PPP brief Pitch Perfect// Research into Animation studios -From independent to a business

Researching into exciting animation/cartoon studios I've discovered a number of 'new comer' studios operate from shared accommodations and locations of those working within the studio. Recently an animation student I already idolise and follow 'Sun Creature' Studios, released a short video documenting how their studio is laid out. Their studio is much more 'home-like' then I would of imagined and was pleasantly surprised about how even the smallest of spaces and location can be transformed into a hub of business. Below is a link to the video Sun Creature uploaded;

Sun creature operates their animation student within a very small group, most of them taking on multiple jobs in order to maintain structure within the business. Their studio is located within a small building, with rooms for work spaces and desks as well as areas for chilling out and cooking. Their studio really is a hub of creativity, funded by a kickstarter event the studio held a few years back and they have since continued to developed an even wider support.

Independent animation studios have always begun life like this and some have developed into huge giant businesses that seem to have lost that 'home' touch, much like The Walt Disney Studios. The Disney studios of course began life as a team of few that then grew and grew in order to compensate for their growing work load and wallets. At the time Disney studios had little to no compression with animation studios in the west because they were rare, their studio developed in an age where animation was really just taking off as an opportunity for business.

Returning back to an 'independent animation studio';
These studios focus on small groups working on multiple jobs to keep costs down as well as keep work spaces small and there for costs down again. These studios work on a range of freelance projects from TV shows to Apps and everything in-between. Often located in parts of homes, buildings or even offices - This 'type' of studio seems to be common amongst currently forming/developing businesses from the past 20years and onwards.  The end result for these studios, would be to expand in size and in turn, expand in profit.

To develop from a small team in someones basement into a huge business leading the field of animation; there needs to be developing profit. Studios form and create; of course creating art is a beautiful thing, but bills must be paid and work must there for be appreciated (and sold). Beginning life within a newly formed animation studio can be stressful, often bank-breaking; but a new trend online is helping these poor new-comers to business. KickStarter is an online website where newly formed businesses can put forward their ideas for donations of support. The website is flooded with artists/creatives and their ideas near constantly, all desperate to make their dream of producing X into a reality.

For example
, I searched 'Animation' and this was the result:

As of today there are '4,698' projects online wanting donations and support that are come way related to the animation field. There have already been hundreds of animation projects funded on this website, such as the up-coming stop-motion film 'Anomalisa' and the webseries 'Bee and Puppycat'. This website offers a huge opportunity for any animator or animation studio, depending on if public support or attention towards your project is a positive one.

Another way to balance the work load/support within a small studio would be to take on small freelancing work by first heavily adverting yourself online or within networking; this could involve infiltrating popular websites with your work such as youtube, facebook, Tumblr, LinkIn and so on. Small studios often develop into a fully working animation studio by the means of successfully winning an animation contest or award with their work, there for giving themselves publicity.

If Thumbs Up Studio wants to infiltrate the animation field to begin with the studio would have to focus on currently popular forms of animation, such as Apps and phone animations; Which have already been proven to be incredibly popular and successful with 'Candy Crush' by KING company. Focusing on 2D animated and hand-held games the studio would first have to 'risk' a large amount of money to then hopefully make up for with a profit in the long run.

'Thumbs UP' Studios is an animation studio based in Leeds that focuses on hand-made mobile gaming; such as Apps and Flash Games. The team itself is made up of 4 staff members, each taking on multiple roles within different departments.

My role within the studio firstly, is an animator.

Animating both digitally and traditionally I'll take on a number of projects at once in order for them to be completed as well as separate illustration related freelance jobs our studio is approached with. My skills within drawing and design gear me towards approaching traditional jobs as well as digital design or concepts. As a joint force with Greta; we handle the studios networking and external adverting - This also involves management on Emails, Phones and an office presence.