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Pitching an Idea for Cartoon Network Studios, request advice please!!

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Pitching an Idea for Cartoon Network Studios, request advice please!!

hey, i' thinking of pitching a idea for Cartoon Network Studios, can anyone give me any advice on how to approach this idea. after all cartoon network studios is a big animation studio?

the story is quite simple really, its about a young teenager named Alex who discovers a haunted house who many people thought to be filled with veracious beasts, monsters and ghouls but Alex befriends them and their show alex another world filled with magic and fantasy on earth.

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I guess this means that if you don't want to give up any of your creative control, you shouldn't pitch an idea for a cartoon to a network, and probably look for another line of work than animation.

The problem isn't about sharing creative control. Diligence and integrity always has room for collaboration. I don't think anyone here would be uncomfortable to share ideas and success with people that are hardworking and honest.

So it is a money/credit thing, you doing all the hard work, and someone else taking credit for it, and the bags of money that go with it? Something that is happening to the writers guild right now?

So it is a money/credit thing, you doing all the hard work, and someone else taking credit for it, and the bags of money that go with it? Something that is happening to the writers guild right now?

Its someone else's money after all, isn't it?
See, creative control is really someone letting YOU risk THEIR money on YOUR vision--unless you are bankrolling the thing yourself, in which case you can do what you want.
If you have no track record, and they are at all unsure about their trust in you, they will retain some kind of control over the project--just in case.
There's been enough horror stories about unmarketable self-indulgent projects over the years that investors do invest warily.

I mean, if you have the money all on your own......knock yerself out.......run with the vision you want in your own way. But once someone else chips in, they usually demand a say of some kind as security for their investment.
That's simple, smart business sense.

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

GOD in comics

if they would put GOD in comics it would reach a lot of kids. I made a 22 page comic online at marvel called THE DAY THE AVENGERS MET GOD.
My 10 year old little girl red it and said I cant wait till they make the movie.
can any body help to get this done. thanks !

Given the recent success of adventure time and the amazing world of gumball, the former being rejected and now of their top shows and the latter being a show comprised entirely of rejected ideas, i think they will respond best to a pilot episode.
Pitching an idea is a huge leap you know, also, you might want to have a plot down for at least one season, a whole bunch of concept art, basically show them your ready to go. They will fund production for sure, but im not sure they will be ok about funding an idea, paying you to sit with some commissioned writers to think some more before starting.

A pilot will do wonders, it doesnt have to be great, and all your voice acting can be done for free, but if you go to a place like voiceacting alliance, for peanuts (figuratively, compared to the huge wages actual VA's make) you can get studio quality recordings for a pilot with fairly decent voice actors.

If the pilot fails, put it on youtube, make some noise, and if people flock to it, just like adventure time, they might reconsider.

Yeah, I heard a lot of network usually need show bibles to understand to show's concept more. Helps them decide whether they should accept I suppose.

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

Advice on animation

Hi, first of all, can I just say that your idea is definitely a story worth pursuing. I am currently creating 2 ideas to pitch, so if they don't like one, they can choose the other. I would also like to say that if you want to protect your characters, then you can use 'poor man's copyright'. Simply place your idea in a sealed envelope, and sent it to your home address. This way, the post office has the date of when you sent it. If anyone takes the idea, you can take legal action and prove that you created it on that date. I'm not exactly sure of the process, but it works something like how I've just described it. Also, when (and if) you plan your episodes, the finale to the entire series could be something like the fantasy world combining with the real world, or, the house being destroyed with the gateway blocked off and all of his monster friends being stuck in the real world. You know what I'm trying to say...

I would also like to say that if you want to protect your characters, then you can use 'poor man's copyright'. Simply place your idea in a sealed envelope, and sent it to your home address. This way, the post office has the date of when you sent it. If anyone takes the idea, you can take legal action and prove that you created it on that date.

Don't do that.

Bite the bullet, go to www.copyright.gov, get the appropriate VA form, cough up the $45, do it right and do it now.

As far as the pitch goes, listen to SpaceGhost. The only thing I would add... your show needs to be character driven, and your characters need to.... well, not specifically grow, but be different for the experience for the better or not. I don't really agree with all stories being about heroes, specifically. "Antagonist" and "Protagonist" is better... "Hero" and "Villain" are really about your point of view, but I know what you mean SpaceGhost and i'm just sayin for sayin's sake.

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I would also like to say that if you want to protect your characters, then you can use 'poor man's copyright'. Simply place your idea in a sealed envelope, and sent it to your home address. This way, the post office has the date of when you sent it. If anyone takes the idea, you can take legal action and prove that you created it on that date. I'm not exactly sure of the process, but it works something like how I've just described it.

Chaos is absolutely right - don't do this. It has never stood up in a copyright infringement action. This is basically an urban legend with very looooong legs...

The official copyright filing is the way to go. If you're pitching ideas to networks, $45 is cheap insurance. And if you don't value your idea enough to copyright it correctly, why should anyone else value it either?

response to creative control

Hi there, just read your insight into creative control. If my show becomes successful, I want to involve people in my story- if the animators are animating your cartoon, the director directing it, and the producers producing it, then why not give them a little creative control? I'm going to let animators add in things that they want, for example, a room would feature furniture made by the animators, etcetera. The word creator may sound like you have control of everything, but it is a team effort, and at the end of the day, they should be able to add to the cartoon they are working with...:cool:

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Hey quetzl1, I agree with you, it is a team effort.

If you're response is referring to me, I was looking more for what makes the director the director, the producer the producer, and etc. Every now and then, when I review the crew of a film or series, some of the names are attributed to more than one title. I understand it now... or understand it as much as I could without actually living it.

Z
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I think it's great that you're so trusting, and, as you said, your idea is relatively simple, but if I were you I wouldn't post it on the internet... especially not such a widely used forum. Anyone could read your idea and take it to Cartoon Network.

Seriously. EVERYONE has great ideas. EVERYONE! If I was the kind of guy who would want to pitch an idea for a television show to a studio, I'm sure I would be exploding with ideas.

I wouldn't worry about it. Getting the copyright, before you pitch it, would probably be useful, but protecting your idea from the monsters from the internet? Please....

Anyway, as for the original topic. Simply show that your better than everyone else. If you don't, you probably don't have a chance with your show. Television is after all...kinda competitive. And there are a lot of people that pitch shows.

--Z

Need new ideas

Series bibles? Sure, whatever! I've created four at the moment. One is nearly complete, and the other 3 are in the development stage. If anyone is struggling with ideas, then I can give you some. Just place your request on this page, and next time I post I will list as many as I can. By the way, this list is for anyone to use, so feel free to snatch any suggestion I place on it;) And before you respond, if you're thinking 'why take his ideas, what makes him so special?' let me clear you in on something: I don't mean to, but ideas for cartoons constantly float around in my head, I can literally see entire series unfolding in my mind, and as an added bonus, every character that I visualize is given a back- story almost automatically. Think I'm lying? ask me for an idea and I will give you one, or, do it yourself- yours might be better than mine: but if you're really stuck, then ask for an idea, I can give you hundreds...;)

Copyright conundrum

Ok, I see now that 'poor man's copyright' isn't the best option to go. That's fine, but seriously, do think about protecting your ideas. The only reason for mentioning this method is because I come from England, and this method is recognized by our legal system. I just assumed that the procedure was recognized in the U.S, and clearly I am mistaken, for which I apologize.:)

Four bibles? I am pretty sure you only need one...well, you do need copies of course. Anyway, you also need connections with people working in the business, or at least have been working in animation for a few years. And I do need some help with a few basic ideas. But I won't be pitching them anytime soon. XP

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

Response

Thanks for your encouragement. The reason I am creating four is so that if one doesn't work, they can choose between the other three- this isn't a method to ensure I get a cartoon on the airwaves, but instead gives them an indication, or range, of stories to possibly develop. The entire process is going to take me six years to write, and my attic will soon be turned into my cartoon- producing lair mwahahahaha! As for the stories, just ask when you need an idea, I'm a very laid- back person. :cool:

Info on animation

Hi, so anyway, I located the page with all the insight into what the companies expect, simply type in- http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.06/5.06pages/pitchsurvey.php3
This will tell you everything you need to know.
By the way, nice idea. I generally don't divulge information about my cartoon conceptions, as I am slightly paranoid that someone will steal them, but I can say this- If my idea makes it onto the airwaves, there won't be an idea like it for a long, long time (I don't mean to brag, but if you was me, you'd understand). Part of my motivation for my ideas is changing the way people look at cartoons- for example, most adults say that cartoons are for children- I want (and every other cartoonist) to change all that. I want to create something that can make people cry, laugh, smile, and doubt themselves, if you know what I mean. What people fail to grasp is that cartoons are like real situations- it's only because of the way they're presented that people don't take them seriously (I'm not saying everyone does, but most do, even my family are puzzled on why I chose this for a future career), but frankly, I don't care- they just can't accept that they broke their backs doing physical labour, when I can just work on a computer all day, hardly needing to move. And personally, I believe that life is for living, not working. The reason I chose to become a cartoonist is so that I could re- live my childhood in an adult and professional way (instead of being frowned upon by all those jerks who can't see why animation is, without a doubt, the best form of entertainment). Like Maxwell Atoms said (that has got to be the coolest name ever!) 'the only limit in cartoons is the imagination'.

2nd Response

Oh yeah, and, you don't need to be an animator to get a cartoon on tv. I read this blog presented by this woman who works at cartoon network, and their basic message is 'Just show us some of the things you have (early sketches, concept art), tell us what kind of cartoon you want to make, and we'll take it from there. That's how we like to start the development process'. So anyway, these companies don't expect pilots and theme tunes- as long as you have an good idea, they can take it from whatever stage. Another person on that blog said 'I'd rather see 2 pages than 20'- No Joke! So don't get too fussed about it.:)

I'm seeing a problem here. A network is putting money on the table to produce an animated series, fine. But, they also cancel the show, based on viewer statistics. So, effectively, the people who decide if your show stays on (the viewers), are not the same as the people who decide if your show gets on in the first place.

It's all up to the network to predict if a show is going to be succesful. I guess that means they will be going for the familiar --read: what already has been succesful in the past.

Shouldn't you then be pitching a kind of rehash of existing (succesful) stories, instead of an original story?

I always thought the original stories were for the independents, not for the syndicated stuff, but I could be wrong.

Oh yeah, and, you don't need to be an animator to get a cartoon on tv. I read this blog presented by this woman who works at cartoon network, and their basic message is 'Just show us some of the things you have (early sketches, concept art), tell us what kind of cartoon you want to make, and we'll take it from there. That's how we like to start the development process'. So anyway, these companies don't expect pilots and theme tunes- as long as you have an good idea, they can take it from whatever stage. Another person on that blog said 'I'd rather see 2 pages than 20'- No Joke! So don't get too fussed about it.:)

United States CN does that!? Awesome, I never really realized that.

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

This thread seems to have gone onto a tangent about protecting your work. This seems to happen a lot in these types of discussions. Protecting your work is a great idea, but I think a lot of people spend more time worrying about their precious ideas being stolen than developing them. The likelihood of someone's idea being so stupendous and original that studios and other artists latch onto it to make it their own is quite unlikely.

First of all, anyone who thinks their idea is absolutely unique is fooling oneself. It simply means you haven't read enough, seen enough, etc. to notice the similarities to copious amounts of other entertainment. Secondly, sure, someone may come along and see a person's idea and be inspired by that premise and their own experience and develop something similar. That isn't a crime, it isn't stealing. It's art. Find me a story that doesn't link back to another, that doesn't root back to Shakespeare or Greek mythology and so on.

Lastly, if you put together a great pitch, present yourself well, show them something marketable and come across as a valuable artist; studios will see you as an asset. It is cheaper for them to hire the person that already did the grunt work than start from scratch with "someone else's idea."

Are there exceptions to this? Of course...but exception means rare.

No one has ever been successful because they had a great idea or stole someone else's. They were successful because they developed that idea and did the legwork to get it produced.

P.S. I apologize if I have inspired this tangent to continue even further.

does anyone like the story? :)

It sounds kind of like "Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends," but plus a little Halloween.

Well, although I love that pitching guide, I think it should be updated. After all, Cartoon Network recently got a new head of original programming...so you just got to wonder what his take on pitching is. :D

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

Is this your idea?

Precisely the question. The fact is, yes, this is your idea, and I shouldn't worry about if your cartoon is similar to another show. The truth is, a completely original and 'never-been-done-before' idea is impossible. Every major storyline has up to now, been done, and in today's world you can only produce ideas from existing ideas. All you have to do, is take the cartoon your show is similar to, and look at your own. You will realize that although it seems similar, every idea is different in one way or another, and theoretically, no cartoon can ever be alike. Also, don't let my statement about 'poor man's copyright' put you off, I do like feedback now and then...:rolleyes:

Poor Man's Copyright? Picthing? I just had to join a forum where I don't understand hlaf the stuff people are talking about. Well, there is no such thing as a completely oringinal idea. It's the basic idea that's common, it's where you can go with it that matters I guess. So yeah, don't worry. As for pitching the show, you might want to expand your idea for a little while more (like two or three years min.) before pitching it to any network. Also, learn what they need for a pitch. Actually, they might want you to make a pilot if they are interested. But really, I have no clue. :o

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

That's kind of depressing to say, fellows. "There are no more original ideas..." "All the stories worth telling have been told..."

Well, here's my attitude towards it: I agree on an academic level, but no one has told your point of view or vision. Same as your signature or fingerprint, you have a unique way of seeing the world and your goal as a filmmaker... no, as a storyteller is to "tell your stories your way". Draw from your life experiences. Draw from the life experiences of people you know. No one has lived your life, so that in itself is originality.

And hey, new guys, don't worry too much if some of us pounce on the stuff you say. I've learned so much, just from reading the posts of the professionals here. Here's the trick: Know when to read and learn, and know when to contribute and debate. I'm still working on that trick myself!

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To those in the business:

What about creative control? My understanding of the matter is that pitching isn't the same as having creative control over the feature or series. Though the politics of each studio varies, are there any guidelines to have such control?

Questions spurred from seeing this: http://books.google.com/books?id=59Xhbi8d5w8C&pg=PA164&lpg=PA164&dq=creative+control+entertainment+in+animation+series&source=web&ots=uBoayqIJWf&sig=gUNBg2riQjzwFBNBS3iaKm0fWHc&hl=en#PPA154,M1

I'm looking for what defines the titles of creator, director, and producer in terms of creative control, story conception and development.

To those in the business:

What about creative control? My understanding of the matter is that pitching isn't the same as having creative control over the feature or series. Though the politics of each studio varies, are there any guidelines to have such control?

Questions spurred from seeing this: http://books.google.com/books?id=59Xhbi8d5w8C&pg=PA164&lpg=PA164&dq=creative+control+entertainment+in+animation+series&source=web&ots=uBoayqIJWf&sig=gUNBg2riQjzwFBNBS3iaKm0fWHc&hl=en#PPA154,M1

I'm looking for what defines the titles of creator, director, and producer in terms of creative control, story conception and development.

Well, the creator usually says what can and can't be done to his characters and such. Usually the executive producer is the creator, but it can also be the person that finances the show. On this occasion, as well as if the creator doesn't want to be that involved in the show anymore, all animatics (and a few other things, maybe) is run by him/her. The director controls the aspects of a certain episode of the series. He controls the creativity or the episode, as well as the visual aspects and such. This can be hindered by the executive producer (or the executive producer in charge of production from the network). And the producer is someone who also have creative control over the series in some way, but less than the actual executive producer.

At least, that's what I think. I'm just 13, so what would I know. :o

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

To those in the business:

What about creative control? My understanding of the matter is that pitching isn't the same as having creative control over the feature or series. Though the politics of each studio varies, are there any guidelines to have such control?

I'm looking for what defines the titles of creator, director, and producer in terms of creative control, story conception and development.

Pitching is just the selling of the property. All you are doing is getting interested parties on board to help finance and physically produce the thing.
Creative control is a very different animal, and one that is negotiated once the pitch is sold and the parties at the table decide to make a deal.

Here's the thing about creative control.......everyone wants it , no-one wants to relinquish it, but someone has to.
Guess who that usually is?

That's right, you......the creator.
If you have no track record, expect little or no creative control unless you are a helluva salesman. Creative control would mean putting yourself personally on the line, and with the money that get's thrown around, that can be a crippling responsibility to shoulder.
Creative control really spells out as one thing only: veto power.
You don't like something, maybe you want to change something......if you have creative control you can make that call. Without it, you have to negotiate your objections or interests, or you compromise.
Veto power ultimately means power over what the money is going towards, what is going to be emphasized or not in the production........and with outside investors, that kind of thing can make people nervous about creative types.

I cannot recall anyone who got extensive creative control the first time out of the gate on a big money project--though there may be one or two folks.
If that took place, they were probably someone bringing in some reputation from outside that gave them the cachet to hold control.
Most projects that I have heard of involved considerable compromise and relinquishing of creative control by the series creator.

Imagine, a creator getting frustrated with the way a project is unfolding, and they exercise a hypothetical veto power (creative control) and stop production, or worse......pull it the whole thing midstream. Given the millions of dollars involved in shows today, damn..........that'd almost be cause enough to have someone offed and dumped in the river.
So creative control usually isn't solely vested into the creator--its shared by the creator, producer and director.

The producer is the "money" person--essentially the one who facilitates the administrative part of the production, oversees the facility, materials, staff, funding, and all the managerial aspects of a project. The business "buck" stops with them.
The director is the guiding hand on the crafting of the project itself--the mind behind realizing all the creative decisions that translate to film.
In many respects, the creator is just a figurehead--really just there to offer guidance and insight to the material to keep the project on track and in the spirit of the original idea.
The key thing is that no-one "has to" listen to the creator in a real sense, although usually they are the best source of insight into what works and what doesn't with their creation.
Consider them to be a kind of consultant--tapped occasionally when someone is unsure if a character would do this or that, or if a situation would work better one way as opposed to another.

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

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Thanks racattackjunction, those were some of the things I initially had in mind before getting Ken Davis's response.

Thanks Ken for the thorough response. In the instance of Avatar: the Last Airbender, I noticed that Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzo co-create and co-produce the series, and likewise write and sometimes direct. Aaron Ehasz is in the mix of co-producer and writer as well. And then there is Genndy Tartakovsky with a title of creator and producer, often directing and writing throughout.

Of course, this type of creative control comes from much industry experience and a track record. I have some work to do it seems.

Oh yea, there's no reason you could not be the creator, producer and director of the project--but it'd be a LOT of hats to wear and very, very few people have the stones to tackle all that.

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

I guess this means that if you don't want to give up any of your creative control, you shouldn't pitch an idea for a cartoon to a network, and probably look for another line of work than animation.

How much concept art do you have?

I've read about guys who pitch ideas and they write up a whole bible about the show and have concept art of literally everywhere in the show's world and characters.

I guess this means that if you don't want to give up any of your creative control, you shouldn't pitch an idea for a cartoon to a network, and probably look for another line of work than animation.

Or you should get some work in the field by working on other shows. before pitching.

Hi, be sure to check out my blog! A few thing there, and I'll also be putting some of my work (pictures and short carttons) there too in the future: http://ukracattack.blogspot.com:)
I am also making a Flash animated cartoon that I plan to air on it's website in Fall 2008. It's called Tednut and it's about an personified peanut named Ted and his friend Kernal, and their basic adventures in their town of Sleepy Oaks, New York: http://tednut.sampasite.com:D

There's been a couple of threads about pitching. Do a search and see what you can find.

I hope to be pitching in three weeks to Frederator.

Like the Story

does anyone like the story? :)

Message By Echi Echi :D :) :) :cool:

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My Gallery of My Characters, My Toons, My Life

Hi Echi,

Your idea sounds interesting. I was wondering how you are planning on pitching your idea to Cartoon Network? Are you planning on flying to Burbank California to pitch your idea to them? I'm not sure if they take written story pitches. You would have to contact them about that. While you are contacting them, also ask for all their guidelines on pitching, like what they want to see in the way of artwork, and writen story ideas, as well as the length of time you should be pitching your idea to them.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

I was told the same thing Ape is saying... find out exactly what they want to see in the pitch. You could spend a lot of time and money actually producing footage, to find out all they need are sketches. Or, come in with sketches and find out they need footage.

I can tell a couple of things from your post.

First, internet posting is a lot more casual than a letter written for business purposes. Still, the grammar and spelling in your post tells me that either this is a problem for you, or you're not serious enough about this to proofread your post. Either way, if you want to even have a chance, you need to step up the professionalism of your writing.

Second, you need a "hook" for your story. There's a kid, there's a house believed to be haunted and it is (not sure where you're going with that), but he makes friends and they show him "the other side." So it's Foster's meets Narnia or Groovie Ghoulies or any number of shows. What makes yours different? What's the "one cool thing" that's going to make people want to check out your cartoon?

I think it's great that you're so trusting, and, as you said, your idea is relatively simple, but if I were you I wouldn't post it on the internet... especially not such a widely used forum. Anyone could read your idea and take it to Cartoon Network. Someone could use your idea as a starting point and develop it in another direction, but keeping it similar enough that your show won't be picked up, because it's just like that other show they picked up last week. Or CN could read your post and now they have an idea for a show, and they don't have to pay you for it. You get the idea. Generally, I like to think animators are more moral than that. Creative people tend to have more respect for the creative material of others, but really you're giving your idea away for free here.

Just be careful. If you feel you have an interesting concept that you are going to put a lot of work in, you might wanna try registering with the screen writers guild or other organization. They will keep a copy of your script (if you have one) with the date submitted on file. It provides you with some protection. It gets more complicated the more simple and less developed your idea, as anyone could come up with the same thing on coincidence. I don't really think you gave enough away here. I just felt like typing.:o And warning you.

Anyway, good luck.

Ideas are easy.

Thanks for the comments

thank you all for your post, its been really helpful. firstly all i have come up with are 5 characters but only drawn one character fully. secondly i don't know who to produce and footage seemly its my first time actually producing animation but i don't plan to do it on my own so i would need some help but i'm all the way from Manchester,England with no professionaly help whatsoever. and lastly i still need to finish studies if thats what animation needs, does it?

what can i do you make the story more convincing?
i could use some examples to help

Message By Echi Echi :D :) :) :cool:

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My Gallery of My Characters, My Toons, My Life

You need to be able to communicate what your story is about.

"its about a young teenager named Alex who discovers a haunted house who many people thought to be filled with veracious beasts, monsters and ghouls but Alex befriends them and their show alex another world filled with magic and fantasy on earth."

That's not what it's about. That's what happens. They'll need to know what it's about. Is it about a kid who can't make friends in the real world and finds some in a haunted house? It is about a liar who uncovers this wonderful secret and no one will believe him?

More importantly, YOU need to know what it's about.

I think I read this in these forums, but the example was Star Wars.

Star Wars wasn't about Darth Vader capturing Princess Leia's ship and the droids escaping to a planet where they hook up with a young farmer, and...

Star Wars was about an unlikely group of heroes standing up to a villainous empire lead by one of the heroes' father. The heroes each grow as they struggle against overwhelming odds: The boy becomes a man, the lone rogue finds friends, the princess finds real compassion and the Wookie finds a dead bird in the forest and gets screwed by not getting a medal.

But I digress.

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My most valuable advice I could offer at this point is this: Don't worry about pitching yet. You have a vague idea of what will happen in your story, and only one character drawn and four others "conceived." You're two years away from being ready to pitch. My lead character, his friend, the villain and his sidekick were conceived back in 1984. It wasn't until I dusted them off and completely revised them in 2002 that I added the girl and everything fell into place.

All I had was a lead character and a random event that happened to him. There was no reason why I should care about the guy, and without that, the rest of the story is sunk.

I made major changes in the lead character as recently as a month ago. I don't have to know their whole future, but I had to know enough about them to know how they'd relate before I could put them together and watch them relate. Once they related, THEN I saw more changes that had to happen in the characters. Back and forth.

Here's an example: Spiderman. What HAPPENS is that a boy is bit by a spider and gains super powers. What's it's ABOUT is a boy of no means receiving a great power, and learning a lesson about the responsibility that comes with it. His initial selfishness costs him the life of his uncle. It takes that event to teach him that having money and fame was not as valuable as having a family that loves you.

In any story, the protagonist has to change. It's easy to say that Peter Parker's change is when he's bit, but it's not. Peter changes when he decides to use his power for good and not gain, and is willing to put himself at risk for what he believes.

What would Spiderman be if that change didn't happen? It wouldn't be much of a story. He'd get super powers, use them to get rich and fight off resistance, and... yawn. That's why villains don't get movies - heroes do.

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By the way, if anyone wants to read a much-overlooked piece of Star Wars lore, read about Princess Leia's moment of change in the novelization of "Return Of The Jedi." She speaks to the Ewoks and convinces them to help the rebellion. What she goes through internally before speaking is the neatest moment of characterization in the whole Star Wars saga. Lucas should be ashamed for cutting it from the movie.

Thanks

thanks a bunch

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Hi there, just finished writing the synopsis for every episode of series one of my cartoon, and the three- part finale for the other. I know it's not guaranteed to become a hit show (the companies decide that anyway), and you might call me slightly delusional, but I want to make sure every episode is as good as each other and not just filler material. By the way, I'm creating the synopsis for all the episodes now, so I won't be stuck for ideas later on.

Funny you should mention

Funny you should mention bankrolling a project by oneself because that's exactly what I'm looking for information about. I have a story that I'm planning to turn into an animated show and I don't want to give creative control to someone else. I want to tell the story exactly as I envisioned it. It's probably a lot harder to do it this way, but I'm thinking about the long-term consequences of going after what would be "easy money" in exchange for part of something I'm not willing to give up.

I would much rather bankroll it myself and I know it's possible to do it that way. I'm after any advice that will help me market and sell the idea of my show, especially in the early stages when you're basically up against the world in a battle of persuasion. When do you launch the fundraiser? When do you start looking for staff to hire? Stuff like that.

bank rolling is honeslty the

bank rolling is honeslty the unsafest way to produce an idea. i don't know much about the process but i do know that sometimes quality can be substituted for the so called ownership, because most times when you bank roll an animated series you hire your own staff, sadly, because you would be the one calling all the shots. it also means it would be hard for others to give you advice. and frankly if you want ownership, i would advice you  copyright it the chracaters, the plot and the animation title, but don't beleive that the actual hard work is yours especially when all you did was come up with the idea, while the staff actually helped bring the idea into fruition.

i used to think like this, (i'm actually in your situtation right now) but if you think about it, everyone that worked on an animation helped bring the idea to life, so why can't they receive just a small ownership of the work itself, not the idea. We all have to be humane in this industry i would love it if the art industly remained a family instead of a business.

i hope i was able to give you some perspective. good luck and i hope i get to see your dream come true.

how did your ideas play out,

how did your ideas play out, its 10 years later sicne you posted this thought. any advice for me.

lol, i'm reading this 10

lol, i'm reading this 10 years later and i'm interested in the ideas you promised to post.

How do I make my dream come true

To be honest I always wanted to produce and create my own series since I was six. Ive already created 3 series but I dont wanna tell anyone else the ideas cause their mine. I just really ant to know the first step to doing hat. I want my dreams to come true. I want to know what universities I need to take since im still in high school choosing my classes. I really dont care the amount of money I make, I only want people to see my style of making cartoons. I want to entertain the world of my series. And much more, I dont care about the fame. I just want to make my series to come true in the future. Now the question that i have is, what should I take in university? How do I get hired in cartoon network? What university do I go to?

i'm currently in uni, and i

i'm currently in uni, and i think so are you, so firstly i am interested to know what university you are at and hopefully you still selected animation as your major.

okay so this is my advice if you even still need it.

be interested in the fame, don't let people tell you fame is prideful. that is a terrible mindset that ensures people go no where, be interested in the fame, but don't make fame everything. be excited that people will know you and all the hard work you have been thought to achieve greatness. also always be humble, but be proud of your journey, not prideful in your work. (do you get me) always ensure you tell your story and be proud of your effort, but don't be a douche and claim you are the best artist in the world, there is always room for improvement. i hope this clears that up.

for the university i hope you picked one that would not train you to be a good at art, but train you to be a true creative and a great thinker. i find that most people believe once you can draw you are automatically creative, and this is a facade that would eventually trap most artist when they try to come up with new ideas (lord knows i'm struggling right now to come-up with a series idea). we need to realize that being able to draw is the first step of being an artist. but artistry comes from being able to put our imaginations on paper, and this imaginations when limited makes it hard to be creative. i hope you entered a school that would teach you to literally throw away the box and think "water is poison" (it's a saying i tell myself, it means there are no boundaries to an idea, we can literally come-up with a world where water is poison, and no one can say "noooo" because in our mind there are no boundaries). 

also you don't have to get hired by Cartoon network to pitch a series, because technically once you pitch to them and your series is accepted, they work for you the creator. well unless you voice some characters or you do storyboards. but yeah they work for you.hope i was able to help. 

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