research proposal

Research report Proposal

Dominique Camilleri

Background:

Research question:

My working title is ‘What is the best routes to producing an animated series from the perceptive of some one new to the industry?’.

My research report is going to be an industry report; researching into the industry of producing an animation series. I am going to be evaluating and comparing the different routes and methods in to producing an animation, from the very start before pre-production/pitching/getting funding, getting a team, pre-production, production and post; the basic pipeline. Looking into different job roles involved with producing, I would also like to compare if it is best to go to a company, network, broadcaster, independent studio or create a ‘guerrilla-style/DIY’ (Trigonis J, 2016, p.7) production.

I will be researching into different types of funding, distribution (television; broadcasting & networking, web-episode; such as YouTube, ‘home entertainment; Netflix’s/Amazon Prime).

Different routes all have their advantages and disadvantages; such as time, cost, and efficiency. I would like to explore the possibilities, the process and positives and negatives, challenges and advantages to these and come to a conclusion which one is best, specifically for a beginner in the industry, and if it is possible.

The reason that I have chosen to research into this area is that I, as a student soon to graduate with in a year  have my own goals of wanting to produce an animated series; I would like to see the reality of my goals, further see the process to see if chasing this prospect is right for me. I would also like to show how people can get involved, as it is currently something not very well known to the public how to get a career in animation production series unless you are already in the industry.

The focus will be on 2D digital animation series, as 2D is my speciality and I would like to see where my skills could thrive with in this area of the industry.

Overall aims:

-       To Identify different pathways and methods into producing an animated cartoon series.

-       To investigate the disadvantages and advantages to these methods.

-       To evaluate the best economical route for a beginner in the industry wanting to have their own animated series produced.

Research methods:

I plan to research Journals and books on producing animation series, such as the book ‘Producing animation’ (Winder, 2011), ‘Animation: 2D And Beyond’ (Pilling, 2001), 'The television Genre Book' (Creeber, 2015) On funding, ‘Crowdfunding’ (Trigonis J, 2016),

companies, pitching.

I also plan to research into different animation disruptions methods, I plan to do this by researching into books such as ‘Prime Time Animation’  (Stabile and Harrison, 2003) to understand about television, broadcasting and networks.

I also plan to research and possibly interview independent animation producers, through the use of Instagram I plan to get in contact with the independent producer of ‘God School’ whom is self-creating and distributing.

I also plan to look into animation producer Rebeca Sugar as a case study, look into previous and current 2D animated shows that are on networks, or distributed through other means. Such as ‘Adventure time’, ‘Steven universe’, ‘Avatar The Last Air Bender’, ‘Rick and Morty.’

I plan to also do a survey research asking young variety of age groups how they watch their animated series/ where.

Some challenges I may come by is that my research areas are not condense enough and I go over the word count and/or not able to go into detail about my findings. I also may run out time researching all of the above.

To avoid a bias view, I will conduct a table and graph of advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weakness (in areas of time consuming, cost, profit, how economic it is, creative control, likely to be successful) in each strategy/method.

Some practical challenges I may come across is that I may not get replies back to my interview questions. If this is the case, I shall just research and use their profile as a case study. Luckily, there is no sensitivity, other than asking people to talk about their projects, protecting anonymity and keeping records of interviews and contact between us.

Table of contents:

Chapter one: Different routes into producing an animated cartoon series. (Funding, distribution, independent v.s company). The pipe line of production/ how to do.

Chapter two: Advantage and disadvantage

Disadvantages and advantages to each. Asking current producers in different routes, costs v.s profit, economical. Any challenges.

Chapter three: In conclusion.

Putting all the facts and statics together, a time table comparing each route. An outcome of which is the best route.

Potential out comes:

Help beginners get into the industry, evaluate their options.

See where animation is heading in forms of production/distribution/funding.

See what route holds the best advantages, which has the worst disadvantages if there is one.

Time Line:

-       Reading Books, journals 3 weeks

-       Case studies 2 weeks

-       Contact producers to interview 2 weeks

-       Create a survey and publish  1 week

-       Analyse the results 1 week

-       Write 2 weeks

-       Rewrite. 1 week