"The Animation Business Handbook is written for animators and the executives who support them. It is for creators who need to know about the business side of their craft in order to succeed; for the independent animators who want to gain a better understanding of how the industry works; and for new and experienced practitioners of all types looking for fresh ideas to create a healthy and growing business."--BOOK JACKET.

Today, animation is more prevalent than ever in television, films, video games, and the Internet. Karen Raugust has created a much needed, comprehensive look at the entire business. She shows in detail how a successful animation studio or entrepreneur operates, describes the process of developing an animation property from the concept stage through the finished product, and outlines business methods used to create and sell animated media. Topics covered include: * Distribution, sales, and marketing methods * Financing, budgeting, costs and revenue opportunities * The creation of ancillary entertainment and merchandise * Animation in international markets. The Animation Business Handbook is the quintessential reference for anyone in or considering entering the animation industry.

Animation is one of the fastest-growing fields in film and television, and it is also integral to video games and web development. Once an esoteric and hard-won skill, technology has advanced to the point that simple animated projects can now be produced on a home PC. Its many enthusiasts have fuelled a range of new courses in universities, and in public and private colleges. Drawing on their extensive experience in the field, the authors offer a systematic overview of the role of the animation producer and the production process. They explain how to develop a concept, pitch it to obtain funding, and find a market. They offer detailed advice on recruiting a team, managing different stages of production (including overseas suppliers), quality control, budgeting and scheduling. They also outline the key aspects of 2D and 3D production. From project development, seeking investment to pre- and post-production, for film, television, and the web, The Animation Producer’s Handbook is the ‘one-stop shop’ for budding animators everywhere.

The Producer's Business Handbook provides a model for making a successful business of independent filmmaking. It will give you a comprehensive understanding of the business of entertainment and supply you with the information and tools you'll need to successfully engage all related aspects of global production and exploitation. The handbook also provides a global orientation to the relationships that the most successful producers have with the various participants in the motion picture industry. This includes how producers direct their relationships with domestic and foreign studios, agencies, attorneys, talent, completion guarantors, banks, and private investors. It provides a thorough orientation to operating production development and single purpose production companies, from solicitation of literary properties through direct rights sales, and the management of global distribution relationships. Also presented is an in-depth discussion of the team roles needed to operate these companies, as well as how to attach and direct them. For those outside of the US, this book also includes information about how to produce successful films without government funding. This edition has been updated to include comprehensive information on the internal greenlighting process, government financing, and determining actual cost-of-money. It includes new simplified project evaluation tools, expediting funding and distribution. Together with its companion CD-ROM, which contains valuable forms and spreadsheets; tutorials; and samples, this handbook presents both instruction and worksheet support to independent producers at all levels of experience.

"The most comprehensive book on directing animation from one of the best writers in the business."---Bill Plympton, Oscar-nominated indie animation director --

From the initial selection of an animation project to its final marketing materials, the art and business of animation production are illuminated in this step-by-step guide, which includes interviews with industry professionals about the place of their work within the general production pipeline and profiles of commercial animation studios. Television specials, pilots, shorts, and independent features are among the projects covered, in addition to a discussion of career opportunities in the field and the creative partnership of artists and engineers.

Voice Over for Animation takes animation and voice-over students and professionals alike through the animated voice-over world. The book provides information, exercises, and advice from professional voice-over artists. Now you can develop your own unique characters, and learn techniques to exercise your own voice gain the versatility you need to compete. You can also learn how to make a professional sounding demo CD, and find work in the field. The accompanying downloadable resources are professionally recorded, and feature: scripts, Animation Talent Agent interviews, Casting Director interviews and Interviews with Animation Voice-Over Artists like Nancy Cartwright (Bart, The Simpsons) and Cathy Cavadini (Blossom, Power Puff Girls) and Bill Farmer (Goofy). This is an invaluable resource for animators and voice-over artists.

Tweety Bird was colored yellow because censors felt the original pink made the bird look nude. Betty Boop's dress was lengthened so that her garter didn't show. And in recent years, a segment of Mighty Mouse was dropped after protest groups claimed the mouse was actually sniffing cocaine, not flower petals. These changes and many others like them have been demanded by official censors or organized groups before the cartoons could be shown in theaters or on television. How the slightly risque gags in some silent cartoons were replaced by rigid standards in the sound film era is the first misadventure covered in this history of censorship in the animation industry. The perpetuation of racial stereotypes in many early cartoons is examined, as are the studios' efforts to stop producing such animation. This is followed by a look at many of the uncensored cartoons, such as Lenny Bruce's Thank You Mask Man and Ralph Bakshi's Fritz the Cat. The censorship of television cartoons is next covered, from the changes made in theatrical releases shown on television to the different standards that apply to small screen animation. The final chapter discusses the many animators who were blacklisted from the industry in the 1950s for alleged sympathies to the Communist Party.