We underestimated how expensive it would be to produce an animated pilot. Typically, an 11 minute episode can cost from upwards of $100,000, and with our first goal being well below that range ($25,000), the scope of the project ended up being much larger than the crew and I had expected. With the $25,000 we raised, we managed to finish the pilot's storyboards, animatic, and voice acting by allocating those funds into preproduction. There's still a few more parts of preproduction we need to finish, such as audio engineering, placement, and animatic trimming, but we're hoping that with this crowdfund, we'd be able to continue where we left off from the first one and jump into finishing the pilot.

Lumi's pilot will be premiering on Evan's YouTube Channel once it's completed. https://www.youtube.com/@starteas

At this point in time, no. Animation is not only incredibly time consuming, but expensive, and a daunting task I nor the crew are presently ready for. We'd have to crowdfund for much more than we're asking for if we were ever looking to fund an entire series-- and even then, many indie productions are reliant on multiple factors to keep themselves afloat (money, fans, merchandise, and so on). Would we love to make more Lumi? Absolutely, there's no doubt about it! Being able to fund an entire series independently would be a dream come true, and if there ever came an opportunity where we'd be able to make a series, we would. But as it stands now, our goal is to finish the pilot and see what happens from there.

As of the time of writing this, we are hoping to get listed rewards out by the second or third quarter of 2025, though dates and timeframes are subject to change. Manufacturer and shipping delays can happen, and as much as we'd love to find ways to prevent it, are unfortunately outside our control. We will be sure to keep backers updated of the situation if anything is subject to change.

Yes, here are a few ways you can support Lumi's production! Patreon - You can join the Patreon to see production art, comics, and get an exclusive look at behind the scenes work of the pilot. https://www.patreon.com/starteas Discord - Join our Discord! Be a part of a friendly, fun community with fellow Lumi fans! https://discord.gg/75pfA5Y2WS Shop - Check out our merch shop! We sell t-shirts, hoodies, stickers-- and even plushies! While it's a small shop, every last dime goes back into supporting Lumi's production. https://latgbg.store YouTube - You can subscribe to our YouTube channel, share the link, or tell your friends about it! Word of mouth is what helps indie productions thrive. https://www.youtube.com/@starteas

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