How does one go about getting a cartoon series started?

A

Ann Violet

New member
I have a really great idea for a new cartoon idea, and have been discussing it with a friend of mine. Right now we're working out ideas of what the show should be about, defining the characters, and designs, etc.

But, I was wondering how one would go about getting a network interested. It's doubtful I'd ever get any of my work looked at, but would I have to send drawings and artwork to various networks? What would I have to do?

Also, if I wanted to do a comic strip, would I just have to send sample strips to syndicates, and see what they think. I'm sure I'd have to do more than that.

Thanks for any advice.
 
You need to build up connection first. Nothing in communication industry happen without some connect. Getting an agent would help too.


You need to write a series bible (while keeping open the possibility of changing it to please the producer), you need to prepare a pitch (including potential merchandising idea is a good thing) and you need to find a production house willing to listen to series pitch.

Its easier when you already work for them. Di-Gata Defender for exemple was started when Nelvana sent out a call for series idea to its employee and animator Greg Collinson presented it.
 
They might also, if they are really interested in the idea, ask you to make a pilot episode for the cartoon series. So they can see the idea in motion.
 
You can't sell a show unless you've worked in the TV industry for x-number of years. Just not gonna happen. Networks only buy from people they know and have a working relationship with.
 
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]-Before you do anything, make sure you talk to a lawyer and get yourself a copyright. It is very important that you protect your ideas with a copyright and legal representation first and foremost. This way, no one can steal your ideas and claim them as their own. Never submit anything to anyone without legal protection. (I wouldn't reveal too much about my original ideas, either. The net is full of potential thieves. Revealing your original ideas on a message board without legal protection is like parking your car in the bad part of town and leaving the doors unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Ya don't do it.)

-Make copies of everything, and NEVER send off your original scripts and/or drawings. Most of the time when you submit an idea, all you'll get back will be a nice friendly rejection letter, so never mail off your original works. Make plenty of copies and send them off. But remember rule #1: don't send anything off without first obtaining legal protection. Someone could easily tell you they're not interested, then just take your idea and get rich off it, thereby cutting out the middleman, i.e., you. Without a copyright, in a court of law it would be just your word against theirs, and cartoon producers have big-time shark lawyers in their corner. So be smart and make sure you can properly claim your ideas as your own.

-Get yourself some experience in the animation industry. The powers that be don't just give anybody a show; you need a lawyer and some experience before they'll even let your foot in the door. You can't just walk up to CN or Nick's offices and say, "I have an idea for a kids' cartoon. Make it a TV show and give me a ton of money!" If that were all it took, then everybody would have a show. It takes years of toil and sweat to get your ideas put onto the small screen, but persistence and experience pays off.

-If all else fails, take an animation course or two and learn how to produce your own work, either by publishing it yourself or by making your show for the web.

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Good luck! :)
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I dunno. Jhonen Vasquez got Invader Zim on the air w/out prior TV experience. Although he had a sucessful career as a comic book artist beforehand.

Maybe I should try a comic book or comic strip.
 
If all else fails, you could always try producing your idea as a webtoon like Homestar Runner. If enough people watch it, some network or station may want to put it on TV eventually.
 
I'm guessing it because Comic Books are sort of like cartoons/live action tv series in a sense that it is more like a story board for them. Since he was known in one art form, I'm guessing he had some credibility towards his name.
 
What I'd recommend is just make a graphic novel, or a webcomic. That way you retain all the rights to it, and keep the story the way you want it to be.

But if you do want to pitch it, write a series bible, have drawings of the character, and pitch it to an animation studio. If they're willing to work on it, you sign a contract with them, and they develop it more, and present it as one of their new series in development at events like MIPCOM or NAPTE, for potential buyers.

Or something like that. If you're going to reveal the plot online, don't give out all the information. In fact be vague. But if you're really concerned don't reveal it to anyone at all.
I can't stand people on Deviantart who reveal all their characters storylines and plots with a few pictures, and then don't do anything with them.
 
I'm not sure how common this is now, but several past TV cartoons originated in students films or shorts that were screened at independent film festivals (Spike and Mike and the like) and eventually cuaght the eye of network executives. Ren and Stimpy started out as a film festival short, the Powerpuff Girls was originally Craig McCracken's CalArts short, and Seth MacFarlane's Life of Larry student film got the ball rolling on what would eventually become Family Guy.

I believe at least one of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head pilots made the film festival rounds either before or concurrently with Liquid Television.

Oh yeah, and South Park. It was first a student film by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, then a slightly better-animated unaired FOX greeting card, that was leaked and leaked until Comedy Central caught wind of it.

Now that the 90's animation boom has officially gone bust, this probably doesn't happen anymore, but it couldn't hurt (unless making it puts you thousands in the hole )
 
First thing you have to do is move to Los Angeles. If you want to work in television, you have to go where television is made. Next, get an agent and consult an attorney on how to protect your work, because there are people in Hollywood who will rob you blind if you blink. Next, try to get work writing for a few show that have elements that you like. A resume of writing credits will serve you better than raw talent (which a lot of people in Hollywood wouldn't recognize if you threw it in their faces). Many TV shows will send you writer's guidelines, although few will look at script that is not submitted through an agent.

Here's something else that might help: take a good look at your project and ask yourself, "Will this work in another medium other than animation?" Would it make a good comic book, comic strip, novel (or better yet, series of novels), and can you develop it as such? Hollywood loves projects that have a pre-sold audience; they consider them a safer bet than an untested product.
 
I am in college right now, but they don't really offer any cartoon classes. They have graphic arts coarses, although I'm not totally interested in graphic design (ie CGI).

My dad is pushing my to do graphic design, and that I could get into a 2D cartoon class anywhere else (which I find unlikely), but hey, that's a parent for ya.

And thanks for all the advice you all have given me, and other who are probably interested.
 
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