U.K. animation studio Blue Zoo has established a new in-house initiative to help power the development of creator-driven IP.
The Ideas Fund will be open to the entire studio, issuing several calls for projects every year across a range of genres, formats, and age demos. Selected pitches will benefit from a fast-tracked four- to six-week development process to create a webtoon, animated short, or game that will be launched on Blue Zoo’s YouTube channel, Disco Chicken. Blue Zoo Digital will track engagement to see if ideas are viable for further development. The IP will be co-owned by Blue Zoo and the creator.
The Ideas Fund has already spawned Found in Wonderland, a webtoon created by Blue Zoo designer Katie Gascoyne; The Great Goblin Detectives, a webtoon written by Charlie P. Higson; and Band Against Robots, an animated music video created by Blue Zoo animator Matt Clarke.
“For 26 years, Blue Zoo has thrived because we keep questioning how we work,” said Tom Box, co-founder of Blue Zoo. “In a fast-moving industry, complacency is where companies go to die. If you’ve been in the industry a while, you know the big IP model inside out. You develop an idea for a year or two, raise funds for another two years, and spend 18 months making it. Because that financial risk is so massive, executives naturally want to hedge their bets. While this model has worked well for us in the past, it’s getting harder to sustain with fewer commissioning opportunities out there.”
Box added, “This is creator-led, not committee-led. Crucially, it’s agile enough that it’s not a major concern if a concept doesn’t quite hit the spot. Ultimately, it’s a playground for the bold ideas of tomorrow, and exactly the kind of creative environment we want to offer the talent joining our studio.”
