Tanuki Painting Contest – First Edition
🏆$2.500 IN PRIZES (USD)
1st: $1.500
2nd: $500
3rd: $250
4th: $150
5th: $100
Top 10: Annual Platinum Subscription
📅KEY DATES
- Registration: Open now
- Submission Deadline: November 10 (23:59 UTC)
- Winners Announced: November 15
❓HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
- Print your model and start painting only after your entry has been approved.
- Take a Photo with note: “Tanuki Painting Contest + your @Instagram”.
- Post in the Tanuki Painting Contest community channel on Patreon.
- Tag @tanukifigures + #TanukiPaintingContest on Instagram. (Optional)
- Limit: 1 entry per member (model can be changed).
- After registration, we will manually update the spreadsheet and notify you in the contest channel once your entry has been validated.
The official Contest Spreadsheet is now live!
➡️ Check here to see if your entry has been validated.
✅All Done?
- Final Step: Submit the Final Submission Form with your finished painting photos by November 10 (23:59 UTC).
👉 CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT THE FINAL PAINTING PHOTOS!
📜RULES
1. Model – Must be a Tanuki Figures model.
2. Eligibility:
- Active Paid Patreon membership required at the time of entry.
- The painting must be started from the Contest start date onward.
- Older or previously finished works are not allowed.
3. Scales:
- 1/6 (Default)
- 1/4 → scale up to 150% (Optional)
- 1/8 → scale down to 75% (Optional)
4. WIPs – At least 2 WIPs on Tanuki Painting Contest community channel on Patreon & Instagram (tag + hashtag).
5. Final Submission:
Go to the Final Submission Form and upload your images
8+ photos (front, back, left, right, face close-up, detail close-ups, extra shots)
Neutral background, good lighting (no colorfull)
No filters or edits
High resolution
⚖️JUDGES:
Artur Monteiro - @arturmonteiro_rj
GroundEffected - @groundeffected
TinyLittles - @tinylittles3d
TanukiTeam - @tanukifigures
Wayne Winged Angel - @wayne_winged_angel
HOW THE JURY WORKS:
Every entry will be individually evaluated by each member of our jury panel.
Each juror will give scores from 1 to 5 in the following 3 criteria:
Preparation – 3D print quality, assembly, and overall finishing of the piece
Fidelity – how faithful the painting is to the original character/design
Visual Impact – overall impression and artistic strength of the work
Blind Judging: all entries will be presented anonymously, so jurors will not know the name of the artist while scoring.
The individual scores are then combined into a General Score, which is the value publicly shared for each finalist.
Jurors may also leave optional comments with feedback about the works.
This process guarantees fairness, impartiality and transparency, since every piece is judged separately and without bias.
❓ FAQ – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
All doubts and questions about the Tanuki Painting Contest will be answered directly in this post. Check back here anytime for updates and clarifications!
Prizes – Delivered via Payoneer.
🔥 JOIN NOW and claim your place in Tanuki history!
Comments (143)
Hello. Just wanted to ask how much time the verification process usually takes. I submitted my entry yesterday, and I am a little bit worried as it's almost a deadline. Thank you! Update. Nevermind, I see that it is already validated. Thank you!
Hi Dndbuddy! Thank you so much for participating and for being part of the contest! We’re really happy to have you with us, and we truly appreciate the effort you put into your entry. Best of luck in the results! 🧡
Hi im trying to post my final pic in the contest chat but the image is posting very poor quality. I checked and im uploading a high res jpeg and its terrible quality once I post. I tried 3 times. Looking at other people's final post and theirs are crisp and high quality... am I doing something wrong? I dont see any option besides picking the image file and posting
Hi Dudihead! Thanks for reaching out! The final entries for the contest were actually submitted through the form, not directly in the chat. Could you please confirm if you managed to send your image correctly there? Once everything is confirmed, your entry should be all set for judging. The final results will be announced on the 15th 🧡
I still not see my name on the list🥲
Hi RJ! Thank you for checking in! All entries have already been sent to the judges for evaluation, and the final results will be announced on the 15th. We really appreciate your patience and participation in the contest 🧡
Olá! Também aguardo aprovação da inscrição no contest.
Olá Yuri! Sua participação foi aprovada. Obrigado por participar do Tanuki Painting Contest, boa sorte! 🧡
Estou aguardando a aprovação da minha participação para começar a pintar, sou assinante do patreon de vocês, assinatura Gold. Já enviei mensagem no DM mas sem resposta.
Olá Kizuma! Sua inscrição foi confirmada. Obrigado por participar do Tanuki Painting Contest, boa sorte! 🧡
Hola! Podría modificar el efecto de un modelo? En mi caso, deseo pintar a Yamato, pero no quiero incluir los humos morados. ¿Habría problema?
Hola Drey! Muchas gracias por tu interés en participar en el concurso. Te deseamos mucha suerte con tu participación. Puedes quitar los efectos de humo morado si prefieres 🧡
Hola amigos, consulta, la suscripción mensual hay que mantenerla hasta el final del concurso? Para saber si renovarla este mes. Gracias!
Hola Cristhian! No, la suscripción solo es obligatoria en el momento de la inscripción al concurso :)
Would changing the texture be considered a small modification? Or example, I plan to use Sora for my submission but I’m thinking about filling in the texture of his shoes.
Hey Kong! That kind of change wouldn’t be a problem :) Small modifications like filling textures or smoothing details are totally fine for the contest 🧡
Hi! Is it possible to change the model for submission after I have registered one ? I know I can only submit one model, but if I change the model mid contest, would that be ok ? And one ore thing… I made a bubu about the scale, and have printed it 125%, not 150%… that’s a disqualification?
Hey Alx3Dpaint! Yes, it’s totally fine. Just repeat the same process you did for your first registration and mention in your photo post in the Tanuki Painting Contest chat that you’d like to change the model :) As for the scale, no problem at all 🧡
Are modifications allowed to the figures?
Hi Kong Meng! Only small modifications are allowed, things like adding a chain, fixing supports, or tiny details. Major changes to the pose or overall design are not permitted. 🧡
Could you please also put which timezone the submission deadline is for, due to multi-timeline submissions :D
The submission deadline is November 10th at 23:59 UTC, make sure to upload your final entry before that time! 🧡
Hello when are you approving submissions as i already submitted a photo and have not seen an approval as i want to start working on it
Hi Squintyharpy! We manually review and approve submissions 1 to 2 times per day, and once validated, we add them to the official Contest spreadsheet: 👉 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-SeM6eDNxnhAfzsrW-ScKi9YKdDH1iJwOIr1kRVSCZI/edit?usp=sharing
Hello, I already sent the photo of the printout to the contest group. How do I know if my registration has been approved?
Hi Pablo! You can check if your registration has been approved by looking for your name in the official Contest spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-SeM6eDNxnhAfzsrW-ScKi9YKdDH1iJwOIr1kRVSCZI/edit?usp=sharing
I just signed up, can I only apply with the template from the month of my subscription or can I get a template from a previous month and sign up with that?
Hi Yuri! You can use any Tanuki model, not just the one from your subscription month. Feel free to pick your favorite to join the Contest! 🧡
Hola! subí la primera imagen cuando no era todavía subscriptor de pago, si gratuito y me la rechazasteis me hice subscriptor platinium y la volví a subir y también me la rechazasteis, que puedo hacer? me gastaría participar! he de subir otra imagen ?
Hi Brell! Thank you so much for your message and for joining as a Platinum subscriber! Your registration is already validated and you’re officially part of the Contest 🎉
If I sub platinum this month that means, this month + last month models right? (only just found out about Tanuki and that War is amazing). Then printing it + piece of paper in the patreon chat would qualify for the competition. Do I understand it correctly?
That’s right! If you subscribe by October 29, you’ll get access to both the September models and the new ones coming in October. Just remember that War is exclusive to the Platinum plan :) As for the Contest, you got it! As long as you have an active paid Patreon membership, simply send a photo of the unpainted printed model with a paper in front saying “Tanuki Painting Contest” and your Instagram @ so we can validate your entry. Keep in mind that it must be a Tanuki model 🧡
I try with rudo 150% :)
Need to be tanuki figure?
Yes, it needs to be a Tanuki model :)
Now, when you say no edits are we talking just photos?
Yes, exactly we mean photo edits. No Photoshop, filters, or color adjustments. We want to see the raw, unedited photos of your model.
hola, acabo de suscribirme en tanuki figures / Patreon, soy nuevo por aquí, donde debo subir la foto de inscripción del concurso
¡Hola Omar! 👋 Debes subir tu foto de inscripción en el canal de la comunidad del Patreon llamado "Tanuki Painting Contest". Ahí podrás compartir tu entrada y ver las de otros participantes también 🧡
Are busts also eligible for the contest? My machine's print area is small.
Hi Antonio! Thanks for your question! Unfortunately, busts are not eligible for the contest. However, you can still participate by printing one of the smaller characters in 1/8 scale, which should work well for machines with a smaller print area. That way you’ll be able to join without any issues! 🧡
Do I have to be an active and paid member throughout the contest process? Or by paying just one month of Patreon, do I qualify to participate in the contest? In other words, if I cancel Patreon in October or November, do I lose my entry into the contest?
Hi Antonio! Thank you so much for your question and support! To participate, you need to have an active paid Patreon subscription during the month of registration (September 18 – November 10). Once your entry is validated, you don’t need to keep the subscription active in the following months, your participation will still count even if you cancel in October or November. So yes, by having at least one active month during the entry period, you qualify for the contest! 🧡
Eu só queria saber se é possível participar com algum dos seus modelos, mesmo que não esteja na assinatura Silver..!! Por exemplo, o Kratos..!! Posso participar com ele se eu tiver essa assinatura?..??
Sim, você pode participar com qualquer modelo da Tanuki, mesmo que ele não esteja incluído diretamente na sua assinatura Silver. O importante é ter uma assinatura ativa no mês da inscrição. Então, se você tiver comprado em qualquer uma de nossas lojas Kratos e for assinante (mesmo no Silver), pode usá-lo tranquilamente para participar!
Olá, antes de mais nada, obrigado pela oportunidade e pela iniciativa, vocês são incríveis! 😀😀😀Estou planejando participar do Kratos GOW. Gostaria de saber se ele pode ser obtido com algum dos seus planos. Ou, se não, é possível comprá-lo para participar? E se sim, posso participar apenas comprando-o ou também terei que comprar um plano? Muito obrigado pela atenção!
Oi Julio! Muito obrigado pelo carinho e apoio! Para participar do Contest é necessário ter uma assinatura paga ativa no mês da inscrição. Mesmo comprando o modelo separadamente, a assinatura é obrigatória para que a participação seja válida. Sobre o Kratos (GoW): no plano Platinum você tem 50% de desconto em modelos anteriores, incluindo o Kratos, podendo adquiri-lo com esse benefício e usá-lo na competição. Se precisar de ajuda para localizar seu cupom ou escolher o plano, é só me avisar que te guio passo a passo! 🧡
Thank you very much. I’m glad to see that my registration has been successfully completed. Since this is my first time participating in a contest like this, I’m quite excited. I do have one question: Should WIP photos be submitted as comments under my initial entry post, or is it sufficient to only submit the final completed work in accordance with the contest rules?
Hi ElsaT! Thank you so much for joining and for your excitement, it really means a lot 🧡 About your question: WIP photos don’t need to be added as comments under your initial entry. You can post your WIPS as new photos directly in the Contest channel!
Hello, I don't understand this part - - Post in the Tanuki Painting Contest community channel on Patreon. When I click on it, it goes to my chat. How do I do it?
Hello Cintia, thank you very much for your support! You need to join the community chats for them to appear in your chats. The Chats button is located at the top right, next to Posts and Shop.
Play me coach I'm open!!!!
Lets GO!
Good night ✨, to have access to the STLs released on September 30th, do I need to subscribe to Patreon by September 30th, or will they be available until October 30th and can I subscribe in October to have access to them? Thank you ✨🩵
Hi, Julyane. That's right, the models that will be released on September 30th will be available until October 30th.
where do i register?
Post in the Tanuki Painting Contest community channel on Patreon.
wow!! 🔥🔥🔥
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Yeeees, I'm in hehe
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Ok, I’m all signed up and ready for WAR! Cuz, like, I’m gonna paint War once he drops on 9/30… are you guys doing all the Horsemen?
Hi Anthony! Thank you so much for signing up, we can’t wait to see your War painted! And yes! In fact, Death is already on the way… so stay tuned! 💀 Thanks again for your support, and happy printing! 🧡
Just to be clear. It is ok to wait until September 30th when the new designs release to pick my model and enter the contest?
Hi 3dprintandpaint_lab! Yes, you can join any day up until November 10th to pick your model and enter the contest 🧡
Also, are the prize amounts listed in US dollars? Hard to tell.
Yes, its USD
I’m gonna sign up for a couple months and try my hand at this contest! So… to be clear, I need to print and paint 2 things before I can print and paint my entry? Because if that’s the case, I may not be able to do it. I have 1 printer and work full time. So to do 3 models in essentially one month, that’s going to be major stress and honestly may not produce my best work for the contest. But in the comments I’ve seen some say only 1 x WIP post. If it’s 1 I think I can swing that!
Or are the WIP posts work in progress for the model I’m gonna paint for the contest? (Even better if that’s the case!)
Just wanted to check that even though it is 1 entry per patreon, it is also 1 person painting the entry by themselves? No teams? Because ive seen comments about "we", or working together. It would be a shame to see these kind of comps draw painting studios teaming up to submit an entry just to grab the prize.
Hi Daniel! Thank you so much for raising this point 🧡 Yes, you’re absolutely right, the contest is 1 entry per active Patreon account, and the painting must be done individually. Team entries are not allowed. The idea is to celebrate each supporter’s personal skill and creativity, not group or studio efforts. We’ll make sure to reinforce this in the rules so everything stays clear and fair for everyone. Thanks again for looking out for the spirit of the contest!
Hi! Wed love to participate, how can we register? Thanks a lot!
Hey Karontec Games! Thank you so much for your interest in joining! 🧡 All this informations you can find in the post, in the section "❓HOW TO PARTICIPATE?" - Print your model and paint it once the Contest has launched. - Take a Photo with note: “Tanuki Painting Contest + your @Instagram”. - Post in the Tanuki Painting Contest community channel on Patreon. - Tag @tanukifigures + #TanukiPaintingContest on Instagram. (Optional) - Limit: 1 entry per member (model can be changed).
Count me in ! 🔥🔥🔥
Hi Halim! Thank you so much for joining in, we’re super excited to have you on board! 🔥
Hi there guys, firstly i would like to congratulate you for the initative, it really brings the community together by doing so. Secondly i am planning to enter the competition and this is my first Platinum Subscription to you guys. i really love your Hellboy and would like to use him to join, is the file available for sale somewhere else? Or the Loyalty figures are a one time thing? Thank you in advance for the response and have a nice day.
Hi Alex! Thank you so much for the kind words and for joining us on Platinum, we’re really happy to have you on board! 🧡 Hellboy is part of our Loyalty Pass rewards, unlocked after 3 consecutive months of subscription. However, if you choose the Annual Plan, you’ll instantly receive all Loyalty rewards available up to now, including Hellboy. Thanks again for your support, and happy printing!
If I become a Patreon member now can I participate?
Hi Francisco! Thank you so much for your support! 🧡 Yes, if you subscribe now with an active Patreon membership, you’ll be eligible to participate in the contest!
I'm so ready! The hardest part is choosing a model to paint! Count me in!
Awesome! Glad to have you on board 🧡 Can’t wait to see your entry!
Count me in! Now to figure out which figure it’ll be! Also, just to clarify, we gotta post the original entry with the post-it, and 2 WIPs sometime?
Exactly! 🧡 You’ll need to post the original entry with the post-it, plus at least 2 WIP shots during the process.
Are we allowed to modify the stl file besides just scale.
Small adjustments are allowed, such as changing the cuts or adding/removing an accessory. However, major modifications like changing the pose, altering the head, or redesigning the model are not permitted.
This sounds like so much fun. So many amazing painters here! Count me in.
Awesome! We’re excited to have you on board 🎉 Can’t wait to see your entry 🧡
How do we register
All the information is right above in the post! Check the ❓HOW TO PARTICIPATE? section, that’s exactly where you’ll find the registration details 🧡
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Hello! I'm really excited for this contest and for sure I will join!. I have a question. Can we be more imaginative and do diorama? I mean if i can use other kind of things (not printing other models stuff, but maybe if i can use foam, things like that).
Hello Zhamir, excited to have you here! Only Tanuki Figures models are allowed for the contest 🧡 If you’d like to create a diorama such as Saitama vs Boros, that’s perfectly fine, as long as it’s one of our models. You can use extra materials like foam or scenery elements to complement the base, but no additional figures from outside sources.
Does the painting contest also work for French subscribers?
Yes! The Painting Contest is open to all subscribers worldwide, including France
Hi, if I subscribe today, I'll be eligible to this Painting Contest?
I have the same question.
Does registration and submission end at the same date? Because I see submission deadline, but don't see registration deadline.
Exactly! Registration closes on Nov 10, the same day as the submission deadline. Then we’ll have 5 days for judging, and the winners will be announced on Nov 15 🏆
Are chibi models eligible?
Yes! Any Tanuki model is eligible for the contest 🧡
can I go in pair with my friend
Participation is limited to 1 entry per paid subscription. So it’s not possible to join as a pair under the same account.
Hello ,i have a question Is it good if i sub only in october ? Or i have to be a subscriber for the all periode of the contest ? Thanks
You don’t need to be subscribed all months, only during the registration month. So it’s totally fine if you join your entry only in October 👍🏻
I’m in let’s GOOO!!!!!
Let’s gooo!!! 🧡
"Active Patreon membership required" means that is it required to at least have silver membership to be able to join in the contest?
Yes, that’s correct! During the entry period, you need to have an active paid membership to join the contest.
Question, I’m Patreon member but use your models with my brother. I won’t be participating but can he if Patreon account is mine?
Thanks for asking! Participation is limited to 1 entry per active Patreon membership account.
For my first WIP image with note for entry, Does the figure have to be complete or I can have the first printer parts started?
For the first WIP entry photo, the model needs to be fully printed and complete. Individual parts or partial prints won’t be accepted. 🎨
Che bella iniziativa ragazzi, complimenti. Vediamo se riesco a realizzare qualcosa che meriti l'attenzione dei giudici :)
Grazie mille! 🙌 Siamo felicissimi che tu voglia partecipare. Non vediamo l’ora di vedere cosa realizzerai per il Contest 🎨
Will this be the only time it happens, or is there another time? Like twice a year, for example. I want to participate, but I feel like I'm not ready yet.
We plan to hold the Tanuki Painting Contest annually 🙌 (Dates may change from year to year, but the idea is to make it a recurring event.) 🎨
Can I add LEDs to a figure?
Yes, you can add LED effects to your figure 🙌 For the photos, please provide shots with the LEDs turned off and using neutral lighting. (You may also include additional photos with the LEDs turned on.) The judging will focus mainly on the painting, finishing, and overall visual impact of the piece. 🎨
I don't think the Instagram rule is going to work not everyone has Instagram and not everyone wants to tie their social media with this I think we should switch to a server on discord
Thanks a lot for the feedback! 🙌 We’ve updated the rule: posting on Instagram is now optional.
For the scales, can I use the Hellboy loyalty reward figure. I think he is 1/4 scale but i'm not sure.
Yes, the Hellboy loyalty reward figure can be used as an entry for the Contest 🙌 He’s considered to be in the Default 1/6 Scale, so you’re good to go! 🎨
A few questions, I follow the patreon for free but purchase models I like from your gumroad, that okay? Also I only have a Mars 4 Ultra so I regularly have to scale down my models from the original to 75%, is that going to be an issue?
To participate, you need to have an active paid Patreon subscription during the registration month. About the scale , no problem 🙌 We actually added 1/8 scale as an accepted option based on community feedback, so scaling down to 75% is totally fine. 🎨
Also how strict is the judging on the painting? If we do something like popeye with all those tattoos, Can they be decals or do we need to paint all those?
Decal techniques are totally allowed 🙌 What really matters for the judging is the overall painting quality and the final visual impact of the piece. 🧡
Instagram is free and easy to get. I highly doubt Tanuki cares if you have zero followers or 1000s. If anyone wants to enter this than just quickly get an insta, post your photos and be a part of the community and contest and then delete it afterwards if you really dont want an Instagram account.
Hey Brandon thank you for your point, but based on community feedback, we decided to make the Instagram rule optional. The only mandatory step is registering through the Patreon Community Contest channel. If participants want, they can still share on Instagram with #TanukiPaintingContest, but it’s not required anymore. 🎨
Im very keen to join this comp. Sadly my printer is not big enough to be printing out larger scales(i normally shrink to 60-80%). To print even the base of Ciri at default is 8 plates worth of printing, and thats without even printing her. Also i checked the merchant list in discord and there are no Australian merchants so i cannot even buy a print.
Thanks a lot for your feedback Daniel! 🙌 Based on input like yours, we’ve added 1/8 scale as an optional rule for the Contest. So you’ll be able to join even if you need to scale models down to participate 🎨
Im unsure about the Instagram rule. 1. Not everyone has insta 2. A lot of painters I know, have carefully curated feeds, and would like to have to post WIP work on there. Why not just have them post WIPs in a forum on Discord, like Bulka's contest had?
Thanks for pointing that out! 🙌 We’ve updated it, the Instagram rule is now optional. The only required step is posting in the Patreon Community Contest channel to validate your entry.
So we post "just" WIP in the contest Forum with the note?
Yes, to register, you just need to post a first WIP photo with the note in the Tanuki Painting Contest Community Chat. 🧡
- Take a Photo with note: “Tanuki Painting Contest + your @Instagram” Is this with your finished and painted model?
This step is now optional. The only required part is posting your printed model (without paint) with a paper in front of it in the Patreon Community Contest channel. If you’d like to share on social media, you can use the hashtag #TanukiPaintingContest on any post (printed model, WIPs, or related content) 🎨
So no busts?
For this Contest, only full-size models are allowed, no busts. 🧡
The perfect motivation to improve my skills 🤩
That’s the spirit! 🙌 We can’t wait to see your progress and your entry in the Contest 🎨
What if i don't have a instagram
Thanks a lot for the feedback! 🙌 We’ve updated the rule: posting on Instagram is now optional.