The world can be an unpredictable judge, especially when it comes to pitching an animation series. It’s hard to predict whether producers will be awestruck by your concept or dismiss it outright. Fortunately, there is a method to gauge the potential success of your pitch.
To effectively elevate your game in animation bible pitching and sales, it’s vital to grasp the evolving trends in animation, particularly the shift between stylized and realistic visuals, which marks a new era in the animation industry.
Now, let’s delve into this hidden gem, untouched and unseen by others, and explore the steps to effectively present your animation bible idea.
Five Key Steps to Successfully Pitch Your Animation Bible
To successfully develop and pitch your animated series, follow these crucial steps:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Develop a Compelling Concept | Your idea should be captivating and marketable. |
| Assess the Concept’s Viability | Review your idea against key criteria to ensure its potential success. |
| Design an Engaging Animation Pitch Bible | Create a visually appealing and informative pitch bible that showcases your concept’s uniqueness. |
| Explore Funding Opportunities | Investigate various funding sources to financially support your concept. |
| Leverage Global Events for Pitching | Utilize international platforms and events to present your idea effectively. |
Next, we’ll delve into each of these steps in more detail to provide a clearer understanding of the process.
1. Exploring Your Animation Concept
The journey of creating an animation, whether it’s for TV, film, or the gaming industry, starts with a core idea. This concept can emerge from numerous sources and typically falls into two main categories:
- Original Concepts: The path of developing an original idea can be daunting, as it often involves convincing others of its potential, a task made challenging by its unknown nature. Yet, the rewards are significant. An original concept not only stands out but also opens avenues for profitable merchandising and future spin-offs;
- Concepts Derived from Existing IPs: Building your animation around an already established intellectual property, like a book, comic, song, or a well-known figure, can be a more straightforward approach. This strategy tends to attract investors more easily due to the existing popularity and lower perceived risk. This method, known as transmedia storytelling, leverages an existing narrative in a new format, and we offer a comprehensive guide on this approach.
Regardless of whether you’re starting from the ground up with a novel idea or drawing inspiration from existing IPs, the key to successful animation lies in a well-crafted, engaging, and compelling concept.
2. Assessing Your Animation Pitch Bible: Key Steps for Success
You’ve developed what you believe is a groundbreaking idea for an animation project, confident it will make a significant impact on the market. Yet, when you present your pitch bible to a studio, they swiftly reject it. The setback is a clear indication that your concept wasn’t thoroughly assessed for the animation pitch bible. To refine your idea effectively, consider the following essential steps:
Identifying the Target Audience
The cornerstone of any animation project is pinpointing your target audience. This decision influences every aspect of your project, from scriptwriting to the animation’s design and style.
The primary age groups to consider are:
- Pre-school (ages 2 to 4);
- Young school-age (ages 5 to 8);
- School-age (ages 9 to 12);
- Teens (ages 13 to 16);
- Adults (ages 16 and above).
Choosing the Right Animation Format and Length
After solidifying your concept, the next critical step is deciding its format and length. Ask yourself key questions to guide this decision:
- Does your idea have the potential to evolve into a TV series?;
- Would it be more effective as a feature film or direct-to-video content?;
- Is it best suited for online platforms?.
Remember, a single concept can adapt to multiple formats. It’s your responsibility as the producer to identify the most promising one for your project.
3. Developing Your Animation Pitch Bible for Effective Presentation
For your animation concept to progress toward production, it’s crucial to pitch it effectively to potential developers and investors. Your audience for the pitch could be a well-established production studio, which would further develop and pitch the project to investors and distributors. Alternatively, you might be presenting directly to a distributor or network.
To ensure your pitch is impactful, two key components are necessary:
- Crafting a Compelling Written Proposal: The first step in your pitch is a well-crafted written proposal. This document should succinctly present your animation concept, detailing the style, target audience, format, length, and any secured funding. This proposal is your initial introduction to potential buyers and lays the groundwork for an in-person presentation of your project;
- Creating a Detailed Pitch Bible: The pitch bible acts as a comprehensive brochure for your project. It’s designed to offer an in-depth view of your animation concept. The bible should articulate the story idea, analyze the target audience, and highlight the project’s significance. It must detail the format and duration of the animation, introduce preliminary character designs and settings, and include sample story outlines. This bible is a crucial tool in conveying the depth and potential of your animation project to buyers and investors.
4. Securing Financing for Your Animation Project
Achieving the stage where a buyer is ready to initiate production of your animation concept is a significant milestone. However, the journey continues as you now need to secure funding for the project. Animation, being more expensive and time-intensive compared to live-action, poses unique challenges in attracting investors. Fast returns are often more appealing to investors, making them hesitant to commit to long-term projects like animation. Despite these challenges, there are investors who specifically seek opportunities in animated projects, recognizing their unique appeal and potential.
5. Leveraging Animation Markets for Pitching
Annually, film and television markets are conducted globally, providing a dynamic platform for executive producers and creators. At these events, participants bring their well-prepared pitch bibles and pilots, aiming to attract network or distribution representatives. The significance of these markets cannot be overstated. They are not just trading floors but also hubs for international networking, gauging current trends across various entertainment genres, and forging significant deals. It’s a common practice for production companies to send their top executives to multiple such markets every year, irrespective of their location, to stay abreast of industry movements and opportunities.
Conclusion
Successfully delivering an animation pitch requires a well-thought-out blend of originality, market analysis, effective writing, and networking. By applying these strategies, you can present an unbeatable animation pitch that will garner positive attention and spark interest among investors.