Anime gets innovative on YouTube
Japanese co. launches new channel to raise money
It is uploading clips of toons to raise investment coin. The first AIT projects to get exposure on the channel are surreal youth drama "Cencoroll," the animal adventure "Love Rollercoaster," the sci-fi fantasy "Coluboccoro" and the kiddie fantasy "Pooky's." Among the second group of toons skedded for webcast is the romantic fantasy "Taropicana."
Pilots -- approximately half-hour toons -- have already been completed for "Love Rollercoaster" and "Pooky's." Also, helmer Kenji Itoso is prepping a full-length version of his pilot film of "Coluboccoro," which was finished in June.
With the aim of discovering talented new animators with commercial potential, AIT calls for project submissions at regular intervals, supports the making of pilot toons for selected projects, using limited liability partnerships to finance production. AIT then distribs the pilots in various media, including DVDs, mobile phone services and, now, the Anime Innovation Channel.
Pilots that attract investment coin can then be made into TV toon shows or feature-length pics, with the investors, including the original creators, sharing the revenues. AIT is calling for submissions for its seventh group of projects, with the deadline on Dec. 21.
