Blue Ant, Mondo launch US$3 million pitch program

The companies have pacted with YouTube on an animated comedy shorts pitch program, designed to discover breakout animated content through a competitive testing pipeline.
November 5, 2013

Toronto, Canada-based multiplatform media company Blue Ant Media and California’s multiplatform animation distributor Mondo Media have pacted with YouTube to launch an animated comedy shorts pitch program.

The program, Bite on Mondo, will focus on producing animated content targeting teens and young adults.

Bite on Mondo is designed to discover breakout animated content, combining Mondo’s two-million-member YouTube audience and Blue Ant’s TV and digital reach in Canada to test and grow potential breakout hits.

The program’s initial roster will be comprised of 30 pilots, which will be funded by Bite, and then tested, measured and evaluated on YouTube, through metrics including popularity, audience feedback and how suitable the content is for scaling into multi-episode orders or longer formats.

The sourcing, financing and testing pipeline is designed as a competitive environment to generate breakout properties that can evolve into potential franchises, like Mondo’s Dick Figures, which was turned into a feature-length movie on iTunes and Google Play, or Happy Tree Friends, which has been sold into more than 30 markets internationally.

Once the content has been produced and shared on Mondo’s YouTube channel, some of it will also air on Blue Ant’s specialty comedy channel Bite TV.

“This collaboration between Blue Ant and Mondo is a testament to the innovation both parties bring to the table in finding up-and-coming talent through emerging platforms,” said Simon Foster, Blue Ant Media SVP digital publishing and business development, in a statement. “YouTube is the perfect testing ground for finding out what resonates with comedy fans coast to coast.”    

The program officially launches at the upcoming Buffer Festival on November 9, following the Canadian theatrical premiere of Mondo’s Dick Figures The Movie.

Bite on Mondo will begin accepting pitches on January 15, 2014.

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