Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank hosted “The Creative Process In Animation Production” as part of the Burbank Arts For All Foundation’s semi-annual Creative Circles Forum series. The panel of Nickelodeon experts in production, development and the creative side of animation discussed the process to a capacity crowd on Thursday, October 22.
Moderated by Senior Vice President of Animation Current Series Rich Magallanes, the panel discussed the complex and years-long process of pitching, developing and producing an animation series, after showing a clip reel of some of the studio’s biggest hits.
Creator Chris Savino, Nickelodeon Vice President of Animation Development Jill Stewart Sanford and Nickelodeon Senior Vice President of Animation Production David Steinberg took the audience through the expensive and mammoth effort to make a show.
From first pitch to a show’s airing on television averages two to four years, explained Sanford. Once a pitch has been accepted and enters production with writers and artists producing storylines and images, one show can take around 10 months and approximately one million dollars to produce.
Trena Pitchford, BAFA Executive Director, welcomed the audience of adults and a large number of middle- and high-school aged kids.
“We want to let you know that we support you and are behind you and hope this conversation can help you with your future,” Pitchford said.
Nickelodeon Human Resources Manager Carson Smith also welcomed the audience and directed his comments to the students in the group.
“A job in the animation business is a real job with a real paycheck,” Smith noted.
In addition to students and parents, the president of the Burbank Unified Board of Education, Dr. Roberta Reynolds, attended the Nickelodeon animation forum along with BUSD art teachers, principals and administrators, including BUSD’s Visual and Performing Arts Chair Peggy Flynn.
Burbank Councilmembers Emily Gabel-Luddy and Jess Talamantes were also in attendance as well as several BAFA members and BUSD PTA arts chairs.
