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I love the site Kickstarter, which enables people to raise funds for all kinds of projects, from indie comic books to clothing lines to theater performances. Every time I browse through the projects, I notice just how many of them are the kinds of projects our readers would love--educational yet playful, quirky and scientific, fan tributes to favorite comics and books. I've gathered up some of the best flossy projects here, in order of how much time remains on each project; if any of them strike your fancy, just follow the widgets over to Kickstarter to place a pledge (starting from just $1).
The LEGO Truck
The Goal: Fund repairs to the light-up LEGO Truck, which makes appearances at Burning Man and Seattle-area events
Funds Needed: $3,375
Favorite Reward: LEGO Truck T-shirt for $50+ pledges
Splurge Reward: For $500+, LEGO Truck appearance at a private event, a special afternoon cruise in the LEGO Truck at Burning Man, plus all the other rewards, which include stickers, LEGO jewelry, music, and the T-shirt
I Am Big Bird Documentary
Goal: To make a documentary about Caroll Spinney, the man behind both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for the last 40+ years, and the last of the original Sesame Street puppeteers
Funds Needed: $100,000+
Favorite Reward: A digital download of the film and the film's soundtrack, plus access to the production blog, for $20
Splurge Reward: For $10,000+, a private dinner for you and a guest with Caroll Spinney in New York, plus all of the other rewards, which include tickets to the premiere, copies of the film itself, and a poster
Rise: An X-Men Fan Film
Goal: The production of a non-profit, fan-created X-Men film made by seasoned Hollywood professionals
Funds Needed: $38,700
Favorite Reward: Early online screening of the film before its Hollywood premiere for all backers who pledge $1 or more
Splurge Reward: For $10,000+, you receive an executive producer credit and a featured cameo in the film (with airfare included!), plus all the other rewards, including a memorabilia prop, studio tour, tickets to comic con 2013, and an invitation to the Hollywood premiere
Out of Print eReader Jackets
Goal: Production of ereader book jackets that look, feel, and wear like real books, made by the oldest bookbinder in the U.S.
Funds Needed: $15,000
Favorite Reward: The Kindle Fire jacket of your choice, from the initial collection, for pledges of $40+
Splurge Reward: For $85+, two iPad jackets of your choice from the initial collection
Fight for Space: A Documentary About NASA & The Space Program
Goal: To create a documentary about the U.S. space program
Funds Desired: $100,000 (they've already reached their minimum needs of $65,000)
Favorite Reward: HD digital download of the film, plus a "thank you" credit in the film and on the website, for pledges of $10+
Splurge Reward: For $10,000+, you receive an executive producer credit in the main titles of the film, as well as all the other rewards, which include copies of the film, invitation to the premiere, a meeting with the crew, an interview to be included the film, and a photo book
Children's ABC Wallet Cards
Goal: Production of credit-card-sized non-toxic indestructible plastic alphabet cards for toddlers to use for play and education
Funds Needed: $12,570
Favorite Reward: The entire deck of cards and a custom wallet to place the cards in, plus digital download of the artwork, for $32+
Splurge Reward: For $500+, dinner and dessert with the project creator (Marie-Claire Camp), hand-drawn thank you cards from her toddlers, and a comic strip starring you and your family by her husband, along with the deck of cards and digital artwork download
Remote Rover Experiment
Goal: Testing of prototype moon rovers, with the eventual goal of sending one to the moon
Funds Needed: $100,000
Favorite Reward: For $15+, pilot the latest prototype through realistic mission challenges, receiving a test pilot certificate and digital recording of your performance afterward
Splurge Reward: With $10,000+, you cover the cost of one Asimov 2.5 series rover prototype, whose color and label will be customized to your desires. Of course you'll also get to pilot the rover, and you'll receive footage from the production, assembly, and testing of the rover.
Drift Studio Map-Printed Modular Furniture
Goal: Acquire cartography software and map data for 20+ cities in order to create a online customization process for map-printed modular furniture
Funds Needed: $7,500
Favorite Reward: 11.5"x11.5" plywood panel map art featuring your choice of their full color maps for pledges of $50+
Splurge Reward: If you fund the entire campaign ($7,500+), you'll receive a large custom piece (or combination of pieces) tailored to your needs and space, which will be personally installed and signed by the owners of the company
The Raven: An Animated Steampunk Adaptation
Goal: The production of an animated short film adaptation of Poe's The Raven in the world of steampunk
Funds Needed: $7,500
Favorite Reward: For just $1 (or more), you'll get a digital copy of the film
Splurge Reward: One backer will be able to pledge $5,000+ to receive an executive producer credit plus transportation and accommodations to visit the set during filming, as well as all the other rewards, which include copies of the film, a poster, and a T-shirt
"Hydrophobia" Gallery Prints
Goal: To produce six 60"x40" photographic prints to display in a college gallery
Funds Desired: $800 (her minimum need for $647 has already been met)
Favorite Reward: For $20+, your choice of photo as either an 8"x12" or 8"x10" print on glossy or lustre finish paper
Splurge Reward: One backer who pledges $800+ will receive 2 signed and numbered 20"x30" aluminized prints
Book Riot's Start Here: Read Your Way Into 25 Amazing Authors
Goal: To publish a book, in print and digitally, that tells readers how to read their way into 25 different authors
Funds Needed: $25,000
Favorite Reward: Digital copy of the book plus a personalized book recommendation based on your public profile on a social media network for 25 backers who pledge $15+
Splurge Reward: For $750, an approximately 10-word entry on the book's dedication page, 2 tickets to launch pre-party meet-and-greet hour, guaranteed inclusion of your choice of author from the candidates list, 2 tickets to the launch party, a bookshelf print, a web chat, copies of the book, and more
Pie Time Clock App
Goal: To develop and launch an app for iOS called Pie Time that teaches kids the concept of time and time management through the use of a pie visual
Funds Needed: $5,000
Favorite Reward: For $100+, you get a download of the app for yourself plus for every student in your child's grade at school
Splurge Reward: For $5,000+, a 2-night retreat in Santa Barbara, including transportation from Los Angeles, to sample gourmet local pies and discuss projects with the developer, as well as all the other rewards, including the apps for the students at your child's school, 2 hours of consulting/production/tutoring from the developer, and the inclusion of your ideas for background themes
The Little Women Graphic Novel Project
Goal: To produce and publish a graphic novel of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women
Funds Needed: $6,000
Favorite Reward: For $25+, a signed copy of the book, in paperback and PDF, including content exclusive to Kickstarter backers, as well as back-only updates on Kickstarter featuring the process, videos, and downloads
Splurge Reward: For $500+, an original hand-painted full-color 8"x10" illustration of the March sisters, the 8"x10" pencil drawing from which the color illustration will be made, signed paperback copies of all the other books by the creator (Dani Jones), physical & digital copies of the graphic novel, and more
"I'm Smarter!" Trivia Game App
Goal: The development and release of a trivia competition game app for iOS and Android
Funds Needed: $15,000
Favorite Reward: For $5+, download of the game (for iOS or Android)
Splurge Reward: For $2,500+, round-trip domestic airfare to Boston to meet with the creator for dinner/drinks to discuss the project and potentially help plan and host a launch party / trivia tournament, plus acknowledgement as a co-creator (along with all the rights, privileges, and honors), as well as all the other rewards, which include downloads of the app and "I'm Smarter" hoodie, mug, T-shirt, and shot glass
The Adventures of Ned the Neuron
Goal: The development and production of an interactive electronic activity book about the brain, The Adventures of Ned the Neuron, for kids ages 7-11
Funds Needed: $25,000
Favorite Reward: The book (as app or PDF) plus either a Ned the Neuron T-shirt or totebag for $30+ pledges
Splurge Reward: For pledges of $10,000+, the creators will fly you to the San Francisco Bay Area (from anywhere in the US) this fall and provide 2-night hotel accommodation so you can attend the book launch party and meet the team, plus all the other rewards, including a neuroscience workshop/party for your kids led by the author (Erica Warp, a Neuroscience PhD), a one-of-a-kind drawing of you as a neuron character, 25 digital copies of the book to the school of your choice, and a signed limited edition hardcover copy of the