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"CHEATIN' is my 7th animated feature and the first being done in a hand-painted style with over 40,000 drawings to be colored!"

NEW "STRETCH GOAL" OF $90,000!

KEEP PLEDGING!!! $75,000 was the bare minimum we needed to move forward! Help us reach our stretch goal for P&A (prints and advertising). Thank you!

THE STORY

CHEATIN' is an animated adult tale of love, jealousy, revenge, and murder – full of nudity and violence, but also with my surreal sense of humor. The story is inspired by the work of James M. Cain (“Double Indemnity”, “The Postman Always Rings Twice”). CHEATIN' marks my 7th animated feature film.

I've always enjoyed using watercolors in my illustrations, and now, for the first time, I can employ my painterly sensibilities to the treatment of my animation. This loose, almost impressionistic style has never been seen before in my films. Thanks to this new aesthetic and a beautiful, full-length musical score, I believe CHEATIN' will be a breakthrough for my career! Unfortunately this style is very difficult and time-consuming to complete.

I am an artist and take great pride in my status as an independent filmmaker. I don't work with big production houses and I draw every frame myself. Including my Producer and Art Director, my studio employs 10 artists who need to digitally clean, paint, and composite over 40,000 animation drawings. We have an editor, composer, and sound designer working out-of-house, making the total staff under 20 people – quite small compared to the thousands on staff at large animation studios such as Pixar or Disney. For these reasons, it's very difficult to raise funds for this project, and that's why we need your support!

With your help, we hope to complete this landmark film by next September – just in time to qualify for the Oscars!

Thank you for your support!

- Bill Plympton

EXCLUSIVE KICKSTARTER VIDEO UPDATES

I will be posting exclusive Kickstarter videos once a week until the end of January. If you back this project, you'll receive an email when a new video is ready to be viewed. These updates will include new clips from the film, interviews with Bill, and other fun videos!

VIDEO PRODUCTION BLOG

I've been keeping a CHEATIN' Production Blog for the past 7 months. In each episode, I explain and demonstrate a different aspect of the animation process. You can watch past episodes from the links below or subscribe to our Vimeo channel here.

Episode 1: Intro

Episode 2: Outline

Episode 3: Storyboard 

Episode 4: Layout

Episode 5: Layout Demonstration

Episode 6: Character Design - "Ella"

Episode 7: Character Design - "Jake"

Episode 8: Character Design - "El Merto"

Episode 9: Character Design - "Thug"

Episode 10: Animation, Part 1

Episode 11: Animation, Part 2

Guest Episode: Signe Baumane, Part 1

Guest Episode: Signe Baumane, Part 2

Guest Episode - Signe Baumane, Part 3

MORE INFO

Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter

It's always a challenge to make a film independently. The biggest challenge is raising funds without giving up creative control. Thankfully, this is something I've never had to do.

The biggest risk is completing the film by next September with such a small team. I've never colored a film like this before. It's far more time consuming than any of my previous films, so I need to employ more artists.

This is my first time using Kickstarter to help fund a feature film. $75,000 is the bare minimum we need to move forward. If we reach our goal, we should be able to complete CHEATIN' by next September! If we raise more, we might be able to do it faster and fulfill rewards sooner.

Thank you!

Bill

FAQ

  • How long will the finished film be?

    The final film will run approximately 72 minutes.

    Last updated: Tuesday Dec 4, 11:03am EST
  • I want to pledge $65 (or more), but ALSO want the signed DVD? How can I get both?

    Simple. Just add $40 to any pledge $65 and up. Then send cheatin@plymptoons.com an email to notify us that you've added $40 to your pledge so we can make a special note to send you the signed DVD in addition to your other rewards. For example:

    $65 (lithograph) + $40 (DVD) = $105 pledge (in the U.S.)

    $100 (original drawing/lithograph) + $40 (DVD) = $140 pledge (in the U.S.)

    Last updated: Friday Dec 14, 3:57pm EST
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1,334
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Funding period
Dec 3, 2012 - Feb 1, 2013 (60 days)

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  • Pledge $1 or more

    66 backers

    Doesn't it feel good to help! Thank you!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
  • Pledge $5 or more

    19 backers

    You’ll receive access to download a high-res CHEATIN’ desktop image for your computer.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $10 or more

    260 backers

    You’ll receive a private, password-protected link to view the completed film online for a limited time. This exclusive online reward will be made available sometime after the film’s theatrical premiere and Oscar-qualification process next fall. You'll also receive the $5 desktop image.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
  • Pledge $25 or more

    230 backers

    You’ll receive exclusive access to download a collection of rare and never-before-seen animations by Bill Plympton! You can enjoy these high quality digital QuickTime files on your Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, video iPod, or Apple TV. You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image and the $10 password-protected link of CHEATIN’.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
  • Pledge $40 or more

    320 backers

    You’ll receive a signed copy of CHEATIN’ on DVD mailed to your home after the film’s theatrical run and Oscar-qualification process next fall/winter. You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image, the $10 password-protected link, and the $25 digital download collection.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2014
    Add $14 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $65 or more

    112 backers Limited (134 of 246 left)

    You’ll receive a limited edition 8.5 x 11-inch CHEATIN’ lithograph produced exclusively for this Kickstarter campaign. Each lithograph will come signed and numbered by Bill Plympton. You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image, the $10 password-protected link, and the $25 digital download collection.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $30 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $100 or more

    170 backers

    You’ll receive an original animation drawing from CHEATIN’ signed by Bill Plympton! Each drawing is a one-of-a-kind work of art and perfect for framing! You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image, the $10 password-protected link, the $25 digital download collection, and the $65 lithograph.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $30 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $140 or more

    43 backers

    You’ll receive an original animation drawing from CHEATIN’, a lithograph, and a DVD - ALL signed by Bill Plympton. You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image, the $10 password-protected link, and the $25 digital download collection.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2014
    Add $40 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $200 or more

    51 backers

    You’ll receive an original animation drawing from CHEATIN’ and a signed copy of Bill Plympton’s new hardcover book, INDEPENDENTLY ANIMATED: The Life and Art of the King of Indie Animation! You’ll also receive the $5 desktop image, the $10 password-protected link, the $25 digital download collection, the $65 lithograph, and a "special thanks" credit at the end of the film!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $40 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $500 or more

    19 backers

    You’ll receive “Bill Plympton’s SUPER FAN Package!” Get the full Plympton experience with this set that includes nearly all of his animated films and books, with the books and posters autographed by Bill! The collection includes 6 DVDs, 2 CDs, 2 posters, and 3 books! PLUS, you’ll still receive ALL of the $200 rewards (listed above)!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $55 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    12 backers

    You’ll receive an original caricature of yourself drawn by Bill Plympton! Simply mail or email a photograph of yourself to Bill and he’ll draw, sign, and date a sketch just for you! You’ll also receive “Bill Plympton’s SUPER FAN Package” and ALL of the $500 rewards (listed above).

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $55 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $5,000 or more

    2 backers

    You’ll receive an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on the film and on IMDb.com! You’ll also receive ALL of the $1000 rewards (listed above)! This is a great way to get your name attached to a great feature-length film and build your IMDb resume!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
    Add $55 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    You will receive two tickets to a screening of CHEATIN’ in NYC, an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on the film, and ALL of the $1,000 rewards (listed above). You will also receive a personal tour of Bill Plympton’s NYC animation studio followed by lunch with Bill! This is the ultimate reward package! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any fan of Bill Plympton! Note: you must be able to meet Bill at his studio. Travel and accommodations to the screening, studio tour, and lunch are not included.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2013