Design stylized and unforgettable 3D anthropomorphic characters and their immersive environments for the initial development of an original coming-of-age animated feature film.

Animated films are a cornerstone in modern entertainment. Their ability to immerse viewers in worlds unknown provides unparalleled storytelling flexibility, allowing for bold, imaginative narratives and deeply emotional themes that can appeal to all ages. Once you've got a sense of your story, the magic in every animated film really starts with look development: the design process where artistic style, color, shading, and texture serve to bring a film's characters and environments to life. Tongal is at that stage with a project now, and for a group of designers that can help in the development of a new animated feature film. 

For this project, we’re looking for three CG designer/animators to create striking and heavily stylized 3D designs for a series of anthropomorphized animal characters and backgrounds. Each designer will need to generate different 3 characters and 2 different backgrounds. Stylistically, we want something that is distinct and memorable, while supporting the thematic narrative journey of our protagonist, which we'll share more info on down below. We’re interested in exploring new, unique, and/or hybrid styles of animation and we really want design options that feel captivating, visually dynamic, and oozing with personality. With so much content put in front of people today across various streaming platforms and studios, what really makes a film stand out today is its style. We don’t just want to just the standard big-eyed 3D animated animal on-screen; we want real, tangible characters and environments that reflect an intentional, confident, and artistic style choice that can, in turn, reinforce the story being told. 

When you dive into the short synopsis down below, we want you to think about how different studios approach their animation styles and in particular those styles that involve talking animals: Pixar (e.g. Hoppers, Good Dinosaur, Finding Nemo), versus Illumination’s Migration, versus DreamWorks The Wild Robot, versus Sony’s GOAT. All of these examples feature talking animals, but each has its own approach to artistic style, including different body proportions, different movement patterns, and even different skeletal rigging. The way light plays into the character, the way color and texture factor into their skin, their fur, their scales, and their clothes - it's all different. There’s no set goal post here, except that we want this art style to truly be its own…

Narratively, this feature film will revolve around Indigo, a teenage chameleon who was born with an amazing talent for art, but who cannot physically change her colors like her parents or her 11 siblings. Indigo will be joined by her best friend and classmate Zara, who's a rebellious graffiti-tagging skunk and fiercely loyal friend, as well as their art teacher Miss Calder, a blue heron decked out in kimonos, will serve as a source of comfort and acceptance for the girls. This is a coming-of-age tale that centers around all the pressures that you face during your formative teenage years. All the pressures that you can think of - societal, familial, religious, cultural - are coming down on Indigo just as she tries to find herself. There is a full story synopsis HERE, along with character breakdowns, some location write-ups, and additional orientation materials in the Background. We want you to breath life into these characters and the diverse world that they inhabit. We want attitude, distinct silhouettes, and environments that feel like characters of their own. 

You might ask, what does the world look like from a chameleon’s eyes... one who should be able to change colors but cannot, yet finds the art in herself through other outlets and relationships? Miss Calder's art room becomes a refuge for Indigo: how is that visually communicated? What about the auditorium where school-wide assemblies take place, full of chairs for a literal jungle of characters, with banners and awards for different sports and achievements, as well as accommodations for all the different students that attend the school?

We’re looking to really break the mold and help build a world that leaps off the screen. This is an excellent chance to really dig in creatively and - like Indigo - turn a blank canvas into a living world. Tonally, we’re getting a John Hughes feeling from the setting, the characters, and the overall vibe of letting your true self shine despite what those around you want or think you should be. As you’re conceptualizing the characters and locations, keeping some of his films in mind, or even more modern stories with that same thematic DNA like Derry Girls!, Heartstopper or even Spider Man: Homecoming - the school dynamics...not the superhero elements - or The Edge of Seventeen in mind for the overall feeling of this world might help get the wheels turning. 

For your pitch, we’re looking to see an initial design of the main character Indigo, to help us get a sense of your design style and proposed approach to the work. You should also plan to share an outline of your creative approach, the art/CG-style you’re pitching, programs that you intend on using and have experience with, as well as your past work and/or portfolio. We are looking to greenlight three pitches in total and, if selected, you’ll work with Tongal and the Director through 3-4 rounds of review to hone the designs and visual language further. The expectation here is that the project will conclude with workable 3D models and environments in the established design style, to further development conversations for the film with potential distribution partners, like streaming services or networks. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are 5 total assets per animator

• Three distinct character design CG models
• Two distinct location design CG models

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE

EXPOSURE: Internal use to explore further development

TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages

TONE/FEEL: Fun, energized, stylistically unique

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Each greenlit animator must create and provide workable 3D CG model files at the conclusion of the project.

AI USAGE: No AI usage of any kind is permitted on this project.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

STORY SYNOPOSIS: 

• Indigo is a green chameleon born into a world where color-changing is a religious and social necessity. While her eleven siblings can flawlessly blend into any background, Indigo remains "plain green" regardless of her surroundings. Through her parents desperate attempts to "fix" her, being subjected to object humiliation in school, and feeling like no one truly understands her, Indigo finds solace in her art class, her similarly unique friend, and the understanding that one's true colors shine from the inside.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS:

• Indigo - Indigo is a chameleon who can’t change color. No one knows why. Not her parents, not her doctors, certainly not Indigo. But there is one thing she knows: it’s not easy being only green. Indigo’s parents are always trying to fix her, her classmates keep asking rude questions, and her color-changing siblings have no idea what she’s going through. Determined to escape all the negative attention, Indigo takes up painting. The goal: to paint herself to blend into the background. If her skin won’t change color, she’ll just have to do it herself. Decked out in a utility-belt studded with paints and brushes, Indigo can finally disappear, and discover, in the process, that she really doesn’t want to disappear at all. Ultimately, Indigo begins to wonder if she was born different for a reason: all so that she would pick up a paint brush… not to fade into the background, but to stand out. Encouraged by one great teacher and one inseparable friend, Indigo will finally find the courage to stop being a chameleon and start being an artist. And find that, in the end, there’s nothing she would change about herself (except maybe to get some better brushes).
• Zara (aka Sara) - Zara is a skunk with two secrets: one, her name is really Sara; two, she can’t stink it up. Something is wrong with Zara’s glands and even her farts smell like flowers. This might sound like a good thing, but not if you’re a skunk. Embarrassed by her so-called handicap, Zara hides behind a punk rock exterior: seven earrings, a nose ring, and a perennial scowl. And just so you know she’s truly hardcore, Zara has dyed her white skunk-stripe a furious purple. Better stay away or she will spray…not with her glands but with the can of spray paint that she, a budding graffiti artist, is never seen without. 
• Miss Calder - A great blue heron with a great big heart, Miss Calder is Indigo’s art teacher… and so much more. Consummately clad in silk kimonos inspired by her artistic namesake, Miss Calder teaches Indigo everything she knows about color theory, drawing, sculpting, and art history. Indigo thinks it’s all so that she can one day paint herself into the background, but Miss Calder has other ideas. She sees a promising young artist in Indigo and will stop at nothing to help that little chameleon finally stand out.

  
  

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 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 TO ARTIST PORTFOLIO (REQUIRED): Provide links to your portfolio of work, or a social media page, if that's easiest. The Sponsor would like to see a collection of your artwork to get a sense of your ability and personal style.

• PROOF-OF-CONCEPT ARTWORK (REQUIRED): Include proof-of-concept artwork illustrating how you might approach the content listed in the Deliverables. Upload your Artwork in PNG format.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit by the Sponsor, and the responsible creator 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 BIBLE & APPROVALS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST prepare a document with the elements contained below, and that document MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor. 

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.

• CONCEPT ART: Through concept art, show how you plan to execute the content, and how you plan to bring it to life visually before heading into CG model build. 

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. 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.