Produce some witty and charming 2D-animated videos for Manscaped's new "Monthly Minute" series, using a style reminiscent of classic hand drawn illustrations to help men sharpen their grooming skills.

Confidence. Wit. Charm. That's just part of what it takes to be smooth. The other part? Manscaped. Manscaped products make men feel smooth. It's about being well groomed, and knowing it, like this roguish gentleman from the latest Manscaped ad. We're here to help other men feel that same way, because the Manscaped team is looking for a savvy animation team who can create a monthly video series that'll teach men how to regularly check and groom themselves - the "Monthly Minute" - and they want you to infuse it with the same attitude that makes that snooker guy feel so damn smooth.

No doubt, you will need to demonstrate your own wit and comedic writing skills for this one, and Manscaped wants to find hero VO talent that exudes confidence and speaks with that distinctive brand voice. This lead character will need to encourage men to check and groom themselves in a really funny and compelling way (i.e. not another boring instructional video). Manscaped will provide key beats for each script (i.e. how-to check your beard, feet, balls, nose, etc.), but they are really leaning towards you to come up with the story development that's centered around this Hero character. 

In terms of the animation, Manscaped is also looking for something that has a retro vibe to it, almost cosmopolitan, but playful, and reminiscent of the hand drawn illustrations and artistic minimalism you might see out of The New York Times or The New Yorker. Manscaped likes classic line art, comic-book style art, even more abstract line drawings, but they are open to seeing your suggestions as well, if there's something that you feel captures the right feeling. Check out the Background for some examples the brand has provided, but don't take them too literally. Your Hero character should be illustrated, so keep that in mind, because you'll need to provide a proof of concept illustration for him in the Pitch Qualification Phase.

And if you've got the wit, but not the way to execute it - or if you're an animator without a writer - take your questions or your team building requests to the Project Forum.

THE PROCESS

• In this Pitch Qualification Phase, you'll be asked to create a proof of concept style frame for the Hero Manscaped character, and include a writing sample to show off your comedic chops. It can be an existing sample, or something written specifically for this.
• In the Pitch Phase, three greenlit Pitch Qualification creators will be selected and each will be awarded $2,500 to develop scripts and storyboards, as well as provide VO casting options, and put together a bid for a per episode series budget, with a total per episode budget of up to $7,000. Two rounds of revisions will be included in this Phase to ensure that scripts and storyboards are polished before a final decision is made.
• Ultimately, one creator's pitch will be selected and awarded $5,000, and they will move immediately into production in the Video Phase. 

DELIVERABLES: 

• One up to :60 pilot video (1x1) 
• You will be creating one pilot video to start, BUT could lead to monthly recurring video, up to six videos or more. The Sponsor will decide if they would like to move to a full video series order after the production of the pilot video. 

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section

• The storyboards and script are due by June 30th and the first animated video is due by July 29th.

EXPOSURE:

• Manscaped's website and social channels 
• Check out our platform best practices page!

TARGET AUDIENCE: Male, 18-49 years old, for whom grooming is important but have not found the right tool for the job.

TONE: 

• Witty, funny, charming, and clever. Have fun, but no juvenile/overt/immature/offensive body humor. Elevate your humor.
• The brand voice is clever, quick, witty, smart, analytical, outspoken, blunt, brash, edgy, and sexy from a place of confidence, no posturing or sexism.   

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your illustration sample needs to show what the recurring Hero character will look like.
• The Hero character needs to reflect the brand's voice and humorous yet charming tone.
• The comedic voice is very important so you should elevate your humor in your writing. Do not tell juvenile jokes. 
• Your writing should focus on how men should check and groom themselves. You can keep the Manscaped products in mind but you don't have to mention them. It's not a product push, but more of a brand awareness play. Check out the content hierarchy in the background section below.
• You need to include male VO casting options (25-40 age range) in the Pitch Phase, check out the Manscaped YouTube channel for examples. Must be native English speaker, but open to different accents, like British, Australian, New Zealand, American, Canadian.
• The first video should walk through how to spot-check your grooming: beard, breath, nose, lobes, nails, nuts, and scent in less than a minute, as per the brief request.

Manscaped enables men to unlock their confidence by providing innovative and premium grooming products at attainable prices. They believe your bits deserve better than the bargain bin. They're tired of endlessly nicked nuts. They're not convinced that all men are supposed to smell like the same middle school locker room. So shove over squeaky teens and hard bodies, everyman is the star of this show. Lumberjacks to jacks of all trades, drag queens to firemen, gamers to gear heads; every dude was meant to invest in his look, no matter what it looks like. Mutton chops? Racing stripes? Velvet purse? Whatever floats your scroat, Manscaped shaves and wash and spritz it all. Nose to nads. First fuzz to full Jamnji. They are Manscaped - and they're elevating everyman. 

MONTHLY MINUTE HERO CHARACTER: The protagonist is smooth, charming and charismatic. He can be talking about anything, but the ark of the messaging falls back to that core message: grooming makes you feel smooth (in more ways that one...). 

ANIMATION REFERENCES: Please keep in mind that these are examples the brand has provided but they are open to any ideas and don't want you taking them too literally.

• Virgin America Safety Video
• Instructional Line Art Illustrations
• For more examples, go to the Assets tab to see the uploaded images.

CONTENT HIERARCHY: These are the parts of the body to focus on grooming.

• Beard > Breath > Nose > Lobes > Nails > Nuts > Scent

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your Pitch Qualification submission. Three selected teams will then move into the Pitch Phase. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery

PITCH QUALIFICATION PHASE:

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video series.
  
  
• TREATMENT & PROOF OF CONCEPT ARTWORK (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video series. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here. This should also include a proof of concept piece of art that shows how you envision what the Hero Manscaped character would look like. 
  
  
• WRITING SAMPLE (REQUIRED): Please include a writing sample of your short comedy work. This can be a sample from previous work, OR a sample written specifically 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.
  
  
• VO CASTING OPTIONS (Optional): In additional to a Headshot, you should also include actors' demo reels with your submission.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): 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.

PITCH PHASE:

• SCRIPT (REQUIRED): The three selected teams will each need to write scripts for approval. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version.
  
  
• STORYBOARD (REQUIRED): The three selected teams will each need to create storyboards for approval. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version.
  
  
• VO CASTING (REQUIRED):  The three selected teams will each need to present casting VO options for the Hero Manscaped character.
  
  
• ANIMATION BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project for the series, so after the initial $5,000 for the pilot, you’ll get to propose a per episode budget for the series, with a total per episode budget of up to $7,000.  The Sponsor will decided if they would like to move to a full video series order after the production of the pilot video, so you series budget will come in handy should they decide to greenlit the series!

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 cast, location, and wardrobe options to the Sponsor. They can all be accessed here.

The three most compelling Pitch Qualification submissions will be selected and the responsible creators 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. 

Upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, each creator will receive $2500 each to develop a script & storyboard for the pitch phase. One greenlit pitch will be greenlit, and move on to the Video Phase, at which point the responsible creator will receive an additional budget of $5,000 to complete the first video of the "Monthly Minute" series. Please see the full payment schedule in the Assets section.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: These will be handled prior to production in the Pitch Phase. Filmmakers may move into production once greenlit and given approval . 

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Tongal supports inclusivity in all of our productions and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the Video Phase has closed, the greenlit submitters will enter the Revisions Phase. Filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback.

MUSIC: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. 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 separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above. 

If you choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your video paperwork.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: 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. Also, In addition to the project files, you are also required to provide all raw footage. You are responsible for the costs associated the hard drive and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post-production, please click here.

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. 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.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. 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.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. 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.