Animation Movies From Spec Scripts?
My free eBook "Spec Script Deals: 1991-2025" has only been out for a week and it's already demonstrating its value. Subject: Animation movies.
My response:
You can go here to read my interview with Mary Coleman which provides a deep dive into the Pixar creative process: LINK.
In the ensuing tweet exchange, the one project in my eBook is this one:
Title: Master Mind Logline: A supervillain loses his joie de vivre after accidentally killing his archrival, Uberman. Writers: Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons Genre: Animated Comedy Agency: ICM Management: Brian Lutz Management Studio: DreamWorks Animation Production Co.: Red Hour Films Date: 4/3/2007.
Note: I only include deals which I have verified through trade articles (e.g., Deadline, THR) or other reliable sources.
This evening when I finally had some time, I opened up my eBook file and did a search using the word "animation." Here is what that search found.
Title: Imagining Nathan Logline: Man sees world as a cartoon. Writer: Gustin Parker Genre: Drama Animation Live Action Agency: ICM Studio: Universal Date: 11/6/1996 Notes: $750K/$1.2M. First-timer.
In IMDb.pro, there is a listing for a project called Imagining Nathan with Janet and Jerry Zucker listed as producers and Martin Hynes listed as the screenwriter, but the project appears to be dead. Note: Hynes has an Original Story credit for Toy Story 4. He also plays George in the wonderful short film George Lucas in Love.
Title: Toy Story 3 Logline: Being kept under wraps, but new take may have the characters on the road and out of Andy’s room. Writer: Jared Stern Genre: Family Comedy Adventure Agency: William Morris Agency Management: Industry Entertainment Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Animation Date: 1/18/2005 Notes: Jared Stern wrote the script while a member of Walt Disney Pictures ’s Feature Animation Writing Program.
Stern is not listed in the credits for Toy Story 3 with a Screenplay By credit for Michael Arndt. I don't think Disney's feature animation writing program still exists, but they do have one for TV: LINK.
Title: Zombie Pet Shop Logline: A mysterious plague sweeps through a mall pet shop, turning all of the animals into zombies. An ordinary pug named Joey must come to the rescue to find the antidote that will save his four-legged friends, as well as the humans that might take them home. Writer: E.L. Katz Genre: Family Horror Agency: Gersh Management: Generate Management Prod. Co: Animation Picture Company Date: 2/24/2011 Notes: This will be a 3D animated film.
Not listed on IMDb, but there is a streaming TV series from 2022 called Pet Shop Zombies. Not the same writer as the spec.
Title: Hammerspace Logline: A terminally ill teenager, while searching for answers about his missing father, finds a mysterious key that unlocks a portal to an alternate animated dimension, releasing an unexpected new friend who helps him repair his broken family. Writer: Mike Van Waes Genre: Science Fiction Animation Agency: CAA Management: Grandview Studio: Warner Bros. Date: 9/28/15. Notes: Writer was a 2014 Nicholl finalist.
Hammerspace is listed in development at IMDb.pro with Dan Lin as producer. Note: Van Waes has a Screenplay By credit on the 2025 live-action version of Lilo & Stitch.
That's everything from "Spec Script Deals: 1991-2025". In the Twitter thread, folks mentioned several other projects, but only two more seem to be legitimate spec script deals:
If anyone knows of an animation film which originated as a spec script, please reply in comments.
What's the screenwriting takeaway? Most animation outfits develop stories in-house. As a result, I advise writers hoping to set up an animation feature: write it as live-action. Feature animation scripts look no different than live-action scripts and there are a lot more live-action buyers than animation companies. If they read your live-action script and can see it as animation feature, great. But the smarter move is to approach the project like live-action.
Then there's sage advice:
That's probably the best takeaway for screenwriters.
You can go here to read the Twitter thread starting with John's tweet: LINK.
If you haven't downloaded "Spec Script Deals: 1991-2025" ... what are you waiting for? It's FREE! 517 pages, 2,560 listings, 96% with loglines or story summaries. Go here to get your free copy: LINK.
While you're at it, become a member of my new Go Into The Story Patreon Project. I'll appreciate the gesture and you'll get access to a ton of videos and articles I'll be posting on a weekly basis: LINK. Think of it as Film School on a Microbudget.