Animation Bibles

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Permalink Reply by Kyoshi on September 13, 2008 at 9:34pm

Bible means book... as for the answer I am clueless. Folios, script samples, presentation boards( maybe), & teaser reels seem to be the standard code for pitching to a company.

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on October 19, 2008 at 5:26pm

Nice use of Greek vocabulary, Kyoshi.

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Permalink Reply by Joanna Davidovich on September 18, 2008 at 3:45pm

Here's the Animaniacs Bible- its a really great read especially if you're very familiar with the series. You get to see how the idea were originally envisioned, and how they evolved.
http://www.latitude-comic.com/okkaywarner/abible/abible.htm

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Permalink Reply by J.C. Rider II on September 18, 2008 at 5:43pm

I love this series it is also responsible for me wanting to become an animator.

You ROCK...

This will better prepare my bug series for the first episode. It has been 10yrs coming with lag due to frustration and lack of encouragement until about 1 to 2 months ago. I've never gave up and am back on track.

Thanks much...

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Permalink Reply by Fred Seibert on September 18, 2008 at 3:50pm

JC, I'm going to have Eric Homan, Frederator's head of development, write in and let everyone know what has to be done. (Sometime soon, he's at the Ottawa festival right now).

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Permalink Reply by J.C. Rider II on September 18, 2008 at 5:52pm

I thank you kindly. This will be a new standard for me and will help get all necessities in one place to create a better flow and direction. The worlds are coming together as my production quality increases.

You Rock too...

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Permalink Reply by TempleDog on September 18, 2008 at 5:22pm

Fred's on the job, so I'll just give you a nick-notes summary. An animation bible is a production document that covers all style and visual aspects of a show...how characters are to be drawn, what drawing elements to avoid, character models, props, layouts, color guides, and so on. It can also include notes on the series 'universe', character interactions notes, story synopses, and other stuff to make sure a large group of animation artists are all on the same page, production-wise.

I've got a few here, for 'Savage Dragon', 'Batman', 'Talespin', and a few others. There all basically similar to the 'Animaniacs' bible linked above, so I'd just use that as a guide. Ah! I've just remembered...the 'Wubblog' has their pitch bible up fer all to see...this is different from a production bible, where the final designs have been nailed down. You'll notice in the bible Wubbzy is called 'Wubby', and the characters look quite a bit different from the ones in the final production.

http://wubby.typepad.com/photos/show_bible/000cover_final.html

Hope that helps!

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Permalink Reply by J.C. Rider II on September 18, 2008 at 5:57pm

It dose and more an more becomes clear. Much needed help has arrived, thanks to my new friends.

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Permalink Reply by jaybird on September 18, 2008 at 8:51pm

Thanks for the info!

was the 'Wubby bible' used for the pitch? Short and sweet?

and is a detailed Bible essential to the pitch? (is the 'wordy' doc a production bible, or a bible before the characters designs have been created?)

Once again thanks for the info!

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Permalink Reply by Ann Foerster on September 18, 2008 at 8:27pm

I was (or maybe I'll still try it) writing a book version of my ideas almost as soon as I came up with it. It's good to keep a notebook or a small notepad around to write down any ideas that may come to you whenever, wherever. I am trying to write a book as a base storyline, but I'm trying to do a manga and an anime based off it for release. I'm iffy about the book.

The best thing to do is write down a list of ideas and see if you can make a timeline out of them. Make sure the timeline makes sense. See how one event or someone's shown or not shown reaction would affect it and lead to another or how that event will be drawn out. Then flesh them out in a book or a storyboard/comic of some sort.

I do not know of any examples online and I have way too much to put up... ^_^'

Hope that helped...

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Permalink Reply by Glen Bosiwang on September 19, 2008 at 12:43am

Ah, pitching! I heard that a lot when it comes to hatching an idea for a cartoon to studio execs. However, it won't be an easy as slicing a cake as studio execs have different opinions on your blueprint and some may not be to their liking and thus this can take some time before eventually being picked up by the right person. But I can assure you that it's your determination and your passion for everything you have loved in your lifetime that will propel you to greater heights and allow you to 'express' your vision in a vigorous and interesting way. You have to think yourself like a passionate filmmaker or a preacher or a visionary who talks of wondrous things that you think everyone will perceive and enjoy like no one has seen before. Your gesture, your way of speaking and everything else non-verbally will probably help a lot even if your concept doesn't seem promising to the execs' eyes at first. Use whatever surprising methods you have and convince them to make them believe in your work, anything to make their mouths drool and beg for more.

By the way, I don't suggest doing another Animaniacs clone or whatever cartoons that feel too cartoony as these have already become tried-and-true formulas and they wear off too easily (I've seen these types of stuff and I've got tired with it): a balance between light-hearted (or dark, if you must) drama and humor will not only appeal to children but to adults as well, as proven in more prolific shows like Batman: The Animated Series (my all time favorite animated series) and probably even in anime, especially the ones that have fairy-tale quality which doesn't insult the minds of older viewers like Miyazaki's films.

As for artwork examples, I've an old version of the Good News Bible at home with some of the most beautiful and refined abstract artworks I've ever seen (they're done by a not so known artist named Annie Vallotton, you can find her works in Google search): this has become part of my inspirations for my later personal works. I think its pattern works extremely best for this kind of genre without feeling like another 'Prince of Egypt' clone, however, one example may not be enough so I'll provide you with the link for you to get some additional inspirations:

http://www.biblical-art.com/biblicalsubject.asp?id_biblicalsubject=...

Hope that helps you a lot in your quest to sell your work!

- Glen B.Wang

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Permalink Reply by jaybird on September 19, 2008 at 5:34pm

Glen-

a few months ago I bought an Art Of for Prince of Egypt - it was really awesome! I never saw the book before & felt fortunate to find it at a 2nd hand book store for a decent price!
I haven't seen the movie in years and went out and bought it a few days later; didn't dissappoint!

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