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The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

Bringing Tibetan history to life - one frame at a time. Now funding the final five episodes!

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The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

The Animated History of Tibet - Part Two!

Bringing Tibetan history to life - one frame at a time. Now funding the final five episodes!

Bringing Tibetan history to life - one frame at a time. Now funding the final five episodes!

Bringing Tibetan history to life - one frame at a time. Now funding the final five episodes!

Bringing Tibetan history to life - one frame at a time. Now funding the final five episodes!

Armchair Academics
Armchair Academics
Armchair Academics
Armchair Academics
2 Campaigns |
Potomac, United States
$91,292 USD 46 backers
76% of $120,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

The Animated History of Tibet is a nine-episode, fully-animated historical documentary series, written, directed, and animated by historians and artists passionate about Tibetan history and culture. The series covers the entire history of Tibet, from the earliest instances of writing on the Tibetan Plateau, through the 20th century, and into the present day. Each twenty-five minute episode is published on YouTube, where it is free to watch, along with interviews with collaborating historians, and comprehensive reading lists for students and educators who want to expand their knowledge of Tibetan history, culture, and the history of Tibetan Buddhism. 

The series is written and narrated in English; however, if this campaign is successful, we will be able to translate and re-release each episode, fully-narrated, in both Tibetan and Mandarin-language versions.

We were able to finance pre-production and the first four episodes of the series with a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, which raised $64,300. We now need your help to finish the journey and bring The Animated History of Tibet into the 20th and 21st centuries! Back us today to fund episodes five through nine and support our Tibetan and Mandarin-language localization.   

The series is written and directed by Dr. Alexander K. Smith, who holds a PhD in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies from the University of Paris (EPHE – PSL) and an MA in Tibetan Studies from Oxford University. Episodes will be published through the educational YouTube channel Armchair Academics (https://www.youtube.com/c/ArmchairAcademics101) in collaboration with our co-producers at Tibet House US (https://thus.org/). There is also a production Instagram where you can learn more about the project and get in touch with the producers and our art team (https://www.instagram.com/animatedhistoryoftibet/).  

See episode one, "The rise of the Tibetan Empire": https://youtu.be/WZJSKTRwDAI
See episode two, "The golden age of the Tibetan Empire": https://youtu.be/pDmX9kVvG44

What We Need

Our funding goal for each of the five remaining episodes is $18,000, which brings us to a total production budget of $90,000 to finish the English-language version of the series. This covers our entire production pipeline for episodes five through nine, which includes character design and storyboarding, character animation, background animation and matte painting, post-production animation, editing, and audio design.

While the English-version of the series is obviously important, we feel that the translation and re-release of the series in Tibetan and Mandarin is the true heart of what we hope to achieve with The Animated History of Tibet. Therefore, whatever amount we raise through this campaign, we will earmark $30,000 for localization in Asian languages. If we achieve our fundraising goals, this would bring us to a total budget of $120.000. This includes the full translation of the series into Tibetan and Mandarin (allowing for subtitles on Youtube), as well as financing the narration of each episode in both Tibetan and Mandarin by native-speaking voice actors.    

As with our first campaign, we're not planning any overhead. So every dollar pledged to the series will go towards the project's production costs. 

But... if there's no overhead, what do we get out of making The Animated History of Tibet? 

Well, our main goal isn't financial. We love Tibetan history and have benefitted enormously from our involvement with Tibetan friends, colleagues, and institutions and we want to continue to give something back to that community. With that said, by publishing the series through our YouTube channel, Armchair Academics, there will be back-end profits that compensate the writer and producers -- but only if the series is a success! 

What you get

Most importantly, you will be part of the reason that The Animated History of Tibet is able to be made and every donation at or beyond $50 will get your name in the credits of episodes five through nine along with the names of our Patreon patrons (patreon.com/armchairacademics). If you were one of our backers during the 2022 campaign, don't worry --  your name will still appear in the credits of each episode. But, if you choose to continue supporting us by donating to this campaign, we've organized a special, secret perk just for you! 

If you're interested in more than getting your name in the credits, contributions between $50 and $1,000 will also be able to pick from a bunch of additional perks: verbal shout-outs, framed and unframed prints featuring our original artwork and maps, postcards and bookmarks featuring art from the series, or official mugs designed by our artists. 

Looking for something even bigger? You can choose to fund a specific episode. Donations at or beyond $9,000 will make a huge impact on the production and backers can choose to receive executive production credits for a specific episode (or episodes) of their choice. Would you like to fund an animated history of Tibet during the 20th century? Or maybe the life of the great 5th Dalai Lama and the unification of Tibet under the Ganden Phodrang? We've got you covered -- check our episode list below and let us know what parts of Tibetan history you would like to sponsor.  

Last but certainly not least, donations at or above $30,000 will receive executive production credits for episodes five through nine, as well as for each episode of the Tibetan and Mandarin-language versions. Join us and Tibet House US as co-producers and help us create a lasting and impactful resource for teaching Tibetan history that will stand the test of time

There are other ways you can help, too. Even if you can’t back the project financially, talk to your friends and family about the series or share our page on social media. Indiegogo has its own sharing tools that make spreading the word easier than ever. Basically, help us get the word out and make some noise!

However you decide to back our campaign, know that we are enormously grateful for your support. Every little bit makes a difference in the success and reach of The Animated History of Tibet.  

 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

Thanks for your support!

Thanks for your support!

$5 USD
Our sincere thanks for supporting The Animated History of Tibet!
Included Items
  • Thank you!
6 claimed
Signed Thank You

Signed Thank You

$25 USD
Thank you for supporting Tibetan history! You'll receive a written thank you in the mail from the director on a small piece of artwork designed for the series.
Included Items
  • A signed thank you in the mail
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
5 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Name in the Credits + Thanks

Name in the Credits + Thanks

$50 USD
In addition to your name appearing in the credits of each episode, you'll receive a signed thank you in the mail featuring original artwork from the series.
Included Items
  • A signed thank you in the mail
  • Name in the credits
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
4 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Name in the Credits + Perks

Name in the Credits + Perks

$70 USD
In addition to your name appearing in the credits of each episode, you'll receive an exclusive pack of promotional materials in the mail containing a mix of postcards and bookmarks designed using art from the series!
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Pack of promotional materials
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
1 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Heroes of the Empire Mug

Heroes of the Empire Mug

$80 USD
In addition to your name appearing in the credits of each episode, you'll receive a commemorative "Heroes of the Tibetan Empire" white glossy mug (11oz), which features our character designs for the emperor Songtsen Gampo and the great queens Wenchen Konjo and Brikuti Devi. The mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Songtsen Gampo Mug (white)
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
8 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Official Tibetan-language mug

Official Tibetan-language mug

$80 USD
In addition to your name appearing in the credits of each episode, you'll receive an "Animated History of Tibet" black glossy mug (11oz), which features the title of the series written in a stylized Ume or "headless" script. Currently my go-to mug for the first coffee of the day. Ceramic. Handwash only. One mug to rule them all.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Tibetan-language mug (black)
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
3 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Young Songtsen Gampo (framed)

Young Songtsen Gampo (framed)

$150 USD
In addition to your name appearing in the credits of each episode, you'll receive a framed high definition digital print of character concept art created by our artists for the first episode of the series. The print is 11x14 and comes with two color options: black or red oak. I have one of these hanging above my computer in the studio.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Framed character concept art
1 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Stylized Map of Central Tibet

Stylized Map of Central Tibet

$200 USD
In addition to your name in the credits of every episode, you will receive a beautiful, stylized map of Central Tibet, featuring the major settlements and monasteries of the Yarlung and Lhasa Valleys designed by The Voyager's Workshop! English version, although our map is also available in a Tibetan-language version.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Central Tibet Map (English)
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Stylize Map (Tibetan script)

Stylize Map (Tibetan script)

$200 USD
In addition to your name in the credits of every episode, you will receive a beautiful, stylized map of Central Tibet, featuring the major settlements and monasteries of the Yarlung and Lhasa Valleys designed by The Voyager's Workshop! Tibetan-language version, although our map is also available in English.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Central Tibet Map (Tibetan)
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
2 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Verbal shout out + perk pack

Verbal shout out + perk pack

$1,000 USD
In addition to your name in the credits, you will receive a verbal shout-out and special thank you at the end of each episode, along with an exclusive promotional pack, which includes prints, mugs, and a copy of our stylized map of central Tibet (in either its English or Tibetan-language version).
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Pack of promotional materials
  • Central Tibet Map (English)
  • Verbal-shout out
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
2 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Executive Producer | 1 episode

Executive Producer | 1 episode

$9,000 USD
You will receive executive producer credits for an episode of your choice. Would you like to fund an animated history of Tibet during the 20th century? Or maybe an episode featuring the life of the great 5th Dalai Lama? We've got you covered... check our episode list below and let us know what parts of Tibetan history you would like to sponsor.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Pack of promotional materials
  • Central Tibet Map (English)
  • Executive producer credits
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.
Executive producer credits

Executive producer credits

$30,000 USD
Join us and Tibet House US as executive producers of the series. You will receive executive production credits for episodes 5-9 of the English-language version of the series, as well as for each episode of the Tibetan and Mandarin-language versions. We will also come to you and organize a screening and Q&A with the series creators.
Included Items
  • Name in the credits
  • Pack of promotional materials
  • Central Tibet Map (English)
  • Executive producer credits
Estimated Shipping
July 2024
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.

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