x9 or 9x16, and whether there are vocals, or voiceover, or music, is totally up to you. If your project isn't finished, we'll collaborate with you to get it done, and some revisions or technical fixes might be requested, but you'll still take creative lead. Our goal is simple: to find incredible creators, to celebrate their work, and to help exceptional ideas take their next step.

This showcase may just be the start. If your video is selected, we may also work with you to create a series treatment that will lay out how your project might expand into a series or feature film, and if that happens, then we'll introduce your project to studios, networks, streamers, publishers, brands, and other potential partners that may be interested in developing it further. If it's really got potential, we want to help take it to the next level.

For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

SUBMISSION PHASE: The Drawn & Quartered Showcase will be open for submissions from 12:00 PM PT on Monday, September 21st, 2026, to 12:00 PM PT on Tuesday, October 20th, 2026. Submissions not received within this time period will be disqualified. 

SIXTEEN CREATORS WILL RECEIVE:

• $1000 payment for selection and a 12 month option. No additional funds will be available for animation itself.

TO ENTER YOUR SUBMISSION, YOU MUST:

1. Be 18 years or older.
2. Log-in to, or create a Tongal Account
3. Upload your video submission ("Pitch") to Tongal through the "Submit" tab of the project page (above)
4. Fill out the required information on the Submission Form and click "Submit Pitch" button

CREATOR OWNERSHIP: Your story, your characters, and your world are yours. We're here to help open doors; NOT to take ownership of your creation.

• If your short is selected, Tongal will produce Drawn & Quartered, option your project, and spend up to 12 months from the date of selection introducing your project to studios, networks, streamers, publishers, brands, and other potential partners who may be interested in developing it further. If and when a partner elects to move forward with your project, your budget, involvement, and participation in the project, including your percentage of any net proceeds, will be subject to good faith negotiations with the partner and covered by a separate agreement.

• If your short is NOT selected, Tongal will not option your project, and you'll retain all rights, but you're welcome to resubmit again in the future. 

DELIVERABLES: There are at least 2 total deliverables.

• One :30-:90 animation (16x9 or 9x16)
• One Series Treatment (which we'll help develop with you).

ESTIMATED TIMELINE: HERE

• Since we're open to finished videos, WIP videos, and video proposals, and since different animation styles have different production requirements, this timeline is purely an estimate, and we'll work with you to determine realistic timing, depending on how much (if any) work is needed. 
• After initially selecting 16 videos, the Drawn & Quartered Showcase Series will begin premiering 4 shorts in October of 2026, and continue for at least 4 months.

EXPOSURE & RELEASES: The Drawn & Quartered Showcase Series will be primarily shared on Tongal's YouTube Channel and Instagram Channels. From there, it could go anywhere, depending on the interest of any studios, networks, streamers, publishers, brands, or other potential partners. For the purposes of clearances:

• Talent Releases: f you've already cast talent and have releases, we'll accept those for the purposes of the Showcase, but if you're casting any new talent we'll require that they sign our standard Talent Release moving forward.
• Music Releases: Similarly, if you have an existing video with existing music tracks, we'll need the existing releases for the purposes of the Showcase, but for any music going forward, you'll be required to use of one of Tongal's music libraries, which you'll be able to read more about in the Project Requirements.

AI USAGE: You may not use AI generated visual or audio assets in your final content. However, for the purposes of your pitch and pre-production materials, you are welcome to use generative AI to create visuals, storyboards, animatics, proofs-of-concept, etc. that might help the Sponsor understand your vision for creating the final content. Additionally, assistive AI tools (e.g. object removal, compositing, color grading, sound mixing, subtitling, etc.) may be used in post-production to supplement your workflow. Please keep record of any AI usage deployed in your submissions in the event that the Sponsor requests AI disclosures. If you have questions about any specific usage or tool, please ask your Tongal producer.

MTV's original Liquid Television ran from 1991 to 1995 and introduced audiences to new creators and new characters that would eventually grow into cultural landmarks, most famously Mike Judge, with Beavis & Butthead, and Peter Chung, with Æon Flux. Independent animators  and artists were the driving force, and many of the shorts were only a minute or two long. 

In 1995, What a Cartoon! premiered on The Cartoon Network as another animation anthology series, and many of its young creators produced segments that would go on to become major animation series, and ultimately shape the childhoods of millions. Craig McCracken made a splash with the first segments of The Powerpuff Girls, and Genndy Tartakovsky entered the scene with Dexter's Laboratory. Alongside them was Seth McFarlane's with his first short, Larry & Steve, and the premieres of Johnny Bravo and  Courage the Cowardly Dog. 

More recently, Netflix's Love, Death, & Robots has emerged as the premiere adult anthology series, bringing together dozens of the most visionary animators and studios from around the world to experiment with ideas unconstrained by a single style or story, and delivering high-end animation that spans multiple genres, including comedy, horror, science fiction, and fantasy.

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. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing your short, its story, and your hopes for it..
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of your short, including its characters, plot, and world, and how it might expand into a series or feature film. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• ANIMATION (Optional): Assuming you have an existing video, you can upload your finished animation or awork-in-progress cut; either way, just be sure to identify which it is.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is an opportunity to add a personal touch to your project and talk about your vision for it, beyond whatever you might showcase in the Animation Video. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Looking for help? Post crew and production opportunities connected to Tongal projects on Backlot. Backlot includes search tools to help you find collaborators and crew by role, skill set, location, and more, for productions of any size and type. Tongal also supports inclusivity in all productions, and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find additional options for staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

The most compelling pitch(es) will be selected by Tongal, and the responsible creator(s) will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. Payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal, typically included with the project timeline.

PRE-PRODUCTION & APPROVALS (if video is incomplete): Prior to the commencement of actual production, or the completion of a work-in-progress video, creators MUST prepare a singular pre-production treatment with the elements contained below, and that document MUST receive final approval from Tongal. We recommend that you use the production bible template we provide HERE, or something very similar. The document can be presented in stages as different elements are ready for review (i.e. it's not expected that storyboards, if required, are ready with your first draft). Apart from the below, you're also welcome to include other key items that you think would be helpful to communicate your plan (e.g. moodboards, lighting, music, shot list, etc.).

Note that there may be multiple rounds of feedback until elements are approved, and if you begin production before you have received final approval, you may need to reshoot or reanimate at your own expense.

• TREATMENT Describe how you plan to execute the content, and how you plan to bring it to life visually. Feel free to use concept art, references, style frames, or mock-ups. If relevant, share additional information about your team, and your process.

For convenience, we've provided some helpful templates that you can consider using for pre-production materials, and they can all be accessed here.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: Once Content has been submitted and the initial Production Phase completed, greenlit creators will enter into Revisions. Creators will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor's feedback. Check out our Filmmaker Resource Portal to access helpful post-production resources like Text-Safe Guides for different platforms, Project File Organization Tutorial, Export Presets, and Captioning services.

MUSIC: If you use music from a library for your content, we'd encourage you to use one of Tongal's music providers: Universal Production Music, PrimalHouse, or Slipstream. 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 Music Release Form. To learn more, click on any of the providers' names above. 

• If you use any other any other music from a library for your content, you will need to provide addition music release information. 
• If you use original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. Please ensure your composer reviews and signs this form BEFORE beginning their work.

STOCK FOOTAGE: Tongal has partnered with the stock footage library Storyblocks, which can be used to source video clips, photography, and After Effects templates for your video submission to this project. Video or photo content from Storyblocks is available at no charge, solely for incorporation into submissions on this project, and will not require a separate Release Form. If identifiable people or intellectual property appears in a video clip or photo, you may only utilize assets that are clearly marked “Model released: Yes” or “Property release: Yes” on the clip description pages. You may NOT use any audio.

If you intend to use Storyblocks, inform your Tongal producer, and an account will be created for you to access the library. Once assets are approved for delivery, you must provide a complete list of all Storyblocks content that you used via our template HERE.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: 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 are responsible for any costs associated with the hard drive and shipping. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.

To ensure a smoother delivery, please review the Export Presets, Specifications, and Project File Organization Tutorial in our Filmmaker Resource Portal.

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. UNLIKE MOST TONGAL PROJECTS, YOUR SUBMISSION WILL NOT BECOME THE PROPERTY OF TONGAL UPON SUBMISSION.
   
   
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 eighteen (18) 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.