Strategies for Distributing Animation Movies in 5 Key Phases
In the world of animation, a well-crafted distribution strategy is crucial for reaching audiences and securing a successful release. To create a professional distribution toolkit for an animation film, you should assemble a comprehensive package of materials and strategies that attract distributors, festivals, and platforms effectively.
- Core Assets
A high-quality poster, trailer, and carefully chosen stills are essential for capturing the attention of potential distributors. A concise logline, summarising your film in a single sentence, will pique interest and provide a quick overview of the project.
- Submission & Project Information
A clear submission form or dossier, including details about your film such as genre, format, runtime, and your distribution goals, is essential. Include a synopsis, director’s statement, and any unique selling points of your animation to give distributors a better understanding of your project.
- Distribution Strategy & Market Analysis
Develop a strategy tailored to your film’s strengths and intended audience. Identify the best markets, buyers, and streaming platforms compatible with your animation, and plan festival submissions strategically to maximize exposure and potential sales, focusing on festivals known for highlighting animation.
- Festival and Industry Exposure
Target festivals that cater to animated films or your specific animation style or theme. Prepare for networking and pitching to buyers and industry influencers at these events to increase sales and visibility.
- Flexible Toolkit Components
Assemble options for full-service distribution or modular components such as festival submissions only, direct sales efforts, streaming platform placement, and marketing or social media campaigns. This allows adaptation depending on available resources and goals, keeping you in control of your film’s path.
- Use of Technology & AI Tools (Optional but Advantageous)
Utilise AI-powered tools in pre-production and production for efficiency and quality. Consider using AI-generated content for marketing or creating variations of trailers and posters to target specific demographics. Leverage AI-enhanced post-production tools for polishing visuals and sound, which can elevate the appeal of your promotional materials.
- Additional Components
A press kit, containing background info about the film’s creation, biographies of key creatives, and press release text, is also important. Include contact information and clear instructions on how to acquire distribution rights or screening permissions.
This professional toolkit maximises your animation film’s chances of being noticed by the right distributors, getting into festivals, and reaching audiences effectively. A good sales agent is invaluable, as they have pre-existing relationships with global distributors and can create a competitive environment for your film, leading to better deals.
The ultimate goal is the distribution deal, but the festival award is often a powerful stepping stone to get there. The costs of distribution can vary wildly, depending on whether you secure a distribution deal with a minimum guarantee (MG) or self-distribute.
Our platform identifies potential distributors who are actively seeking animated content, analyses their past acquisitions, and provides a real-time project tracker and key decision-makers to contact. The distribution fee, minimum guarantee, territories, term, and marketing spend cap are key terms to understand in a distribution deal.
A targeted approach is recommended when submitting films to film festivals. Always have a lawyer with experience in entertainment law review any contract before signing it. Video-on-Demand (VOD) is a significant portion of animation distribution, broken down into Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD), Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD), and Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD).
A data-driven approach can help identify potential distributors actively seeking animated content, making the use of our platform essential, not a luxury.
- A well-crafted lifestyle encompasses the use of technology to streamline film production processes, such as utilizing AI-powered tools in pre-production, production, and post-production for efficiency and quality.
- In the entertainment industry, a comprehensive distribution strategy also includes highlighting unique aspects of an animation, like identifying the best technology and streaming platforms that align with its specific style or theme to maximize its appeal and reach.
