Getting Animation Sponsored

[Andy Linke]

Hey Frederators,

I have some questions about acquiring sponsorship for an animated television show. In speaking with distributors recently we have learned that when pitching an animated television show, it is extremely beneficial to have sponsors tied to your show. Was wondering if anyone else has heard or seen this trend occurring as well, and if so how they have gone about getting sponsors.

Where does one start to look for sponsors for an animated show idea? To me it seems like a chicken egg scenario. Where sponsors will want distributors in line first, but distributors want sponsors in line. How do you go about doing this?

Is anyone aware of companies or products that have sponsored start up animation in the past?

Are there any strategies in successfully approaching sponsors you all are willing to share?

Any other information on sponsors would be appreciated and helpful. Looking forward to seeing how this discussion progresses.

[Stephen M. Levinson]

If your idea is really that good you don't need sponsors.

[Rajesh]

well if you have a really good story . you need to work on it ( do a rough storyboard , sketches etc ) . when you have most of the stuff done you can send the idea to any of the nearby studios . a lot of people pich ideas to studios like caroon network and so on . if you work on animatics , storyboards and do some sample animation, im sure there will be studios wanting to produce your film .

i guess most studios would like to see half completed work so they can directly get into production .