Project Overview

The Pilot is an index research project that delves into the often-overlooked aspects of creating animated cartoon pilot episodes. The project began by identifying which animated series had pilot episodes, the research focused on 20 pilot episodes. These selected series represent a wide spectrum of production methods, ranging from those with large budgets and millions of viewers to those created using stop-motion techniques on paper and uploaded to platforms like YouTube.

The research was organized into six distinct categories for each show: animation, music/audio, character design, typography, episode production, and ratings. By examining each series through these lenses, the project sought to uncover the unique ways in which different production approaches shaped the final outcome of each pilot episode.

Results

The final book consists of 194 pages, all written by the me, and features over 250 visuals that were carefully edited and incorporated into the completed work. Each chapter of the book focuses on a specific element of the research index, with a detailed introduction at the beginning of each chapter explaining key terms and offering important context about that respective element.