Pitch-Ready Graphic Novel Packages: What Agencies Like WME Want to See

Stop sending shapeless PDFs — build a pitch package agents and transmedia buyers can sell

If your work is not getting read by agents, studios or transmedia buyers, the problem is rarely the art — it's the package. After The Orangery's high-profile signing with WME in early 2026, one thing is clear: agencies want sellable IP — projects that read as franchises as much as beautiful books. This guide gives a direct, field-tested checklist and a ready-to-use template so you can craft a pitch package that agents like WME and transmedia buyers will actually respond to.

"Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery... signs with WME" — Variety, Jan 16, 2026

Why this matters in 2026 (the high-level take)

Over the last 18 months the entertainment industry has doubled down on strong pre-packaged IP. Agencies and buyers now prefer projects that come with modular assets: a compelling core story, clear serial structure, visual identity and built-in transmedia hooks (podcast, animation, game, merch). The Orangery's WME deal is emblematic — agencies are signing with transmedia studios to secure ready-made, exportable graphic-novel properties. If you want representation or an option meeting, you must present market positioning and a realistic adaptation path, not just a sample chapter.

What agents and transmedia buyers actually ask for — the short list

Below is the distilled, prioritized list you should prepare before emailing an agent or buyer. Think of this as the inverted pyramid: lead with the commercial hook, then the creative specifics.

• One-page pitch (logline + market positioning)
• One-paragraph and one-page synopses
• Visual Bible (style guide + sample pages)
• Series map and chapter-by-chapter beats
• Key character dossiers with visuals and arcs
• Comp titles & market comparables
• Rights & licensing summary (what you own/what you want to keep)
• Clear ask (representation, option, co-production, distribution)

Practical pitch package template — file names, order and limits

Use this template as your master folder structure. Deliverables should be tidy, lightweight and labeled clearly for a busy reader.

1. 00_COVER_ONE_PAGER.pdf — 1 page: title, single-sentence logline, one short hook (2–3 lines), and a single high-impact image.
2. 01_ONE_PAGE_PITCH.pdf — 1 page: one-paragraph premise, market positioning, target audience, estimated run (e.g., 4–6 volumes or ongoing), and key transmedia hooks.
3. 02_SYNOPSIS_1PARA.docx — one paragraph for quick reads.
4. 03_SYNOPSIS_1PAGE.pdf — one page: full story arc and stakes.
5. 04_VISUAL_BIBLE.pdf — 6–12 pages: mood boards, color script, character turnarounds, environment studies, exemplar panels, logo lockups.
6. 05_SAMPLE_PAGES.pdf — 8–12 sequential pages (interior), high-resolution for print and low-res preview (72 dpi) for email.
7. 06_SERIES_MAP.pdf — 1–2 pages: season/volume breakdown and key beats per installment.
8. 07_CHARACTERS.pdf — 2–4 pages: 1-page sheet per main character: arc, motivation, image, age, relationships.
9. 08_COMPS_MARKET_POSITIONING.pdf — 1–2 pages: 3–5 comps with brief explanation (<50 words each) why each is relevant.
10. 09_RIGHTS_AND_BUDGET.pdf — 1 page: rights you're offering, rights reserved, high-level budget or estimate for adaptation (optional).
11. 10_CREW_AND_CV.pdf — 1–2 pages: short bios, notable credits, links to published work.
12. 11_ASK_AND_NEXT_STEPS.txt — 1 paragraph: what you want and a first-call availability window.

File formats and technical specs

• PDFs for reading; keep main files 5–10 MB for email delivery. Use separate high-res for Dropbox/WeTransfer.
• Sample pages: deliver both a high-res (300 dpi TIFF or PNG) and a web-res PDF (72 dpi) with crop marks if necessary.
• Fonts: embed or convert to outlines. Provide font names in the visual bible.
• Color: include CMYK and sRGB notes; provide Pantones if you have a signature palette.
• For file naming, metadata and discoverability, consider a technical checklist like Schema, Snippets, and Signals to keep files machine-readable and easy to index.

How to lead with commercial positioning — the 60-second opener

Agents and transmedia buyers live on quick reads. Your first page should answer three questions in one glance: What is it? Who will buy it? Why does it scale?

1. Logline (one sentence): A clear protagonist + conflict + unique world hook.
2. Audience (1 line): Age range, core demo, and behavioral insight (e.g., "YA readers who binge sci-fi graphic novels and engage in fandom communities").
3. Scalability (1–2 lines): Why this property can extend to other formats — themes, episodic structure, merchandising cues.

Example (60-second opener)

Logline: "A disgraced pilot and an exiled botanist race across a terraformed Martian archipelago to stop a corporate seed monopoly that can rewrite memories."

Audience: Adult sci‑fi readers, streaming drama viewers, and tabletop gamers aged 18–45.

Scalability: Serialized TV (8 eps), limited-run audio drama, collectible prints, and a narrative-driven mobile game.

Build a Visual Bible that sells — what to include

In 2026, visual identity is as crucial as plot. Agencies like WME partner with studios that bring a coherent visual language they can pitch to buyers and licensees.

• Cover treatments: 3 variations from finished to sketch-level to show flexibility.
• Character turnarounds: front/side/back and emotional expressions (3–6 poses).
• Environment sheets: two signature locations with color scripts and lighting notes.
• Keyframe sequences: 3–6 cinematic panels showing motion and pacing.
• Logo and typography: lockups for hardcover, streaming card, and merch label.
• Reference gallery: 10 images (photo + art) to pitch tone.

Transmedia pitch essentials — what to show for buyers

For transmedia buyers, it's not enough to show a book — you must show pathways. The Orangery's model demonstrates that buyers will value IP with built-in cross-platform logic.

• Franchise map: one-page diagram connecting book, TV, audio, game, merchandise, live events.
• Three adaptation hooks: concrete scenes or arcs that would work as pilot episodes, audio instalments, or game mechanics.
• Monetization tiers: collectibles, tiered editions, NFT/utility disclaimers (if used), licensing partners you envision — read more about hybrid pop-up and micro-subscription approaches here.
• Audience activation plan: festivals, conventions, creator partnerships, and platform-first rollouts — plan these like a pop-up producer using a compact kit (weekend studio to pop-up).

Rights, licenses and negotiation points — protect your IP

Entering talks with agents or studios means understanding what you're offering. Be prepared to say what's negotiable and what's off the table.

• Options vs. sale: agents expect an option agreement timeline (12–24 months typical), with clear reversion clauses if not produced.
• Ancillary rights: clarify whether merchandising, gaming, audio drama and international rights are included.
• Creator credit: define onscreen credit, sequel rights, and first negotiation rights for follow-ups.
• Work-for-hire pitfalls: never sign a one-size-fits-all contract; seek legal counsel for major deals.

Email pitch and meeting playbook — subject lines, follow-ups and meeting scripts

Make your outreach predictable and frictionless. Below is a tested sequence that results in more opens and more meetings.

Subject line templates

• "Graphic Novel: [Title] — high-concept sci-fi with transmedia hooks (1-pg pitch attached)"
• "For consideration: [Title] — 8-episode TV adaptation potential + visual bible"

First email (short)

One short paragraph: who you are, one-sentence logline, attached one-page pitch, ask (representation/intro/option), and 2–3 available time slots for a 20-minute call.

Follow-up cadence

1. Wait 7–10 days, send a short reminder with another line of evidence (e.g., festival selection, strong sales metric).
2. Second follow-up at 3 weeks with an offer to send a private link to the full package.
3. If no response after two follow-ups, archive and re-target after 6 months with new milestones.

Meeting script (20 minutes)

1. 2 min: Quick personal intro and existing credits.
2. 3 min: The 60-second opener — logline, audience, scale.
3. 7 min: Show the visual bible and 3 sample pages (share screen), highlight 2 transmedia hooks.
4. 5 min: Ask directly — representation? option? commissioned pilot?
5. 3 min: Next steps and availability for a follow-up with materials or legal terms.

Advanced strategies for 2026: data, collaboration, and AI

New in 2026: agents expect creators to come with real audience signals or a data-driven activation plan. Use analytics from Substack, Webtoon, Instagram, or Kickstarter to show engagement. Keep in mind ethical AI use — mention if you used generative tools for concept art and clarify ownership.

• Audience-first proof: include one metric slide: monthly readers, email open rates, or pre-order numbers — and show how your community hub ties to those numbers (interoperable community hubs).
• Collaboration credits: if you’ve worked with voice actors, composers, or dev teams, list them to show production readiness.
• AI transparency: state which assets were AI-assisted, the prompts used, and confirm you hold commercial rights for those outputs.

Case study — how The Orangery aligned its package for WME

While every deal is unique, we can extract practical lessons from public reporting on The Orangery's signing with WME (Variety, Jan 16, 2026). The Orangery presented not only polished graphic novels but an IP catalogue with:

• Distinctive visual identities for multiple titles (so buyers could see brand family potential)
• Clear transmedia strategies for each property (what works as series vs. limited run)
• International rights packaged for co-productions (appeal to global streaming platforms)

Taken together, these made The Orangery attractive to WME — agencies want assets they can pitch immediately and license across territories.

Common mistakes that kill a pitch (and how to fix them)

• Too much art, no summary: start with the commercial one-pager before you show sequential pages.
• Vague positioning: state the audience and give 2–3 comps — that shorthand communicates market fit immediately.
• No scalability plan: even a creator-owned graphic novel can map to audio and merchandise; show the path.
• Unclear rights: never leave rights ambiguous — state what you’re offering and what you retain.

Actionable 30‑day checklist

Use this time-boxed plan to go from draft to pitch-ready in a month.

1. Days 1–4: Craft the one-sentence logline, one-page pitch and 1-paragraph synopsis.
2. Days 5–12: Assemble visual bible (mood boards, 3 cover treatments, character turnarounds).
3. Days 13–18: Prepare 8–12 sample pages; create web-res and print-res versions.
4. Days 19–22: Build series map, transmedia hooks and comps slide.
5. Days 23–26: Draft rights and ask document; get legal review if serious offers expected.
6. Days 27–30: Finalize files, compress folder, craft email template and start outreach list (agents, boutique transmedia studios, festival programmers).

Final checklist before you hit send

• One‑page pitch included and visible first
• Sample pages numbered and sequential
• Visual bible shows consistent palette and type system
• Rights and ask clearly stated
• Follow-up schedule in place
• All files named with a leading number for order

Wrap: sellable IP is part art, part roadmap

In 2026, agents and buyers are looking for creators who deliver both distinct stories and clear business pathways. The Orangery–WME news reinforces this approach: bring artistry plus packaging that makes your work optionable, adaptable and visible across platforms. Follow this checklist and use the template order to make your pitch readable, sellable and meeting-ready.

Next step: build your 00_COVER_ONE_PAGER this week. Start with the one-sentence logline, pick a signature image, and draft the single-line scalability sentence. Send that to two trusted readers — iterate — then assemble your folder.

Call to action

Ready to pitch? Use this template to prepare your package and target agents and transmedia buyers with confidence. If you want a fast second pair of eyes, export the 01_ONE_PAGE_PITCH and 04_VISUAL_BIBLE to PDF and send them to your network for feedback. Start now — the next wave of transmedia signings in 2026 will reward creators who come prepared.

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