You have an anime concept, perhaps a pilot or a few character drawings, and want to know who could turn it into a series. A useful first list is organized by what a potential partner can do. The company that animates a show, the producer who develops it, and the buyer who commissions it may be different organizations.
Define the series before choosing a destination
Write down the intended audience, episode length, language, format, and current materials. Be specific about what you mean by anime: a production intended for a Japanese industry route, an international co-production, or an original series influenced by particular animation traditions. Visual inspiration alone does not answer the production question.
Consider this invented project: Lantern Express follows a teenage courier who delivers the final messages of ghosts. A teen mystery with a continuing season arc needs a different conversation from a preschool adventure with self-contained episodes. State that difference before compiling a contact list.
Match your next step to a partner's role
Stable Studios considers original anime and animated series for potential internal funding and work with its animation team. The team reviews pitches and emails an update about a meeting or further information. Selection and terms depend on the individual project; a submission does not guarantee funding or production.
Read company credits, project descriptions, and submission pages together. Look for evidence of development or producing work on comparable formats, rather than assuming every company credited on a series can commission another one. When the role is unclear, ask a brief process question before attaching your work.
| What you need | What to investigate |
|---|---|
| Develop the concept and package it | A producer or development company with relevant work and a permitted submission route |
| Approach buyers through a representative | A representative's actual experience, interests, and query policy |
| Make a funded short or sample | An animation production partner's scope, availability, and quotation process |
| Present a project to industry professionals | A pitching program's eligibility, selection process, costs, and current rules |
Check named opportunities at the original source
Netflix's published policy says it does not accept unsolicited creative material. It describes a route through an appropriate agent, producer, attorney, manager, or industry executive who already has a relationship with Netflix. A random staff email is therefore not a substitute for an authorized route.
Annecy's Mifa Pitches includes a TV Series & Specials category for animation projects in development. It is a selected presentation opportunity, rather than an assurance of production financing. Read the current category rules before planning an application; a program's existence does not mean its submission window is open today.
Build a short, evidence-based prospect list
Start with five plausible recipients rather than fifty recognizable logos. For each, record one relevant project, the kind of partner you believe it is, the official submission instructions, the date you checked them, and why your series fits. Leave the entry unresolved if you cannot establish a legitimate route.
Your reason should describe the work: an established interest in character-led supernatural stories for teenagers, for example. Saying a company has made something popular tells a recipient little about your understanding of its interests.
Send the material that answers the first question
For Lantern Express, an initial permitted submission might include the hook, a one-page overview, a compact visual deck, and a pilot if requested. Explain the recurring story engine: each delivery resolves a ghost's unfinished relationship while revealing the courier's connection to the railway. That is more informative than listing several seasons of mythology.
End with a specific request, such as consideration for development or a conversation about packaging. Do not imply that a studio, director, or financier is attached unless that involvement is confirmed. Keep the larger bible available for a later request.
Common questions
Can I pitch an anime idea without being an animator?
You can develop the writing and collaborate with artists. Be clear about your role, credit collaborators, and distinguish finished artwork from references. Whether a recipient considers a writer-led package depends on its policy and needs; drawing ability alone is not a submission route.
Should I send the same deck to every anime studio?
Keep one accurate master package, but tailor the introduction and request to each permitted recipient. A potential development partner needs different information from an animation vendor quoting a paid sample. Follow the recipient's required format and attachment limits.
External policies and program details checked October 16, 2026. Check the linked organization’s current requirements before submitting.