licensingcase studyIP

How Transmedia Studios Like The Orangery Pitch Graphic Novels to Global Agents

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2026-01-30

10 min read

How The Orangery packaged graphic-novel IP to sign with WME—and step-by-step lessons creators can use to secure agency and adaptation deals.

How The Orangery’s WME Deal Rewrites the Playbook for Graphic-Novel IP in 2026

Hook: If you’re a comic artist struggling with discoverability, unclear rights, or packaging IP so agents and studios take you seriously, you’re not alone. The market is hungry for ready-to-adapt stories—but the gap between a great comic and a transmedia deal is packaging, provenance, and a tight legal ledger. The Orangery’s recent signing with WME shows a repeatable path. Here’s a practical, step-by-step case study of what they did right and how you can emulate it.

Quick summary (most important first)

In January 2026 The Orangery, a European transmedia studio founded by Davide G.G. Caci, signed with industry powerhouse WME. The Orangery controls rights to graphic novel series including Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika. The headline is simple: WME signed them because they arrived as a packaged, rights-cleared, transmedia-ready IP owner with proven market traction. For comic creators, that combination—creative quality + rights clarity + transmedia packaging—is the ticket to agency representation and adaptation opportunities.

“The William Morris Endeavor Agency has signed recently formed European transmedia outfit The Orangery, which holds the rights to strong IP in the graphic novel and comic book sphere such as hit sci‑fi series ‘Traveling to Mars’ and the steamy ‘Sweet Paprika.’” — Variety, Jan 16, 2026

Why this matters for artists in 2026

Streaming platforms, games companies, and publishers are aggressively acquiring IP that can be exploited across formats. After a consolidation wave in late 2025 and early 2026, buyers now prefer fewer negotiation hurdles: clean rights, clear ownership, and assets that speed development (scripts, style guides, character bibles, mood reels). Agencies such as WME are proactively signing transmedia studios to package and represent such projects at scale. That creates a major opportunity for independent creators—if you can present your work the right way.

Key 2026 trends influencing transmedia deals

IP-first acquisitions: Buyers value concepts that travel (print, film/TV, games, merch).
Rights hygiene: Proven chain-of-title is non-negotiable; bidders avoid ambiguity.
Visual assets speed deals: High-fidelity concept art, motion reels, and pilot scripts reduce option friction.
AI and authorship clarity: Platforms and rights-holders require disclosures for AI-assisted elements (policy shifts since 2025).
Global packaging: European studios (like The Orangery) are being courted for stories with cross-border appeal.

The Orangery case study: timeline and tactics

Below is a distilled timeline of moves The Orangery made (public reporting + industry-standard practices). Use it as a template for structuring your IP roadmap.

Phase 1 — Build and test the IP (2019–2024)

Develop original graphic novels with clear authorship notes and contributor agreements.
Publish and validate the market: sales, festival awards (e.g., Angoulême, Lucca), and social traction.
Collect data: print run numbers, digital downloads, Patreon/subscriber metrics—these are proof points for agents.

Phase 2 — Consolidate rights and form a transmedia entity (2024–2025)

Create an entity (The Orangery did this in Europe) to centralize IP ownership—simplifies licensing and options.
Execute chain-of-title paperwork: agreements with co-creators, work-for-hire clauses, and clear assignment documents.
Register copyrights and apply for ISBNs and, where relevant, trademarks on character and series names.

Phase 3 — Package for adaptation (late 2025)

Prepare a transmedia pitch pack: series bibles, character sheets, pilot scripts, and a 60–90 second mood/sizzle reel.
Create market comps and positioning decks showing where the IP fits in the current streamer slate.
Assemble a legal “IP ledger”: list of rights, encumbrances, option windows, and revenue-share mechanics.

Phase 4 — Agency outreach and deal (Jan 2026)

Target agencies with transmedia experience—WME and others are actively signing studios to fill content pipelines.
Leverage festival exposure and performance metrics when meeting agents.
Negotiate representation, keeping key ancillary rights and insisting on transparent reversion triggers.

What made The Orangery attractive to WME?

From the outside, several factors stood out—each is actionable for creators:

Consolidated rights ownership: The Orangery owned or controlled the rights to its core titles. Agents won’t take on tangled ownership disputes.
Transmedia-readiness: They presented assets beyond printed books—visual bibles, adaptation treatments, and development notes.
Commercial proof: Titles like Traveling to Mars had demonstrable market traction, signaling lower risk to buyers.
Strategic founding team: A founder experienced in publishing and European film markets made the business case credible.
Timing and positioning: WME’s 2026 push for pre-packaged IP matched The Orangery’s readiness.

Step-by-step: How to package your graphic novel IP for agents and adaptations

Follow this actionable checklist to go from creator to agency-ready studio.

Step 1 — Establish iron-clad chain-of-title

Collect signed contracts with collaborators: writers, artists, colorists, letterers, and editors.
Use explicit assignment language—avoid oral or implied agreements.
Register with your national copyright office (e.g., US eCO) and keep digital time-stamped copies.

Step 2 — Create a compact IP ledger

Make a one-page table that answers every question a buyer will ask:

Who owns what percentage?
What rights are already licensed (print, translations, serial rights)?
Are there any moral-rights or approval clauses tied to collaborators?

Step 3 — Build a transmedia pitch pack

Series bible: World rules, season arcs, tone references, episode breakdowns.
Character dossier: Visual reference, backstory, and arcs for each primary character.
Pilot script or treatment: Even a 10–12 page pilot script snippet helps buyers evaluate feasibility.
Visual assets: High-res covers, sample interior pages, color keys, and a short mood reel—use robust multimodal media workflows to keep master files and versions organised.
Market comp slide: Two or three comps (e.g., Stranger Things + classic sci‑fi) with audience rationale.

Step 4 — Prove commercial viability

Include sales charts, crowdfunding success, merchandising pre-orders, and social engagement metrics.
Note festival awards or critical acclaim—these reduce perceived risk.

Step 5 — Prepare negotiation red lines

Before meetings, define non-negotiables and desirable concessions:

Keep or license back merchandising and print rights where possible.
Push for clear reversion triggers if development stalls (e.g., 18 months after option with no greenlight).
Insist on audit rights and transparent accounting.

Practical legal and licensing guidance

Licensing and provenance live or die with documentation. Here are practical moves creators can take today.

Register early and often

File copyright registrations for completed issues, scripts, and major concept documents.
For international deals, consider the Berne Convention framework but also local registration where deals occur.

Use option agreements sensibly

Options are tools, not exits. Best practices:

Define the option term and extension fees.
Spell out what rights are being optioned (film? series? games?) and what remains with you.
Include clear reversion conditions tied to development milestones.

Protect ancillary revenue

Merchandise, games, and international rights are where long-term value sits. Negotiate:

Revenue splits for downstream licensing (e.g., 50/50 after recoupment is a typical starting discussion; always confirm with counsel).
Territorial carve-outs if you want to exploit specific markets directly—consider a localization stack for indie games if you plan to pursue game partnerships or international publishing.

Provenance and authenticity in the AI era

Since late 2025, platforms and buyers require transparency about AI assistance. Protect and document your creative process:

Log tools and prompts when AI is used; keep original files and versions—see guidance on secure agent policies such as Creating a Secure Desktop AI Agent Policy.
Embed metadata (XMP) in art files and store master files in a secure archive—follow multimodal media workflow practices.
Use recognized provenance services (e.g., Verisart, Artory) or trusted registries to timestamp and publicly record ownership claims.

How to approach agents like WME

Cold emails rarely work. Agents are looking for signal. Here’s how to stand out:

Warm introductions: Use festival contacts, editors, or legal counsel to introduce you.
Concise outreach package: One-page pitch + 3-page excerpt + link to visual assets and analytics dashboard.
Be development-ready: If they ask for a pilot or expanded treatment, deliver it within a defined (short) timeframe.
Show business savvy: Demonstrate realistic budgets, development timelines, and merchandising potential.

What agents evaluate in a 15-minute meeting

Is the story scalable across formats?
Are rights clear or potentially messy?
Is there an existing audience or demonstrable demand?
Does the team have experience to shepherd development?

Negotiation playbook: key clauses to watch

When you enter term-sheet stage, highlight these clauses with your lawyer:

Scope of rights: Exact media, formats, languages, and territories being granted.
Option fee and purchase price: How much is paid during the option vs. conversion.
Reversion and termination: Specific time-based or development-based reversion events.
Approval rights: Credit, script approval, and moral-rights waivers—be careful granting blanket approvals.
Back-end accounting: Define gross vs. net receipts, audit rights, and minimum guarantees.

Common pitfalls and how The Orangery avoided them

Pitfall: Fragmented ownership. Fix: Consolidate rights into a single entity or secure assignments before pitching.
Pitfall: Weak or missing development materials. Fix: Invest in a concise, professional pitch pack ahead of outreach.
Pitfall: No data. Fix: Track and present metrics—readership, social growth, crowdfunding numbers.
Pitfall: Over-licensing early. Fix: Use limited, clearly documented options to retain long-term upside.

Tools, templates, and resources (practical)

IP Ledger template — a concise rights table (downloadable checklist recommended).
Pitch Bible checklist — one-page, one-sentence hook + three-act series arc + character sheets.
Metadata and provenance tools — Verisart, Artory, and national copyright e-registries.
Legal counsel directories — specialized entertainment/IP lawyers in your region (search local bar associations).

Advanced strategies for creators aiming higher in 2026

Once you have a packaged property, scale with these advanced moves:

Strategic co-productions: Partner with small studios to produce a pilot or animated proof-of-concept to drastically increase value.
Global serialization: Translate and localize editions to build international footprint before agency outreach.
Ancillary-first releases: Launch limited merch drops or a small game to prove cross-format interest.
Data monetization: Use audience analytics to craft pitch narratives tailored to specific platforms’ content gaps.

Final lessons: what comic artists should take from The Orangery

At its core, The Orangery’s WME deal is not magic. It’s the result of disciplined IP management, smart packaging, and timing. As agencies chase fewer but bigger IPs in 2026, creators who invest in rights, documentation, and transmedia thinking will be the most attractive partners.

Actionable takeaways

Fix your rights today: Get signed assignments and register key works.
Build a one-page IP ledger: Have it ready before you email an agent.
Package for adaptation: Create a concise bible, a visual reel, and a pilot/treatment.
Keep development lean: Use options with clear reversion to retain long-term value.
Document AI use: Log prompts and preserve originals to protect provenance.

Where to go next (call-to-action)

If you’re ready to package a graphic novel for agents and transmedia deals, start with two small steps: 1) download an IP Packaging Checklist (one-page IP ledger + pitch-bible template), and 2) schedule a 30-minute portfolio review with an entertainment-IP specialist. The right documentation and a tightly produced pitch can move you from creator to studio—just like The Orangery did with WME.

Further reading: Variety’s January 16, 2026 report on The Orangery and WME (Nick Vivarelli) offers industry context for this deal and is a good snapshot of the market momentum in early 2026.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.