Cats just adore going to the vet, perhaps almost as much as they love taking a bath. And now, Simon Tofield, the man behind Simon’s Cat, plans to make this experience into his latest and most consuming film yet, aptly titled Off to the Vet. Simon’s Cat -- which debuted in 2008 (has it been that long?) -- now boasts more than half a billion views and 3 million subscribers, making it the No. 1 UK animation channel on YouTube.
The Simon’s Cat animation studio wants to create a special extended-length, color episode, based on the chaos that erupts on the day of a vet appointment, something that many of us not only understand but dread when the day draws near. Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tofield explains the why in all this: “In the messages we receive from fans, a film about preparing for and visiting the vet is definitely the most common request. It’s a deep subject to explore, rich with the potential of loads of humor which is why we feel we’d like to make this our first broadcast length episode in color."
For this, Simon’s team is taking the crowdfunding route, with Indiegogo. Thus far, the project has hit £155,548 of the £275,850 goal (that’s $265,794 of $471,361, for you United States KITizens).
If you contribute, there’s a variety of return for you. On the lower end, for about a $30 donation you'll get a copy of Simon’s new book commemorating the journey of making Off to the Vet. For a much bigger donation -- about $17,000 -- you and your pet will be immortalized in animation as characters in the special VIP section of the crew's Behind the Scenes/Making Of video.
Here’s the rub and why Tofield and his crew really need your help: This is a Fixed Funding project, which means if the project doesn't reach its target, it won't get any funds and Off to the Vet can't be made. Below is the video explaining the fundraiser and the film.
At this point you might be thinking, "Wow, that’s a lot of money for a cartoon." But creating an animated piece is no small task according to Emma Burch, one of the leads on the Simon’s Cat team: “Traditional-style, frame-to-frame animation is time-consuming, with up to 25 frames being drawn for every second of animation. As you add more characters it becomes even more challenging. Off to the Vet is an addition to our usual black-and-white Simon’s Cat episodes, so we are in fact looking to double our output in one year.”
Go Simon, go!
For more on this film, or to donate, visit Simon’s Indiegogo campaign.
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