Cartoon Forum wants your ideas for Animated TV Series

Cartoon Forum is an event that every animator should be aware of. It is a forum for pitching ideas for animated TV series, and it takes place this year in France. Cartoon Forum describes itself as the place "where projects come to life", and this year it is being held from 23-26 September in Toulouse - in Midi-Pyrénées. But don't be put off - you don't have to speak French! The Forum is bilingual and English is the main language spoken.

Cartoon Forum is the place to pitch your idea for a TV series. If you've got an idea for the next Wombles, or Teletubbies, or Magic Roundabout - this is the place to do it.

Cartoon Forum is the TV cousin of Cartoon Movie, the March pitch-fest in Lyon where film-makers and animators get to pitch ideas for feature films to assorted co-producers, distributors, broadcasters, financiers and sales agents.
 

The big difference between the two is that, at Cartoon Movie, you can pitch in concept, meaning that you are basically selling an idea. You don't need a script - or even any animation (though it helps). At Cartoon Forum, you must be in development, which means you will need at the very least some polished animation and a "bible" to show what your project will look like.

So, with that in mind, what can you submit? The answer is: A TV series, a TV special, or a "transmedia project" in development.

Why submit? What is it all for? It all depends on what you need. You might want co-producers, to help you access national development funds, and help to get the project made. You might be looking for financiers, so-called "business angels" who will give you seed capital and take an equity stake in the project. You might want to interest broadcasters (like the BBC) so you have a potential platform to get your series out to an audience. In general, you are seeking to create excitement, generate interest, and get people behind your idea.

If your project gets selected, you get to pitch it to around 800 animation professionals at Cartoon Forum.

Here's how to submit your project:

Contact Details:
[email protected]
Tel: +32 2 242 93 43
www.cartoon-media.eu

Good luck! The deadline for submission is 25 April 2013. You have 2 months to come up with the next Peppa Pig.

---Alex