How do you pitch a cartoon series?

[GL2k2]

Anyone have any idea of how do go about making an animated series. Do I have to be an animator? I'm not an animator, but a designer, much like Bruce Timm does. I have a cartoon series I want to pitch to either Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Fox Kids, or pretty much whoever the heck will accept it. If anyone knows how to go about this, let me know please.

[RockItShipper]

It's been over a year now, but here's what I remember from WBA's presentation at CalArts:

Some sort of a "show bible" is preferred, and probably the norm for people with animation backgrounds. It should have character descriptions, some blurbs on possible episodes, character designs and other artwork. But above all, a clear idea and willingness to take up the suggestions of the execs present. Because if it won't sell advertising, then it won't get made at all.

I'm not sure how much animation experience is needed to actually pitch- supposedly Disney Afternoon pitches could be made by anyone working for Disney.

[Psycho Fox]

Networks only want to deal with studios and not people and big studios rarely even looks at stuff like that thus you'd have to pitch it to a small studio like Internatonal Rocket Ship (they changed they name to something else but forgot what).

[Joe Wagner]

If you're really serious about it you might want to consider getting yourself an agent. They will have ties to Hollywood already and will usually find a way to sell your show - basically because they get a cut of the money, but still you're far more likely to get it sold than without an agent.

The other idea of approaching the animation studio is a really good one (I've considered this in the past) but you usually have to front the funding and their is no guarantee your show will be picked up - altho you can always go the syndication way and try to sell your show to a distribution company. No matter what happens though make sure you always retain the rights to your characters. Sell them the show but make sure it's in the contract that you retain all rights to the characters and that if the show is cancelled all rights return back to you.

-Joe!

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

With my left hand, usually a fast ball.


HA!

[DR. BELCH]

I have a feeling that breaking into the animation business is a Catch-22, much like the comics business. Most companies don't even look at a new artist without a substantial portfolio--but how does one get a portfolio if he can't publish? You see my dilemma....

[Psycho Fox]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
I have a feeling that breaking into the animation business is a Catch-22, much like the comics business. Most companies don't even look at a new artist without a substantial portfolio--but how does one get a portfolio if he can't publish? You see my dilemma.... Well for both Animation and Comics there is another option and that is to go it on our own. It is possibly to make comics and shorts on your own and you could distrabute them at cons thus giving you a portfolio.

[Calhoun07]

Or spend wads of money at an animation school where you can use their tools and make animation for a good portpholio. It all boils down to it will take good money to even get the shot at making money in the biz. And a good Macintosh computer doesn't hurt either!

[DR. BELCH]

So basically. it takes money to make money. Again, a Catch-22. Though I have my eye on self-publishing opportunites that'd be far less expensive in the long run than a semester of a big-name animation school...I could break into the animation biz sort of roundabout by pitching a well-recieved printed book at conferences and whatnot and hoping to catch the eye of a director looking to do an animated movie. A bit large in scope, admittedly, but it'd be better than coming out of nowhere with a folder of doodles and expecting to be taken seriously....

[I.R Joey]

I've been thinking about pitching a show as well, but do you think an agent would be that good in just pitching a concept? Or would you have to right so scripts (like with the pilot eps.)

[Hollywood53]

Try becoming an internet series first if you can make it yourself, or try public access television, get noticed first, then take it to the next level

[Lucky Bob]

Get yourself a REEEEEAL good agent....

[GL2k2]

Thanks folks, I really appreaciate all the info and will run with it. For now I have over fifty or so drawings of the characters and a comic strip featuring the characters. I think I sent Hanna-Barbera pictures of these characters way back when the Cartoon Network started and they held a contest for a cartoon short on the "What-A-Cartoon" show, that spawned Dexter's Laboratory, Powerpuff Girls, and Johnny Bravo. But I think they didn't want it, it's kinda violent.