The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival

Tip #6 Add violin and piano music. No matter how bad your film is, adding violin and piano music will make even the toughest of art critics think your film is genius.

Tip #5 Recycle animation. Most animation cycles can be reused for anything. A man shaking his hand can be used for the same man shaking a soda, ringing a bell or hammering away at the air.

An early submission in last year’s Festival, “Those Scurvy Rascals” by Blue Zoo Productions in Soho, London, immediately became one of our favorite films and was selected for the first screening of the 2005 season. Well, it turned out we weren’t the only ones who dug it: the Rascals were also acquired as a series for Nickelodeon UK, for whom the band of Pirates (they just want your pants) has won several awards, including, most recently, Best Children’s Series and the Children’s Choice Award at the 10th British Animation Awards. Congratulations, Blue Zoo, and thanks for allowing the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival to bring the Rascals to an American audience.

– Eric

Tip #4 Get help by offering animation credits. Tell young naive animators that this is a big project and it will be seen by top industry professionals. Tell them you will offer them animation credits and a job when you get famous. (Remember, it’s just a lie, you don’t actually have to offer them anything once the job is done.)