8 Steps to Producing a Cartoon Series

This article describes the process of getting the green light to produce a cartoon animated series from scratch. I am leaving out the details of raising funds for the project as that is an entire book by itself, but nevertheless this should give you a good idea of what it takes for a cartoon series to get produced.

1. Decide on a theme and the foundation of your cartoon series

2. Think of the different characters that would make up your cartoon series

3. Engage a good cartoon scriptwriter to develop a pilot script and a set of synopsis based on your theme and idea. You would also want him to describe your characters in detail and breathe life into them. An experienced writer would know exactly what broadcasters are looking for and deliver an ace. I won't advise you to do this yourself unless you are an experienced writer. I also would not recommend you to get a scriptwriter who writes for TV dramas as the genre is quite different.

4. Get a good design or animation house to design a set of characters for your cartoon series. Make sure that these characters are cute, unique, likeable and merchandisable - meaning that people would find them so cute that they want to make them into products! Alternatively, you can also go the edgy way, in which case the characters can look so cool that people just want to have them.

5. Compile the pilot script, synopsis, character designs, prop designs and various illustrations and you will have yourself what is called a character bible.

6. With a character bible, you can approach an animation house and ask them to produce a teaser or a pilot episode based on the series. A teaser is a 3-5 minute short of example how the cartoon series would likely run. A pilot episode is basically a sample episode from the series. For the pilot, never pick the first episode. Pick a middle episode because that will be more representative of how the cartoon series would usually look like. It would be better to engage an animation house who has done this before and make sure they explain their procedure to you.

7. From here, you can take two routes. The first route would be to approach a distribution company. The teaser or pilot would allow a distribution company to assess where they could sell your show and how marketable it is. They could gauge how confident they are in selling your show and if they want to distribute your show. If they do decide they want to represent your cartoon, they would provide a distribution plan and revenue projection. You should not sign any contract at this point because you can't guarantee production of the show yet. You should instead ask for a letter of interest from the distributor. With this letter of interest you can approach investors to show them that a distributor would take your show. It would help a lot if the distributor is well-known and reputable of course. This is an indication from an industry expert that your show is marketable. With investors on board you can approach an animation company to ask them to produce your show.

8. The second route you can take is to go to an animation company or a TV station to ask them if they would be interested to produce your show. If your concept is really good and they are in need of a show like yours, they might just decide to take on your concept and develop it. You could then negotiate for a royalty for the use of your concept, or even to be a producer or executive producer onboard the production team. This is all negotiable. It is also entirely possible for you to approach an animation company or TV station with just your character bible without your teaser, or even without a full bible. It has happened before, but the success rate declines dramatically with the lack of each marketing tool.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?8-Steps-to-Producing-a-Cartoon-Series&id=997845

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The Crazy World of 3D Animation

Most of us are aware of 3D animation features and techniques. We also know that they are widely employed in entertainment sectors in different ways. 3D animation in general refer to the art of creating and modifying the images. Its entry can be traced back to as early as 90s when the first 3D animated by film "Toy Story" was released. A lot of changes and advancements have taken place since then.

The entry of 3D animation had brought a sort of revolution in past decade in the animation sector. Its importance and popularity cannot be ignored. There is hardly any area where it has not played its part. The real power and its effectiveness came into light when the film "Jurassic Park" hit the screen worldwide. The film showcased not just the all powerful animal-Dinosaur; but highlighted the wonders of 3D animation in bringing the animal to life in a virtual sense. Reasons for its popularity will be briefly discussed in the following paragraphs.

With 3D animation, you can expect perfect images and at a record time. The impact created is simply outstanding. The illustrations and pictures created cannot be described in words. The final products can generally be viewed from different perspectives. 3D animation software come with different dimensional features and its ability in portraying movements is simply impeccable. A huge amount of scientific data is worked upon and is presented in a simplistic way. 3D animated pictures and movies generally have long lasting impressions on the viewers for a long time to come. It also becomes easier for viewers to recall their experiences in an accurate way.

It is also an excellent tool to communicate fast and present complex ideas into virtual reality. No other software or programming techniques offer this kind of advantages to its users. Even a remote concept or a hint can be converted into reality. Using 3D animated techniques, even hazardous and expensive scenes can be recreated. If you want to depict building demolitions or air crashes for your film, there is no better way to go about than 3D animation. Among many areas where 3D animation has brought about changes is Architecture. Designing and studying 2D and 3D models of different sketches has been made easier. These models are found to be extremely accurate and can be easily be interpreted.

Of lately, many companies have left their footmarks in the 3D animation industry. Each of these companies has their own software products in the market highlighting their unique features. The choices in front of a buyer are virtually endless. Having said this, there is few standardized software in the market. Few of them include Alias Maya, 3DS max and etc. The former allows the user to create designs, textures on them. The latter software too offers similar services. Some other popular software include Bodyshop, Cinema 4D.

The future of 3D animation is bright. Constant innovations and cutting edge technologies have ensured the viewing of pictures, sketches; films and so on will never be the same again. One area where 3D animation is yet to make a mark is in photorealistic animation of humans.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Crazy-World-of-3D-Animation&id=1712887

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Animation Career Paths - A Look at the Storyboard Artist

The storyboard is the visual shot-by-shot translation of a script and is the basis for the entire production process that follows, including design, background and layout, animation, and post production. Despite changing technology, storyboards are still mostly drawn by hand.

Storyboards represent the finished product long before great time and expense goes into a project. The storyboard artist, working in the style of the production, maintains storytelling continuity, breaks down the script into scenes or shots, establishes the size relationships between characters and props, and indicates the acting by hitting strong poses on each story point. In addition, the storyboard artist is often the first to rough out new background locations, characters, and props. A storyboard artist balances strong drawing skills with a good knowledge of anatomy, acting, directing, staging, and the ability to think creatively and quickly. With such commanding skills, story-board artists often develop into animation directors.

Veteran storyboard artist and co-creator of Frederator/Nickelodeon's Call Me Bessie!, Diane Kredensor, describes the daily duties of a storyboard artist, "First, you go through the script and thumbnail out your shots. Then you pitch your thumbnails to the storyboard supervisor or animation director for notes and changes. From there, you flesh it out, adding the acting, into a full rough storyboard. Some productions already have the voices recorded and the board artist will board to track. Otherwise, you create (draw) the acting and the voice actor match your board. Once your rough board is approved by the director, you make it pretty, putting everything on model, and then you're done.

What kind of training and skills does a storyboard artist need to develop to start out and to keep advancing in her career? According to Diane Kredensor, you want to be a good draftsman, able to draw the human figure in a variety of poses. " Other skills should include strong storytelling, cinematography, staging and composition. Storyboards should clearly communicate ideas to the entire production team, so strong communication skills are an important asset".

All the experts agree that the most intensive learning takes place on the job. The more experience you have out there working with other people's good boards, the better your own boards become.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Animation-Career-Paths----A-Look-at-the-Storyboard-Artist&id=2438913

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