Animation, How-To, Marketing, Pitching, Z-Animation

How to pitch a cartoon by E. Hughes

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(original publication date: March 2005)

Pitching a cartoon series to a network is Hollywood’s “backdoor.” Cable TV networks are more open to unsolicited material and unproduced writers than other markets in the entertainment industry. When you pitch a cartoon you have more creative freedom than a writer presenting a screenplay for a live action television series or movie and you could easily become the head writer for the duration of your show. If this is your cup of the tea, the question you might be asking now, is what do I do next? (4/15/16 update: please note, the following steps also apply to pitching a live action television series with some minor differences. See here: What you need to know about pitching a script or television series )

A marketable concept

  1. A pilot script (standard spec, 22-23 pages)
  2. A bible (a thirteen-episode outline of your cartoon series)
  3. Animation and character bios
  4. A Network (or whomever you plan to pitch your cartoon to)
  5. A toy prototype (optional)
  6. A DVD presentation (optional)
  7. If you need help with finding animation software, send me an email as I can recommend a few. There are a number of free “easy to use” animation programs out there (See below). You can also search for animation programs via Google. 

To begin, you will first need a high concept plot with great characters and a great inside story and outside story… for example, the Power Puff Girls on Cartoon Network. The Powerpuff Girls is about a scientist who mixes a potent brew of “Sugar and spice, and everything nice” thus inventing three adorable little girls who happen to have superpowers and must save “Townsville” from monsters. This is your outside story…the action. The three adorable girls also have a separate goal of getting the professor and “Miss Keane” to go on a date. This is the “inside story. The Powerpuff Girls is an action comedy. A good example of an action drama would be Dragon Ball Z or Avatar.

To pitch your idea you’ll need a 23-page pilot spec script. If you’ve already written a few screenplays this is the easy part –especially if you’ve got your story down pact. Most networks prefer a 22-23) page script for a thirty-minute program (23 pages since TV commercials would likely be involved). Your next step is writing a thirteen-episode outline which is usually called a “bible”. Each episode must include a beginning, middle, and end. To convince a network to use your cartoon series will require you to prove longevity.  In other words, is there enough material to last a full season or even a few years?

Once you’ve completed your bible you’ll need artwork or animation. These are professional looking drawings designed by you or a commissioned artist. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on artwork, a friend with a talent for sketching will do. You don’t need a storyboard either.  Each picture should include the character’s name and a brief bio.

Your pitch should have a standard card stock cover bound with Acco brand fasteners, following the format of a standard spec script. You may also include a toy prototype to show marketability and possible product tie-ins.  If the market for your cartoon is eighteen years or older you’ll need to specify this on your submission to a network that produces cartoons for an adult demographic like Adult Swim on Cartoon Network or Comedy Central.

Put all these fine ingredients together, and you’ve got yourself a pitch. Good luck.

Questions? Contact Erica Hughes at

Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions

I am asked the following question so frequently that I have decided to add it to the article. How to Pitch a Cartoon was written many years ago, sometime in 2005 I believe, and at this time it warrants a small update.

I try to answer everyone’s inquiries, but due to being busy I am often unable to reply. See below before you send an email:

Where/How/to Whom do I submit my cartoon?

The best advice I can offer is for you to find an agent. If that doesn’t work, try the following steps.

Once you have created your material and put your pitch together, you will enter the marketing phase of your presentation and will begin to mail it out to executives for their review. Who do you send the material to? Producers, directors, and talent (i.e., actors). You can find contact information for talent most readily on web sites like IMDB Pro at http://imbd.com or you might invest in a HOLLYWOOD CREATIVE DIRECTORY book, or Literary Marketplace Book (You can find an LMP book at your local library). This industry directory includes names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers to people you may want to be in contact with. You could also go the poor man’s route and visit network websites. There, you may find names and contact information in the corporate information section. Some network street addresses are public.

  1. Many producers, executives, production companies and studios fear being sued so most will reject unsolicited material on the basis that they may have something similar already in the works. So you will need to have an agent send the material on your behalf. The catch is that most agents don’t accept unsolicited material or query letters from unproduced talent. So what do you do?
  2. You could work toward producing your own material and sell it on DVD or develop a web series. You’ll spend less on this effort than the amount you’ll spend mailing manuscripts and projects. Often, producing your own projects can open doors. 
  3. Or you can submit unsolicited material to someone in the industry and see what happens. For addresses and names, invest in IMDB Pro or go the poor man’s route and visit the corporate information section of network web site to get the name and address of producers or executives you are interested in working with.
  4. When I was starting out some 9 years ago, I sent a pitch to a Cartoon Network executive producer — in fact, I pitched my project over the phone to her voicemail. She called back and requested the script (I sent all of the aforementioned material listed above). From there it was sent to a director in Los Angeles.

Success is a combination of talent, luck, timing and persistence. So don’t give up. Good luck!

 

 

Example Episode Outline

This is just a rough example of what you’ll need:

Atomic High: Episode One
There’s a mystery brewing at Atomic High… someone is rigging the bleachers in the gymnasium to collapse at  school basketball games. Weary basketball coach George Prusky meets Jakey the Sleuth in his treehouse detective office and begs him to find the culprit. Ticket sales for Atomic High’s basketball games have plummeted. Jakey asks the Coach if he has any enemies, like a disgruntled player who may have been kicked off of the team. The coach mentions Dale Babcock, former captain of Atomic High’s Varsity basketball team. Jakey goes on a stakeout with his friend Amanda. They follow Dale but find very little to feel suspicious about, other than the fact that Dale is addicted to gum and has been sticking used blobs under the table in the cafeteria. Dale is “arrested” and taken to the principal’s office but Jakey soon discovers another kid, Jimbo, who is more than happy to see Dale go. Turns out, Jimbo tried out for the basketball team but was cut from tryouts. Amanda and Jakey go on another stakeout and learn Jimbo has been rigging the bleachers to collapse. He is arrested by school officials and all is safe again at Atomic High… till next time….
That’s an example of an episode outline. You will need at least 13-16 to prove that your show has enough episodes to last at least two or three seasons.  Your outline should be written in present tense.

 

 

Making a DVD Animation

There are a lot of tools available to film makers and writers who wish to go into animation. If you are not an artist, don’t know an artist, or can’t afford one there are alternatives available. Also, movie editing software is available to those who wish to make a DVD presentation to go along with your script. If you need one, send me an email. I can refer you to some free movie editing/3D animation software.

Good luck on your project!

 

Sincerely,

Erica Hughes

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