Licensing Characters & Cartoons

The title to this article is really misleading because the modern usage of the term cartoon licensing really includes what many call character licensing. Years ago cartoons were thought as comic strips and animated films but the definition has changed over time as pointed out in Wikipedia. Cartoon is now referred to "typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works." Thus, art does not need to be animated or include text to make it a cartoon.

Cartoons can be art as gags, comic strips, graphic characters and illustrations that are for products, animation, advertising, books, etc. Read cartoonist Curtis D. Tucker's article "Careers in Cartooning" for more information on the different types of cartoon art. Note: All kinds of cartoons can produce revenue but not all are licensable such as a customized cartoon logo created for one client who then owns the logo.

While many cartoons have gained brand recognition not all have. It depends on the development of the personality of the character with art and/or words, if the cartoon connects with the consumer, and the amount of exposure via marketing. But just because the cartoon is not recognizable to the general public does not mean that the cartoonist is not successful in selling his/her cartoons. Read cartoonist Curtis D. Tucker article "My Best Cartooning Advice."

Below are some excellent articles about licensing by cartoonists Bill Abbott and Curtis D. Tucker, type of products that use cartoons, classes on building brandable cartoons/characters, and websites of some successful artists that create cartoons.

Articles
• Bill Abbott
– "Licensing Cartoons"
– "A Bit More On Licensing For Cartoonists"
– "Licensing Agents for Cartoonists"
– "Submitting Art And Cartoons To Greeting Card Companies"

• Curtis D. Tucker
– "Your Designs Will Get Stolen Online"
– "Making Money With Your Old Cartoons"
– "How a Cartoon Logo is Created - Video #1"
– "Logo Design Prices"
– "Is Writing Harder Than Drawing?"
– "Do You Have A Million Dollar Logo?"

Telephone / Internet Classes by All Art Licensing from J'net Smith
• "Building Character: How to Cash in On Your Characters Without Losing Your Soul"
October 15 - 17, 2012 ($125)
speakers Michael Fry (Co-Creator "Over the Hedge" and Creator "Committed") and J'net Smith (Art Licensing/DILBERT Marketer)
three days of classes (1-1/2 to 2 hours in length each day via telephone and internet)

• "Character Licensing" $50
speaker J'net Smith (Art Licensing/DILBERT Marketer) with special guest appearance Tom Wilson (internationally syndicated Ziggy® Cartoonist)
audio download (2 hours) and PDF presentation handout

Cartoonist Websites
• Bill Abbott
• Curtis D. Tucker
• Finkstrom
• Gary Patterson
• Jill Seale
• Michael Fry

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