Animating TV-series

[StrawberryKnock]

Hello,
Me and my friends are quite advanced animators. We've decided that we want to make our own animated TV-series. Now I want to ask for tips and answers to some of our questions. Thank you.

1) Is there some sort of "standard" time-limit for an episode around 20 min? I've noticed that many TV-episodes without commercial breaks are around 20 min. But then it varies a bit. Some TV-series has episodes that are 22 min each, some 20 (for an example, American Dad). Is there some sort of "rule", or is it OK as long as it is a tad bit over 20? If I understand correctly 22 is the standard in the U.S. for shorter episodes, but how it is where I'm from? In other words, Europe? And why do American Dad break the standard? Is it okay to do so? Is it many that does?

2) Let's say we decide to make the episodes 22 minutes. How exact must they be? On the second 22:00, or is just around 22 okay? I mean, they could just throw in another commercial if an episode is a bit short. It'll be hard to make every episode exactly as long as the previous one.

3) About commercial breaks. Do we need to think a lot about that? Some TV-series has made so it gets darker or something similar, so we know it's time for commercials, like in Scooby-Doo. Death Note has a text that appears. I'm just curious, is this important? Or is it OK just to make the episodes and let it be up to the channels to just add in the commercials wherever they find it necessary?

4) How do we "sell" the series when we're done? Do we just call around to different channels that airs this type of stuff and hope that something happens?

Well, I hope someone here has some experience with TV and can guide us a bit by answering these questions and maybe tell us something else important we need to think about that we have perhaps not thought of.

Thanks!
:3

[A-Genius]

At 10/20/13 11:09 AM, StrawberryKnock wrote: 1) Is there some sort of "standard" time-limit for an episode around 20 min?

You have to decide that sort of thing to comes with experience! beside your worrying to much about time-limit more than deadline that's the impotent thing can you finish your product!

At 10/20/13 11:09 AM, StrawberryKnock wrote:

:2) Let's say we decide to make the episodes 22 minutes. How exact must they be?

I know it's a kind of a scope for the project but why should it be fixed!

At 10/20/13 11:09 AM, StrawberryKnock wrote:

:3) About commercial breaks. Do we need to think a lot about that?

I don't really recommend that, but If you got a sponsor you could provide it in the beginning of the show, since lots of people get annoyed from ads! I hope you took project management courses because it will help you manage your tv-series project!

At 10/20/13 11:09 AM, StrawberryKnock wrote:

:4) How do we "sell" the series when we're done?

I think you could use amazon, ebay ,whatever come on you at least have a small business background before asking! you don't really expect people to just feed you knowledge! feed your self too!

At 10/20/13 11:09 AM, StrawberryKnock wrote:

:answering these questions and maybe tell us something else important we need to think about that we have perhaps not thought of.

your thinking too much about making profit when you have no business background, if you really think that your tv-series will ever be successful it will be by luck! you forgot that open a business is all about expenses , taxes and long and short term planning! beside what part of this tv-series business are you playing?

I hope you got small background about animating because that will be a huge mistake if you don't!

don't think I am mocking you or anything, it's just the problem with people don't understand value of searching and researching in books or the internet!

[Celshaded]

1) The standard for tv is 22 minutes, but that's a lot of work to pump out, even for a small group of people. I highly recommend simplifying your idea down to make the episodes as short as possible, like between 5 or 10 minutes

2)That time is usually approximate. I've seen some anime that run as long as 25 minutes and as short as 21 (with lot's and lot's of flashbacks and filler). But really, you should do whatever's manageable for your team/staff

3)You shouldn't worry about commercials until you have actual commercials lined up. Most shows have 2, 11 minute acts with commercials between them, but really it's not necessary to do that. If you're distributing on the internet and using something like blip.tv or youtube, you can just pick when you want viewers to see the add. Also, if you're going the cable access route, they usually have specific guidelines that you have to adhere to so that they can insert their own commercial breaks.

4)That's really something you shouldn't worry about until you at least have the first episode finished. But my advice is to forget TV for now and use the resources the internet has to offer such as youtube to build an audience and fanbase. Hell, the simplest and easiest way to "sell" your show is to finish it in it's entirety and then sell dvd's and blurays. I just hope you're not in this because you think your idea is going to make you instantly rich because you may have to invest a few years into this project before you even begin to see any real money from it.

[Chocomilk]

On "selling" the show, this is part 1 in Tad Stone's How to Pitch an Animated TV Series. He's up to part 7 now. It details exactly what studios are looking for and how you can pitch it to them.