Animated Sketch Show Seeks Friendly Animator(s)

Hey

My name's Luke and I'm a writer with a passion for animation but unfortunately I simply don't have the necessary skills, experience or software needed to be an animator.

I feel there's a huge gap in the market for prime time animation in the UK and I'm currently writing an animated sketch show with it's main aim simply to be funny. It wouldn't really focus on topical humour and I can imagine the sketches being quite quick paced to suit the current YouTube generation. The style of humour would be similar to Simpsons/Family Guy/South Park but not limited to that style. Although I can imagine it satirizing the media a lot (Fake film trailers, parodying certain TV shows etc).

I think the best way to present the idea of an animated sketch show to producers is not to get them to read the scripts, but instead actually show them a few of the sketches. So my vision is to discuss the project with various animators, compile the sketches and animate the best ones and sell it as a 5 minute showreel to show production companies (And if it gets picked up, hopefully keep the animators the same).

A little about myself, I'm a Royal Television Society award nominated writer who has recently graduated from university after studying a degree in 'Comedy: Writing & Performance', and although I haven't got any funds currently at the moment, anybody who helps out would be a contact for life and get full credit for their work.

Thanks for your time and if you're interested feel free to reply or drop me a PM

Luke

I'm confused by this. Are the animators going to continue their own style or get into a room and try and mix their style for a whole show?

Well because the animators would be animating from home and because they'd be doing a job essentially just for credit atm, it may make sense for them to animate it in their own style. So they don't have to learn a whole new style for just a 30 second sketch or what. It also might give the show some variety which works as a theme considering it's a sketch show.

I think that your best bet might be to try to find a recent animation graduate, and see if they'd be willing to collaborate. There are a lot of end of year shows happening in and around Brick Lane at the moment, with some space given over to animation graduates. That could give you the opportunity to actually look at a person's work and talk to them, before you decide to make a sketch show together.

As a general point, good animation takes a lot of time and patience. (Think weeks for possibly a few minutes work). So, you might find that a lot of animators wouldn't want to work on "topical" portfolio pieces, whether it's in their chosen style or not.

You also need to think about the economics of animation in that the vast majority of shows are co-pros. They're shown in several countries around the world (with a very few exceptions, like 2DTV). While people in the UK might find Cheryl Cole jokes hilarious, that's probably not a great basis for a whole series.

Quote: Pineapplesky @ June 19 2011, 11:53 AM BST

So they don't have to learn a whole new style for just a 30 second sketch or what.

View original

Yes they do. Even sketch shows usually have some kind of consistent style to them. 30 seconds is a long time in animation anyway.

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys.

You need to dangle a bigger carrot than 'You'll be a contact for life'.

You also need to think about the economics of animation in that the vast majority of shows are co-pros. They're shown in several countries around the world (with a very few exceptions, like 2DTV). While people in the UK might find Cheryl Cole jokes hilarious, that's probably not a great basis for a whole series.

That's why I said it wouldn't focus on topical humour, it'd have a bigger scope then a series of Cheryl Cole jokes as well. Basically, it wouldn't just be an animated Newsjack.

Yes they do. Even sketch shows usually have some kind of consistent style to them. 30 seconds is a long time in animation anyway.

I'm not saying sketch shows don't have the same consistent style, what I'm saying is that it's not something you have to do for an animated sketch show.

Mea culpa re topical humour, although you did say it'd be satirising the media a lot? And that does tend to be country-specific....

If I'm honest, you need to make your pitch loads more specific when you're speaking to animators. Everyone and his dog thinks that we need another animated sketch show, a la the Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park. And I suspect that you'll find a lot of animators have had that idea too, so you'll need something special to persuade them that it's not best to go at it alone.

What's more, Channel 4 have commissioned an adult animation comedy show recently, so I doubt you'll be able to pitch anything there. And realistically the Beeb can't afford to pay for an animated sketch show without a co-pro partner. Indeed, that's why they commisioned Mongrels, as puppets are soooo much cheaper.