New Year, New Patreon! ✨ (Patreon)

Dear birbs,
we hope your 12,024 has started well!
For us at the kurzgesagt treehouse, January is an essential month to regroup, brainstorm new ideas, and set priorities for the year.
In this post, we want to give you an update on the exciting changes that we have planned for you in the upcoming months!

Updates to Patreon Tiers
As Patrons, you are an important part of kurzgesagt. Thanks to your support, we can put hundreds of hours into research and scriptwriting, making our illustrations more detailed and the animations even smoother. Because of you, we can prioritize quality over quantity. You are the virtual team members who have our backs every day.
To reflect this in the Patreon tiers, we're going to tidy things up a bit on February 1st and introduce a new structure that makes your impact more tangible.

What exactly are we planning?
To clearly show that you are part of the kurzgesagt video production, we will introduce new titles and tiers – from Trainee Producer to Supervising Producer.
The Connoisseur and Part of the Team tiers will be renamed, and additional perks will be added to them.
The Contributor, Video Patron, Supporter, Fan, and Special Birb tiers can no longer be selected from February onwards. For anyone who is currently in these tiers: Don't worry, your pledge won't change as these tiers will remain invisibly in the backend, and you don’t have to do anything to your monthly pledge. Also, if you have pledged one of the mentioned tiers in January for the first time, you will receive the corresponding perks in February, as promised.
In the FAQs below, we have described in detail what exactly this means for the individual tiers.

What does the new structure look like and what do the tiers include?

Trainee Producer – new tier
As a Trainee Producer, you don't just provide short-term support, you ensure the survival of high-quality content. In addition to AdBlock absolution, you will also get early access to special product launches on our shop – such as the calendar.

Junior Producer – new tier
As a Junior Producer, your contribution goes directly towards the creation of our videos. We literally wouldn’t be able to do it without you – and we want the whole world to know it:
Your name will grace the video description of at least one video, and you can show your personalized, printable kurzgesagt certificate to your friends and family. Also, you’ll receive exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates straight from the treehouse.
You additionally unlock the perks of the previous tier, such as AdBlock absolution, and early access to special product launches on our shop – such as the calendar.

Producer – formerly Kurzgesagt Connoisseur tier
As a kurzgesagt Producer, you go above and beyond a viewer; you're a core member of the kurzgesagt team. Your contribution substantially supports the creation of our new videos. You get to enjoy all the perks of the previous tiers: AdBlock Absolution, early access to special product launches, your name will be in the video description of at least one video, and you’ll receive a personalized certificate, as well as exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates.
In this tier, you’ll also get Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots and complimentary access to all of our wallpaper and music collections in the Patreon Shop. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!
If you pledge to this perk for a year or have already pledged for 12 months or more, you will receive a unique kurzgesagt birb from our aviary, which you can use as a profile image, wallpaper, or even print and frame it!
For those of you who have been supporting the Kurzgesagt Connoisseur tier for 12 months or more, we also have a shiny, feathery new companion waiting for you. We're already working at full speed to send these birbs to you as soon as possible.

Senior Producer – new tier
Thanks to your support, we can fully prioritize quality over quantity, enabling us to go the extra mile and invest hundreds of hours in creating each video to make them as engaging and appealing as possible.
As a Senior Producer, you enjoy all of the perks of the previous tiers, including a sneak peek into our next video and exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots. Additionally, you gain access to our exclusive behind-the-scenes video content.
Pledge annually or stay committed for 12 months to have one of our illustrators create a custom kurzgesagt birb avatar solely for you, based on your description. No matter if you’d like a blue owl with a monocle or a red-panda-style birb wearing a lab coat – we’ll bring it to life for you.

Executive Producer – formerly Part of the kurzgesagt Team tier
As an Executive Producer, your extraordinary support as a vital part of the team earns you a special place in our hearts. Your generous contribution is the driving force behind our commitment to making complex topics accessible and exciting. Thanks to your support, we are not only able to spend hundreds of hours creating videos but can also explore new ways of sparking curiosity.
Enjoy all the perks of the previous tiers, including a sneak peek into our next video and exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots and videos.
Pledge annually or stay committed for 12 months to have one of our illustrators create your portrait in the typical kurzgesagt style. Your portrait will be featured for at least one month on the wall of fame in our Munich office and is going to be the first face we see when we get to work each morning. Additionally, you get your own, custom kurzgesagt birb created with love and care from one of our illustrators based on your description and in two variations of your choice. Whether you prefer a summer and a winter version or a Halloween and a normal version, we'll make sure your wish comes true!

Supervising Producer – new tier
In the past, we have received requests from people who would like to support us even more. That's why we’ve decided to launch the Supervising Producer tier. Whether you've won the lottery or received an inheritance, with your epic pledge, you've moved beyond viewer or supporter – you're the unsung hero of kurzgesagt, the one who keeps the gears turning and our birbs flying.
You will certainly receive all the benefits of the previous levels.
In the first month of your pledge, one of our illustrators will create your portrait in the typical kurzgesagt style, which will be proudly displayed on the Wall of Fame in our Munich office for at least one month. Additionally, you will receive your own personalized kurzgesagt birb, crafted lovingly and carefully created by one of our illustrators according to your description and in two versions of your choice.
If you make an annual contribution or remain a member of this tier for 12 months or longer and find yourself in the Munich, Germany area: let us know! We'd be delighted to offer you a tour of our office, give you a firsthand look over the shoulders of our illustrators and animators, and show you where the magic happens.

And that was just the beginning - we have a lot more planned for you

We believe these changes will make it easier to choose the right tier. As mentioned earlier, the retired tiers Contributor, Video Patron, Supporter, Fan, and Special Birb will remain active invisibly in the backend. You can stay at your current tier, and you will continue to enjoy the perks you had before.

Your support is immensely valuable to us, and we want to ensure everything is transparent and easy to understand. Please let us know if you notice something that could be improved or if something is unclear. We already have many exciting ideas for various additional content for all of you, but more on that in due course.

Thank you for your continuous support, and we look forward to creating curiosity-sparking videos and other science content for you to enjoy!

With lots of love,
Your birbs at kurzgesagt 💖🦆

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FAQ

When does the tier structure come into effect?
On February 1st, 12,024.

Do I have to upgrade to a new tier?
No. You don't have to switch to a new or higher tier. We’ve listed the detailed changes to each tier below.

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Contributor tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
This tier will no longer be publicly available from February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. Otherwise, nothing will change for you: You will continue to be absolved of any guilt for using Ad Blockers and have access to all freely accessible posts in the Patreon feed – just as before. You don't have to switch to a higher tier if you don't want to.

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Video Patron tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
This tier will no longer be publicly available from February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. Otherwise, nothing will change for you: You will continue to be absolved of AdBlocker use and have access to all freely accessible posts in the Patreon feed – just as before. You don't have to switch to a higher tier if you don't want to.
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, your name will appear in the video description of one of the next videos - keep your eyes peeled!

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Supporter tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
This tier will no longer be publicly available from February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. Otherwise, nothing will change for you: You will continue to receive absolution for AdBlocker use and have access to all freely accessible posts in the Patreon feed – just as before. You will also receive exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates. You don't have to switch to a higher tier if you don't want to.
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will receive your personalized perk in February.

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Connoisseur tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
Your tier will be renamed to Producer on February 1st. In addition to your existing perks, you will also start receiving exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates and occasional Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots. In addition to the kurzgesagt wallpapers for your phone, tablet, and desktop, you will also get access to the soundtracks of our videos via the collections in the Patreon Shop after the change. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will receive your personalized perk in February.

I have pledged to the Kurzgesagt Connoisseur tier for exactly or more than the past 12 consecutive months.
If you haven’t received a birb before, you will receive a unique kurzgesagt bird from our aviary with the change to the new structure – we are already working at full speed to send them to you as soon as possible! 

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Fan tier – what does the new structure mean for my tier?
This tier will no longer be publicly available as of February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. The MP3s of the video soundtracks will now be available via the Wallpaper + Music Collections on the Patreon Shop. In addition to your existing Perks, you will also receive exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates and occasional Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!  
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will receive your personalized perk in February.

I have pledged the Kurzgesagt Fan tier for exactly or more than the past 12 consecutive months.
If you have not received a birb before, you will receive a unique kurzgesagt bird from our aviary with the change to the new structure – we are already working at full speed to send them to you as soon as possible!

Can I continue pledging the Kurzgesagt Fan tier to reach 12 consecutive months?
Yes, you can and you’re going to receive a unique kurzgesagt bird from our aviary when you reach 12 consecutive months of membership in this tier.

I currently pledge to the Kurzgesagt Birb tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
This tier will no longer be publicly available as of February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. In addition to your existing perks, you will receive exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates and occasional Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots and behind-the-scenes videos. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will receive your perk in February.

I currently pledge to the Special Birb Tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
This tier will no longer be publicly available as of February 1st, but you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. In addition to your existing perks, you will receive exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates and occasional Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots and behind-the-scenes videos. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will of course receive the voice message. We will get in touch with you in February.

I currently pledge to the Part of the kurzgesagt Team tier – what does the new structure mean for me?
Your tier will be renamed to Executive Producer on February 1st. In addition to your existing perks, you'll get exclusive monthly behind-the-scenes updates and occasional Patreon-exclusive behind-the-scenes snapshots and behind-the-scenes videos. You'll also get something in this tier that we've never done before: You'll get a sneak peek into our next video before the official release!
If you pledged this tier for the first time in January 12,024, you will receive your personalized perk in February.

I have pledged the Part of the kurzgesagt Team Tier for exactly or more than the past 12 consecutive months.
If you’d like to, please feel free to send us a Patreon DM or e-mail and we will create another version of your bird. Would you like a summer and a winter version? Or a Halloween and a normal version? Whatever it is, we'll do our best to make your wish come true!

I am currently pledging to the Quarantine Care PDF Tier. Where is it anyway?
We retired the tier some time ago – you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. Otherwise, nothing will change for you: you will continue to have access to all freely accessible posts in the Patreon feed. You don't have to switch to a higher tier if you don't want to.

I am currently pledging to the Monthly Unique Kurzgesagt Art Cards tier. Where is it anyway? And will the Art Cards come back?
We retired the tier some time ago – you can continue to pledge this amount indefinitely. Although we no longer send out Art Cards, your tier will give you access to all the perks of the new Producer Tier. We loved the Art Cards as much as you did and are looking for ways to bring this perk back but can't tell you if and when we'll be able to do so. If you didn't get a unique bird from our aviary before, you will get it with us switching to the new structure. We are already working at full speed to email you your bird as soon as possible!

I pledged to the “Bird killed in video” tier some time ago. Could you please provide an update on the status?
We’re on it! Several birbs had “accidents'' in the last year, and we are positive that a lot more will follow. We’ll contact you as soon as there is an update on the fate of your birb.

I pledged to the Video Patron tier in January 12,024 – when will my name appear in the video?
Your name will be in the video description in one of the next videos – keep your eyes peeled!

Will the Voice Message perk ever come back?
Maybe in the future, but we can't say at the moment if and when that will be.

When will the next video be released?
Soon.

What will the next video be about?
That’s a secret – but those pledging to the kurzgesagt Producer tier or higher will find out sooner than anyone else.

What’s the answer to all questions?
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