transmediacase studypublishing

How a Transmedia Studio Like The Orangery Turns Graphic Novels Into Sellable IP

aartistic

2026-02-05

10 min read

How The Orangery turned graphic novels into transmedia deals—practical playbook for creators to build sellable IP in 2026.

From discoverability struggles to transmedia opportunities: how The Orangery built sellable IP

Independent creators and small studios often face the same pain: stunning graphic novels that earn praise but stall at discoverability, licensing complexity and unpredictable revenue. In early 2026 a small European transmedia studio, The Orangery, turned that exact problem into an asset — signing with powerhouse agency WME and packaging multiple graphic-novel properties for global adaptation. This case study breaks down what The Orangery did, why it matters in 2026, and the exact playbook creators can adapt to build valuable, sellable IP.

Why this matters now (2026): studios want packaged IP with audiences and proofs

Through late 2025 and into 2026 the market shifted decisively: studios and streamers are prioritizing pre-packaged, audience-backed IP over raw ideas. A combination of consolidation in talent agencies and platforms, smarter risk assessment by financiers, and new production tooling (AI-assisted storyboards, cheaper animation pipelines) means buyers expect more than a manuscript — they want a universe.

Variety reported on January 16, 2026 that The Orangery — the transmedia IP studio behind hits like Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika — signed with WME. That move underscores a 2026 trend: agencies are partnering with studios that have repeatable IP ecosystems, not only a single book.

"Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery, Behind Hit Graphic Novel Series ‘Traveling to Mars’ and ‘Sweet Paprika,’ Signs With WME" — Variety, Jan 16, 2026

The Orangery: a brief profile and why their approach scaled

Founded in Turin by Davide G.G. Caci, The Orangery positioned itself as a transmedia IP engine for graphic novels — acquiring, incubating and packaging story worlds for motion, streaming, games and merchandise. Their two most visible properties, Traveling to Mars (sci-fi) and Sweet Paprika (romance/steamy), were treated not as single-product comics but as multi-node universes with cross-format development strategies.

Three decisions accelerated their path:

Transmedia-first mindset — every release included adaptation-ready assets (bible, episodic outlines, character reels).
Audience metrics as product signals — reader engagement, crowdfunding traction, and merchandise pre-orders were tracked and used in pitches.
Smart rights packaging — they retained core IP while licensing production or distribution rights in stages, preserving upside.

What independent creators can learn: a step-by-step transmedia playbook

Below is a condensed, actionable blueprint inspired by The Orangery’s moves. Use it to turn your graphic novel into sellable IP without selling your rights prematurely.

1) Build an IP Bible before you shop

Studio buyers expect a clear roadmap. Your IP bible is the contract of imagination.

One-page premise: Hook, tone, target audience.
Character dossiers: Arcs, relationships and signature visuals.
World rules & tone: Tech, magic rules, era, political stakes.
Series treatment: 8–10 episode arcs, season 1 outline.
Adaptation notes: What scales to TV, animation, short film, podcast?

Why it works: buyers see less risk when you’ve done the conceptual drilling. The Orangery supplied these materials to agents and streamers as proof of readiness.

2) Create a proof of concept that proves tone and market fit

Proofs of concept (POCs) are flexible and affordable in 2026 thanks to faster tooling.

Animated pitch reel (60–90 seconds) — use AI-assisted animatics or motion comics.
Audio drama excerpt — cheap to record, excellent for streaming execs exploring serialized audio-to-screen sweeps.
Merch mockups and a small dropshop — signal consumer interest.

Tip: keep the POC under 2 minutes and optimized for private pitch decks and social promotion.

3) Prove audience engagement with measurable metrics

In 2026, data follows creative decisions. Agencies value creators who can show engagement curves.

crowdfund campaigns (backer count, conversion rate)
email list growth and open rates
top-post social engagement, watch-through rates on reels
sales velocity on print-on-demand and limited editions

Note: The Orangery used sales and pre-order data to show appetite for both gritty sci-fi and romance, making cross-genre packaging attractive to agencies like WME.

4) Package rights strategically — keep upside while enabling deals

Many creators panic and sign away everything. Instead, mirror transmedia studios: license selectively.

Option agreement for screen adaptation (time-limited, with development fees).
First-look deals for certain mediums (e.g., animation) while retaining theatrical rights.
Merchandising and publishing licenses with royalty minimums and reversion triggers.

Legal musts: include reversion clauses if projects stagnate, audit rights, and credit and profit-participation language. If you can, hire an entertainment IP attorney before signing options.

5) Assemble a talent stack: collaborators, producers, and an agent

The Orangery’s signing with WME didn’t happen in a vacuum: they built relationships with producers, showrunners and boutique distributors to present a fully castable property.

Find a producer with development credits in your target medium.
Work with a showrunner or script consultant for episodic breakdowns.
Engage an agent or boutique agency once you have an IP bible and metrics — they open doors.

Agent timing: approach talent agencies only after your materials demonstrate potential and you've tested market demand. Agencies prefer mitigated risk; give them that signal.

6) Monetize early and diversify revenue

Before a major adaptation deal, The Orangery generated revenue through direct-to-consumer sales, limited-run prints and licensing to foreign publishers. Revenue momentum is persuasive in development talks.

Limited edition prints and signed volumes.
Localized publishing deals for regional language rights.
Brand partnerships (soundtrack releases, culinary tie-ins for foodie comics, etc.).

Practical checklist: What to prepare this quarter (actionable)

Use this 8-item checklist as your execution roadmap for the next 90 days.

Create a one-page IP bible for each major property.
Produce a 60–90 second animated pitch reel or motion-comic POC.
Launch or refresh a landing page with an email capture and sample pages.
Run a small print-on-demand drop and track conversion rates.
Draft a 10-episode season 1 outline and a 2-page showrunner brief.
Talk with an entertainment attorney about a template option agreement.
Identify 3 potential producers or agencies aligned with your genre.
Build a 6-month content calendar to grow audience touchpoints (newsletter, behind-the-scenes, creator livestreams).

Negotiation architecture: deal terms creators should prioritize

When a buyer like a studio or an agency shows interest, prioritize terms that preserve future upside and creative control.

Option period length: Shorter periods (12–18 months) with renewal payments protect you from long dormancy.
Reversion triggers: Clear milestones (e.g., pilot order, release) cause the option to convert to a license; otherwise, rights revert.
Profit participation & backend: Negotiate points on net profits and merchandising gross where possible.
Approval rights: Negotiate consultation or approval on major creative choices (casting, premise shifts) without blocking production.
Territory & medium carveouts: License by medium (TV, film, games) instead of global blanket deals; retain publishing and merch where you can.

How agencies like WME change the game

Signing with an agency such as WME provides distribution muscle, packaging power and connections to showrunners and financiers. For The Orangery, WME’s involvement validates the product and accelerates introductions to global buyers.

But agency deals also come with trade-offs: agents expect a share of earnings and can push ambitious but riskier adaptations. If you engage an agency, clarify commission structures and what they will concretely deliver (meetings, packaging, negotiation support).

2026 industry trends creators should use in their favor

Several macro trends in 2026 make this a favorable moment to pursue transmedia deals if you plan smartly:

AI-assisted development: Faster animatics, script polish and concept art reduce POC costs — but keep creative control and credit clear. (Don’t forget the debate about how much you let AI steer strategy — see cautionary takes.)
Platform fragmentation and niche audiences: Streamers seek distinct IPs for dedicated fanbases; niche works can become flagship titles for platforms.
European IP globalization: European studios and IP houses are exporting local stories globally; non-US creators have more gateways.
Hybrid release windows: Publishers and streamers experimenting with staggered theatrical/streaming windows create multiple release revenue lines.
Merch & experiential revenue growth: Conventions, pop-ups and drops are still strong revenue-driving tactics when executed with scarcity and storytelling in mind.

Common pitfalls and how The Orangery avoided them

Many creators fall into traps; The Orangery’s path highlights how to avoid them:

Pitching too early: They waited to approach top agencies until they had measurable traction.
Signing away all rights: They preferred staged licensing, keeping core ownership.
Single-format thinking: They designed worlds to move between formats from day one.
Ignoring legal structure: They used clean contracts with reversion and audit rights.

Case study snapshot: a hypothetical timeline adapted from The Orangery’s model

Below is an illustrative, realistic timeline independent creators can model.

Months 0–6: Release Volume 1, gather sales, launch newsletter, create POC reel and IP bible.
Months 6–12: Run a crowdfunding campaign for special editions, secure local publishing deals, pilot merchandising drops.
Months 12–18: Engage producers and a script consultant; prepare episode outlines and a 2-minute pitch reel for agencies.
Months 18–24: Sign an option with a studio or first-look agreement with a boutique producer; negotiate reversion and backend.
Months 24–36: Development and pilot stage; merchandising expands; international rights sold in select territories.

Checklist of documents and assets to have ready

IP Bible (one-pager + 20–30 page dossier)
60–90 sec POC reel
10-episode season treatment and pilot script
Audience metrics packet (sales, mailing list, social KPIs)
Merchandise mockups and sample P&L
Template option/license agreements (reviewed by attorney)
List of potential producers, agents and festivals/conferences

Final takeaways: how to turn a graphic novel into valuable transmedia IP

In 2026 the holy grail for creators is not merely discovery; it’s the ability to show value in multiple lanes. The Orangery’s signing with WME illustrates that agencies reward thoughtful packaging: a clear bible, audience proof, staged rights and a transmedia mindset. Independent creators can use that exact blueprint — scaled to budget — to attract producers and keep ownership where it matters.

Remember: the goal is not to convert your story into a movie as fast as possible. The goal is to incubate a resilient universe that can survive format shifts, delight fans and create multiple revenue engines. Do the groundwork — the world building, proof of concept, legal scaffolding and audience testing — and the market will pay attention.

Get started: your 30-day action plan

Take these three fast wins right now:

Draft a one-page IP bible for your flagship property and circulate it to two trusted creator peers for feedback.
Create a 60-second pitch reel using animatic tools or motion-comic plugins — keep it rough, but focused on tone.
Launch a targeted 2-week campaign selling a limited print or merch drop to validate demand and collect buyer emails.

Call to action

If you’re ready to move beyond single-format publishing, start with the checklist above. Assemble your IP bible, build a tight proof of concept and get legal clarity on options and licenses. If you want a practical template to begin, download our free Transmedia IP Checklist and sample option agreement (designed for creators), sign up for our next workshop, or submit your one-page IP bible to our community review. Build your universe the right way — and let the market build on it with you.

artistic

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.