We’re looking for kid’s animation writers to help us develop scripts for an upcoming action-packed short form animated series.

If you’re a talented kid’s animation writer, this project is for you. 

Working with Tongal, Mattel is looking for kid’s animation writers to develop pilot scripts for an adventurous and action-packed, new take on an existing Mattel property that could eventually be greenlit into a short form video series for YouTube. The target audience is kids between 3 and 7 with the sweet spot being kids between 5 and 7.

Please note: Only writer’s pitch qualification winners will advance to the Writer’s Pitch Phase and will, after fully executing our Non-Disclosure Agreement, receive access to the Brand Bible and additional materials. 

If you’re interested, please read below for additional information.

The goal of this project is to identify kid’s animation writers to help us develop scripts for an upcoming action-packed short form animated series.

It’s important to know that we’re breaking the Writer’s Pitch Phase into two parts – (1) Writer’s Pitch Qualification Phase and (2) Writer’s Pitch Phase. The Writer’s Pitch Qualification Phase is a helpful first step that essentially allows writers 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 (4) writers to move forward into the Writer’s Pitch Phase and will give them access to the Brand Bible and additional materials to help them flesh out their pitches.

If your pilot script is greenlit into a series, you will be working very closely with an animation team, which we’ll be identifying through a separate project, to flesh out the rest of the series.

The following is a list of requirements for submitting a writer’s pitch qualification and writer’s pitch (and there’s a more comprehensive explanation in the details section).

What is required to submit your writer’s pitch qualification:

• 500-character or less synopsis: telling us why YOU should be given the opportunity to work on this project.
• Previous Work: You must submit at least one writing sample (the sample must be written by you and/or with a writing partner that would ultimately be working with on this project). The sponsor is looking for examples with a strong emphasis on preschool and kid’s content. If you have more than one writing sample, please PDF them into ONE (1) document. Additionally, you may also submit links to produced videos based on your writing.
• Confirm Availability: You must confirm your availability to write a pilot script (5 1/2 minutes in length) between September and November 2018 (if chosen as a pitch qualification winner). If your pilot script is greenlit into a series, you must be available between November 2018 to the end of January 2019.
• Series Fee: Please tell us your writer’s fee for each episode should your pilot script be greenlit into a series. Keep in mind, it needs to stay within the range of $1,000 - $3,000 per episode.

Writer’s pitch qualification winners will each receive $500 to create a writer’s pitch and move onto the Writer’s Pitch Phase. Only Writer’s Pitch Qualification winners will be eligible to submit writer’s pitches. 

What is required to submit your writer’s pitch:

• Text: 500 characters or less synopsis of your approach to this animated series.
• Treatment: This PDF should contain 5 to 7 episode springboards and a “theme” for the series that will work across the episodes. 
• Pilot Script: 5 1/2-minute action-packed script broken down into two 2:45 portions with a cliffhanger at the end of the first part.
• Pitch Video: A 1 to 3-minute pitch video introducing yourself, telling us why you’re right for this project, and summarizing your qualifications.

--Target Audience: The target audience is kids between 3 and 7, the sweet spot is kids between 5 and 7.

--Executional Mandatories: 

• All content must be kid friendly. 
• Do not feature any violence. 
• Any conflict must be presented in a kid-friendly way and should not be scary.
• Scripts must be action-packed and feature multiple characters v. a single protagonist. We want to show the themes of teamwork, working together, and helping/saving one another.

--Tone: Heroic, Adventurous, Energetic, Dramatic but not scary, Action-packed

This project consists of 3 phases: Writer’s Pitch Qualification Phase, Writer’s Pitch Phase, and Pilot Script Revisions Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: WRITER’S PITCH QUALIFICATION - This project will include a Writer’s Pitch Qualification Phase which gives writers the opportunity to submit a 500-character or less synopsis telling us why YOU should be given the opportunity to work on this project, confirm your availability for production, and provide samples of previous work. 

At least FOUR (4) writer’s pitch qualification winners will move forward into the Writer’s Pitch Phase and will be awarded $500 each to further develop her/his writer’s pitches by writing a 5 1/2-minute pilot script and a treatment consisting of 5 to 7 episode springboards and a “theme” for the series that will work across the episodes. 

Please note that writer’s pitch winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production. If you have any questions about the Writer’s Pitch Qualification Phase, please post to our project forum.

Required for your writer’s pitch qualification submission:

• Pitch Synopsis (REQUIRED): In 500 characters or less telling us why YOU should be given the opportunity to work on this project.
• Previous Work (REQUIRED): With a strong emphasis on kid’s content. You must submit at least one writing sample that is fully credited by the individual who is pitching. If you have more than one writing sample, please PDF them into ONE (1) document. Additionally, you could submit links to produced videos based on your writing.
• Confirm Availability (REQUIRED): Please make sure to confirm your availability to produce a pilot script between September and November 2018 (if chosen as a pitch winner). If your pilot script is greenlit into a series, you must be available between November 2018 to the end of January 2019.
• Series Fee (REQUIRED): Please tell us your writer’s fee for each episode should your pilot script be greenlit into a series. Keep in mind, it needs to stay within the range of $1,000 - $3,000 per episode.

PHASE 2: WRITER’S PITCH - Submit your writer’s pitch convincing the sponsor why you should be selected.

NOTE: ONLY WRITER’S 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 animated series
• Treatment (REQUIRED): This PDF should contain 5 to 7 episode springboards and a “theme” for the series that will work across the episodes. 
• 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.
• Pilot Script (REQUIRED): 5 ½-minute script broken down into two 2:45 portions with a cliffhanger at the end of the first part.

PHASE 3: PILOT SCRIPT REVISIONS - Once the Writer’s Pitch Phase has closed, the writers will enter the Pilot Script Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?). During this phase, the writers will perform edits on their scripts according to the sponsor’s feedback. 

NOTE: ONLY WRITER’S PITCH WINNERS WILL MOVE ONTO THIS PHASE.

Upon submitting a writer’s pitch and a pilot script that satisfy the criteria laid out in your winning writer’s pitch qualification submission, completing sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor, the pitch winners will each receive a final payment of $1,000.

1. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information about your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.

2. BY SUBMITTING AN 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.

3. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

4. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.

5. 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 Sponsor determine the final rank order.

6. Limit 5 submissions per member.

7. You must be at least thirteen (13) years old or older to enter.

8. Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.

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

10. Winners must submit the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment.

11. 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.