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MERMAID ELLE: SAVING THE SEAS ANIMATION CONTEST Official Terms & Conditions

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1. Sponsor

This contest is sponsored by Mermaid Elle® and Saving the Seas Corp. (collectively "Sponsor").

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2. Eligibility

This contest is open to animators aged 18 and older residing in the United States. Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of Mermaid Elle® and Saving the Seas Corp. are not eligible to enter.

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3. Contest Period

The contest opens June 24, 2026 and all submissions must be received by September 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions will not be considered.

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4. How to Enter

To enter, participants must complete the official submission form and provide a viewable link to their original animation. Limit one submission per person.

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5. Animation Requirements

• Animation must be at least 10 seconds long

• Animation must be based on a scene from Mermaid Elle: Saving the Seas and accurate to the description in the book

• Animation must include both the Mermaid Elle and Gunk characters

• Animation may be 2D or 3D

• Do not reproduce existing illustrations from the book

• All animation must be created by hand — the use of AI-generated imagery, AI animation tools, or AI art generators of any kind is strictly prohibited

• Submissions that do not meet these requirements will be disqualified

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6. Judging Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Creativity and originality

• Accuracy to the book

• Animation quality and craftsmanship

• Character representation of Mermaid Elle and Gunk

The winner will be selected at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. The Sponsor's decision is final.

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7. Prize

One (1) winner will receive $1,000 USD. This is a competition prize only and is not representative of a standard per-clip rate. The winning animator will be considered for future paid work on upcoming projects; ongoing compensation will be discussed separately based on scope and experience.

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8. Taxes

The prize may be subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. The winner is solely responsible for all tax obligations arising from receipt of the prize.

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9. Intellectual Property & Rights

You retain full ownership of your submission. By entering, you receive a limited license from the author to create animation based on Mermaid Elle: Saving the Seas solely for this competition. Non-winning entries remain yours and can be shared publicly as portfolio work only and may not be commercially exploited. Mermaid Elle® and Saving the Seas Corp. reserve the right to share any and all submissions online and across social media platforms for promotional purposes, with full credit given to the creator.

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10. AI Policy

All submissions must represent the animator's own original creative work and demonstrate personal animation skill and artistry. Submissions determined to be fully or predominantly AI-generated will be disqualified. The Sponsor reserves the right to make this determination at their sole discretion.

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11. Winner Notification & Announcement

The winner will be notified via email within one (1) week of the submission deadline. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours of notification, the Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate winner. The winner will be publicly announced on Mermaid Elle® social media channels.

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12. Publicity

By entering, all participants grant Mermaid Elle® and Saving the Seas Corp. the right to share their submission on social media and online platforms for promotional purposes, with credit given to the creator via their provided name or social media handle.

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13. General Conditions

The Sponsor reserves the right to modify the contest at any time for any reason. By entering, participants agree to these Official Terms & Conditions in their entirety. These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Florida.

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