Terms of Service

Last updated: October 2026 · Operated by Studio Smokescreen ("Smokescreen," "we," "us")

How pledging works, in one line. You pledge to one stage of one show. Your card is saved, not charged. If the stage reaches its goal by its deadline, you're charged the amount you pledged. If it doesn't, you pay nothing.

1. What ShowSparks is

ShowSparks is a crowdfunding platform for animation. Creators (each a "Creator") present shows that raise funds in sequential production stages ("Stages"), and supporters ("Backers") pledge to the Stage that is currently open. Each Stage defines, before it opens: a funding goal, a budget, a named deliverable (the "Deliverable"), and the rewards offered to Backers.

Plain words. Shows raise money one stage at a time. Every stage tells you up front what it costs, what it makes, and what you get.

2. What ShowSparks is not

Not a store. Pledging is patronage of creative work in exchange for the rewards described, not a purchase of goods with delivery guarantees of a retail product.
Not an investment. Pledges convey no equity, ownership, revenue share, interest, or financial return of any kind. Nothing on the platform is an offer of securities.
Not the maker of every show. Except where a campaign page states that Smokescreen produces or owns a show, Creators are independent and solely responsible for their campaigns and Deliverables.

3. How pledging works

Each Stage shows its funding goal and its deadline (a date and time in Pacific time) on its campaign page. Pledges are accepted only until the deadline.
When you pledge, you enter your card through the checkout of our payment processor, Stripe. Your card is saved with Stripe and not charged. Your card details are never sent to or stored by ShowSparks.
If the total pledged to the Stage has reached its funding goal when the deadline passes, the Stage is "Greenlit." After the deadline, each Backer's saved card is charged once, for the amount they pledged. Charges are processed by Stripe and paid out for the Stage's production.
If the Stage has not reached its goal by the deadline, no Backer is charged, no fees are owed by anyone, and saved cards are not used for that Stage.
If a charge fails after Greenlight (for example, your bank declines it or asks you to approve it), we'll email you a secure link to complete your pledge. Rewards for a pledge that is never completed may be withheld.
You may change or cancel your pledge before the deadline by emailing info@smokescreen.cc. A cancelled pledge is not charged.
A Stage may open only after the prior Stage's Deliverable has been posted to Backers.

Plain words. Pledging saves your card. The deadline decides everything: goal reached, you're charged what you pledged. Goal missed, nobody pays a cent.

4. Deliverables and delivery

Each Stage's Deliverable is defined before the Stage opens and cannot be materially reduced after Greenlight.
A Deliverable is "Delivered" when it is posted to that Stage's Backers on the platform.
Creative work runs late. A late Deliverable remains owed. Creators must post progress updates at least monthly for any Greenlit, undelivered Stage.
If a Creator cannot complete a Greenlit Stage, they must promptly inform Backers, account for funds spent against the published budget, and remedy the shortfall by completing the work or refunding unspent funds attributable to the Stage.

Plain words. The thing a stage promised is the thing it owes. Late is survivable. Going quiet or delivering nothing is not.

5. Rewards

Rewards on ShowSparks are intangible (e.g., credits, early access, community access, creative input as described by the tier). Reward tiers state exactly what they include.
Creative-input rewards (e.g., naming a background character) are subject to the Creator's reasonable creative discretion and content standards, and may be declined and substituted with a comparable reward if a submission is unlawful, infringing, or hateful.
Rewards are personal to the Backer and non-transferable unless stated otherwise.
Backing a show provides no preference, consideration, or advantage in any hiring the show or Smokescreen may conduct.

6. Fees

Listing a campaign is free. ShowSparks charges a platform fee of 5% of funds raised per Greenlit Stage: 2% at Greenlight and 3% held and payable only after the Stage's Deliverable is Delivered (subject to a 14-day Backer dispute window).
Payment processing fees (approximately 3%) are charged by our payment processor and passed through at cost.
Failed Stages incur no fees. Stages of shows owned by Smokescreen are identified on their pages and are not charged the platform fee, as disclosed on those pages.

7. Creator obligations

Provide truthful campaign information, including budgets that reflect genuine production costs, and complete the platform's required pitch materials.
Hold the rights necessary to make the show and grant the licenses in Section 9.
Use Stage funds for the Stage's published budget purposes.
Post the Deliverable to Backers and fulfill reward tiers as described.
Comply with applicable law, including tax obligations on funds received.

8. Backer acknowledgments

You are supporting creative work in progress; timelines can move, and the platform does not guarantee any Creator's performance.
Charges occur at Greenlight as described in Section 3; refunds after Greenlight are governed by Section 4 and Section 12.
Any future Stage is a separate decision. Greenlighting one Stage obligates no one to fund the next.

9. Intellectual property

Creators keep their IP. Launching a campaign transfers no ownership to ShowSparks, Smokescreen, or Backers.
Creators grant the platform a non-exclusive, worldwide license to host, display, and promote their campaign materials in connection with the platform.
Backers receiving creative-input rewards assign to the Creator the rights in their submitted contribution as needed for the show, and are credited per the reward description.
Campaign pages identify when a show is owned or produced by Smokescreen.

10. Prohibited conduct

No unlawful, infringing, deceptive, or fraudulent campaigns; no misrepresenting budgets or progress; no harassment; no attempts to circumvent the platform's fee or payment flows; no use of the platform to offer securities, loans, or financial products.

11. Accounts and termination

You must provide accurate account information and are responsible for activity on your account. We may suspend or remove campaigns or accounts that violate these Terms, with funds handled per Sections 3–6 and applicable law. You may close your account at any time, subject to obligations on any Greenlit, undelivered Stage.

12. Disputes between Backers and Creators

The platform provides a dispute process during the 14-day post-Delivery window and for Stages that fail to deliver under Section 4. Beyond that process, disputes about a show are between the Backer and the Creator; we will assist with records and, where we produced the work, stand behind our production.

13. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

The platform is provided "as is." To the maximum extent permitted by law, Smokescreen's aggregate liability arising from the platform is limited to the greater of $100 or the platform fees we received from the transaction at issue. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

14. Governing law and changes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. We may update these Terms; material changes will be announced on the platform, and continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. The version applicable to a Stage is the version in effect at its Greenlight.

15. Contact

Pledge questions: info@smokescreen.cc · Legal notices: Studio Smokescreen LLC · legal@smokescreen.cc

How we handle your information is described in our Privacy Policy.