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How to pitch a cartoon
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How to Pitch a Cartoon
E. Hughes
Ingredients
- A marketable concept
- A pilot script (standard spec, 22-23 pages)
- A bible (a thirteen episode outline of your cartoon series)
- Animation and character bios
- A Network (or whomever you plan to pitch your cartoon to)
- A toy prototype (optional)
- A DVD presentation (optional)
- Scroll down.
- Scroll down.
Pitching a cartoon series to a network is Hollywood's "backdoor". Cable networks are more open to unsolicited material and unproduced writers than other markets in the entertainment industry. When you pitch a cartoon you're allowed more creative freedom than one would be allowed when presenting an ordinary screenplay for a television series or movie. If you're an artist and a writer, you could easily become 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?
You first need a concept. The "Power Puff Girls" on Cartoon Network is a good example of a high concept cartoon series. 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 big ugly monsters. This is your outside story. The inside story is the girls trying to get the professor and "Miss Keane" to go on a date. The Powerpuff Girls is an action/comedy. An example of an action/drama would be to watch Dragon Ball Z, or The Avatar.
To pitch your idea, you'll need to include a few important things. The first of which, is a pilot script. If you've already written a few screenplays this is the easy part - especially if you got your story down pact. Most networks prefer a 22 or 23 page script for a thirty-minute program (22-23 pages instead of thirty because of commercials). 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 few years?
Once you've completed your bible, you'll need animation. These are professional looking drawings designed by either 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 cover, standard card stock, and bound with acco brand fasteners as you would an ordinary screenplay. You may also include a toy prototype. You want to show marketability. Product tie-ins for the kids is a plus. If the market for your cartoon is eighteen years or older you'll need to specify this on your submission. And hopefully you're submitting this material to a network that produces adult material, like Adult Swim for 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 contact@screenwritersdaily.com
Example episode outline
This is just a rough example of what you'll need:
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 like movie editing software for those who wish to make a DVD presentation to go along with their scripts. Moviestorm offers free movie editing/3D animation software. Tell them EHughes referred you.
Good luck on your project!
