pitchingtransmediatemplates

Create a Transmedia Pitch Deck for Graphic Novels: Templates & Examples

mmybook

2026-02-05 12:00:00

11 min read

Fill-in-the-blank pitch-deck templates for graphic novels expanding to TV, film & merch — with sample slides and metrics to include.

Stop pitching books — start pitching an ecosystem

You wrote a graphic novel that readers love. Now you need buyers who see it as more than pages: a TV series, a film, a toy line, a game, and a direct-to-fan merch business. The pain is real — rights confusion, weak audience metrics, and decks that read like book blurbs. This article gives you fill-in-the-blank, slide-by-slide pitch-deck templates built for graphic novels that want to expand into TV, film, and merchandising, plus sample slides and the exact metrics executives and licensors expect in 2026.

The evolution of transmedia pitch decks in 2026

In late 2025 and early 2026 the market shifted: specialist transmedia studios and agencies doubled down on IP with ready-made cross-platform potential. For example, European transmedia studio The Orangery signed with WME to scale graphic-novel IP across screen, publishing, and consumer products — a clear signal that represented IP with audience traction is in demand.

"Studios and agencies are prioritizing graphic novels with demonstrable fanbases and cross-platform narrative hooks." — Industry trend, 2026

Streaming rollout internationalization, consolidation among streamers, growth in creator-first funding models, and rapid advances in AI-assisted concept development mean buyers want measurable audience proof and turnkey merchandising opportunities. Your deck must convert narrative love into business-ready metrics.

What this deck must prove — up front

IP depth: Is the world scalable to episodic arcs, spin-offs, or a tentpole film?
Audience evidence: Do you have readers, waitlists, newsletter subscribers, or merchandising pre-orders?
Revenue paths: Where will money come from — licensing, subscriptions, ads, merch, print-on-demand, or crowdfunding?
Rights clarity: Do you control TV/film/merch rights or are they shared?
Team & timeline: Who will execute adaptation, and when can production begin?

How to use the templates below

Each slide is a fill-in-the-blank block you can paste into PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides. After each template slide you'll find sample copy and numbers to demonstrate how to present metrics and narratives clearly. Replace bracketed text with your data and adjust visuals accordingly.

Transmedia Pitch-Deck Template — Slide by slide

Slide 1 — Cover / One-Liner

Objective: Hook in one line. Make the IP sound like a show/film + merch opportunity.

Template: [TITLE] — [GENRE] — One sentence: "[Hero] must [core conflict], in a [unique world hook]"

Sample: "Sweet Paprika — Steamy Sci-Fi Noir — A renegade chef must outcook a corrupt colony governor to save a colony’s taste memories."

Slide 2 — The Ask

Objective: State exactly what you want: development funding, an option-to-buy, co-production, licensing, or merch partner.

Template: "We are seeking [amount] for [use: e.g., development, pilot script, pilot production, merch manufacturing], and/or an option/licensing agreement with [term length]."

Sample: "We seek $150,000 to develop a 2-hour pilot and proof-of-concept sizzle for streaming; seeking a 12–18 month option agreement for screen rights."

Slide 3 — Logline + Series/Film Hook

Template: "Logline: [one-sentence]. Series/Film hook: [how story adapts to episodic/feature]."

Sample: "Logline: A retired smuggler runs a clandestine cookbook that hides resistance codes. Series hook: Each season explores a different region/ingredient while escalating the conspiracy."

Slide 4 — Why Now? (Market Opportunity)

Template: "Why now: [trend 1], [trend 2], [trend 3]; competitor comps: [Title A] (streamer, year) — why you beat them."

Sample: "Why now: Global streamers are licensing genre IP with pre-built fandom (see 2025–26 transmedia signings like The Orangery); direct-to-fan merch is profitable via POD and pre-order runs; streaming demand for high-concept, female-led sci-fi is rising. Comparable: 'Station Eleven' (HBO) meets 'Cowboy Bebop'."

Slide 5 — Audience & Engagement Metrics (Fill-in-the-blanks)

Objective: Show hard numbers that prove an audience and engagement funnel.

Template (fill each):

Core readership: [Total copies sold — print + eBook] = ______
Monthly Active Readers (MAU on your platform or fan group): ______
Newsletter / email list: ______ (open rate: __%)
Social following: [Platform] = ______ (avg engagement rate __%)
Pre-orders / crowdfunding backers: ______ (crowdfund amount $_____)
Average rating (Goodreads/Apple/Google/Store): ______

Sample numbers: Total copies: 45,000; MAU: 12,400; Email: 18,000 (open 36%); Instagram: 22,000 (engagement 4.3%); Kickstarter backers: 2,750 ($121,500); Goodreads avg: 4.2.

Slide 6 — Audience Demographics & Psychographics

Template: "Top 3 markets: [Country A %], [Country B %], [Country C %]. Top demo: [age range/gender %]. Psychographics: [top interests & fandom overlap]."

Sample: Top markets: US 42%, UK 12%, Brazil 8%; Top demo: 18–34 (58% female); Psychographics: indie game fans, indie music, cosplay, culinary communities.

Slide 7 — Reader Behavior & Conversion Funnel

Template: "Top of funnel: [impressions/month], middle: [newsletter signups/month], conversion: [book purchases/month], ARPU: $____"

Sample funnel: Impressions/month 1.2M (combined socials), Newsletter signups/month 1,800 (conversion 0.15%), Purchases/month 4,200, ARPU $9.40; LTV estimated $26 with merch attach rates.

Slide 8 — Content Map: How the Graphic Novel Expands

Objective: Show clear adaptation pathways — season-by-season or film + spin-offs + merchandising beats.

Template: "S1: [main arc], S2: [escalation/spin-off], Film: [scope], Merchandise: [core SKUs]."

Sample: S1: Origin & heist arc; S2: Political fall-out & new antagonist; Film: Large-scale finale focusing on colony-wide stakes; Merchandise: character pins, recipe book, limited-run enamel kitchenware.

Slide 9 — Comp Titles & Comparable Deals

Template: "Comparable IP: [Title A] (format & platform), [deal size if public], why comparable: [tone, audience, budget]."

Sample: Comparable: 'The Umbrella Academy' (Netflix) — high-concept family found-family, action-comedy tone; 'Paper Girls' (Amazon) — comic-to-screen YA sci-fi. Recent transmedia deals: The Orangery/WME signings (Variety, Jan 2026) indicate agency interest in shelf-ready IP. If you plan to pitch to regional streamers, read guidance on pitching to Disney+ EMEA for localization tips.

Slide 10 — Revenue Model(s) & 3-Year Projections

Objective: Show multiple revenue streams and conservative/realistic projections.

Template: List revenue streams with 3-year totals (conservative / upside):

Streaming/licensing fees: $____
Print + eBook sales: $____
Merchandise & licensing: $____
Crowdfunding & fan subscriptions: $____
Foreign translation/licensing: $____

Sample conservative 3-year: Streaming $400k, Book sales $180k, Merch $220k, Crowdfund + Subscriptions $90k, Foreign $60k = $950k. Upside adds $1.3M with larger licensing deals and retail merch placements.

Slide 11 — Production & Merch Budget Snapshot

Template: "Pilot: $____ (script, casting, pilot shoot). Series (est.): $____ per ep. Merch initial run: $____ (units and price)."

Sample: Pilot development $150k; Pilot shoot $550k; Series $1.2M/ep (low end); Merch initial run 2k enamel pins + 500 recipe books = $35k manufacturing + $10k marketing. For direct-to-fan merchandising and hybrid fulfillment workflows, see notes on physical–digital merchandising and consider a simple product catalog approach for your shop.

Slide 12 — Rights & Legal Status

Template: "Rights owned: [list — e.g., all media, translations, merchandising]. Existing encumbrances: [agents, option agreements]. Desired transfer: [license, option terms]."

Sample: Owns worldwide film/TV and merchandising rights; print publishing licensed to [small press] through 2027 (non-exclusive); no current option agreements.

Slide 13 — Team & Key Advisors

Template: Name / Role / Relevant credits and a two-line bio. Include legal and licensing counsel.

Sample: Creator: [Name] — 45k copies sold; Showrunner (attached): [Name], produced 2 streaming series; Licensing counsel: [Firm].

Slide 14 — Timeline & Milestones

Template: Quarter-by-quarter milestones for 12–24 months: script, sizzle, pilot, festival premieres, merch launch, distribution deals.

Sample: Q1 Q-2026: script & storyboard; Q2: sizzle & pilot shoot; Q3: merch pre-order; Q4: festival & pitch to streamers. Keep festival timing in mind — programming shifts (shorter headline slots) can change PR windows; see recent notes on festival programming shifts.

Slide 15 — Ask & Closing / Contact

Template: "We are asking [amount] in exchange for [deliverables / rights]. Contact: [Name, email, phone, link to press kit]."

Sample: "Seeking $150,000 for pilot development in exchange for a 12-month option on screen rights. Contact: creator@[domain].com"

Practical examples: Slide visuals and notes

Use clean visual hierarchy. Each slide should include:

Left: one-sentence headline
Right: 1–2 supporting bullets and a single visual (cover art, moodboard, charts)
Footer: one-line proof point (e.g., "18k newsletter, 36% open rate")

For the metrics slide, replace dense tables with a small infographic: funnel bars for impressions → signups → purchases, and a chart for territory percentages. Executives scan — they want the big numbers first.

Advanced metrics & benchmarks to include (2026)

Buyers increasingly expect deep funnel data and customer economics. Here are the key metrics and typical benchmarks you should prepare (adjust to your IP):

MAU / DAU: Monthly active readers and daily active users if you run a reading app. Show growth rate month-over-month.
Email list size + open rate: Open rates above 25% in 2026 are strong — 30%+ is excellent. If you need hosting or benchmarks for indie-led lists, check pocket edge hosts.
Conversion rates: Social→newsletter 0.5–1.5% typical; newsletter→purchase 3–8% typical.
Crowdfund conversion: 3–6% of leads convert on Kickstarter/Indiegogo; include average pledge size.
Merch attach rate: Percentage of book buyers who buy merch — 7–20% depending on SKU and price. Think about fulfillment and packaging early; for fragile prints and prototypes, follow best practices in how to pack and ship fragile art prints.
ARPU and LTV: Annual Revenue Per User and Lifetime Value help buyers forecast monetization; show both conservative and upside scenarios.
CPM & CAC: Cost-per-impression and customer acquisition cost for paid marketing; streamers want to see sustainable CACs if you plan co-marketing.

Frame each metric with a short narrative: not just numbers, but what actions drove them (ads, partnerships, festivals, influencer drops). For producing a compelling sizzle, see a practical cloud video workflow that helps small teams produce festival-ready reels and private-hosted sizzles.

Rights checklist (must-have before pitching)

Written proof of ownership for TV/film and merchandising rights
Copies of any existing publishing contracts and what rights are reserved
Talent agreements or letters of intent for an attached writer/showrunner
Copyright registrations (US, EU or relevant markets)
Clear chain of title documentation
IP valuation notes and comparable licensing deal summaries

Design & storytelling tips to win meetings

Lead with visuals: a 30–45 second sizzle reel or animated moodboard raises interest faster than pages.
Use character-driven hooks: buyers want castable roles and actor comps.
Show merchandising mockups: buyers imagine shelf presence when they see a sample enamel pin, cookbook mock, or plush prototype. For direct-to-fan merchandising workflows, see notes on physical–digital merchandising.
Keep slides to 12–15. Use a one-sheet leave-behind that collapses all metrics to one page.
Anticipate questions about AI: if you used AI for concept art or script assists, document rights and licensing for those assets and have a short policy note (see why AI governance matters).

Sample leave-behind one-sheet (quick template)

Top: Title + one-line logline. Left column: Key metrics (copies, email list, socials, pre-orders). Right column: Revenue model snapshot + ask. Bottom: Rights summary + contact.

Sample pitch email (short & swipeable)

Subject: [Title] — TV/Film + Merch IP with [X] Readers / [Y] Backers

Hi [Name],

I’m [Name], creator of [Title], a [genre] graphic novel with [copies sold] and an active fanbase of [email size]. We’re developing a pilot and merchandising line and seeking a development partner or an option-to-purchase. I’m attaching a one-sheet and a short sizzle link. Can I schedule 20 minutes next week to share the pitch deck?

Best,

[Name] — [contact]

Real-world case study & what to learn

In 2026, transmedia studios and agencies are openly courting graphic-novel IP that demonstrates traction. The Orangery’s signing with WME (Jan 2026) shows agencies are packaging artful, serialized comics into multi-rights deals. Your deck must make that leap for them: show the world, the audience, and the money. If you plan local events to grow fans and merch demand, read interviews about how indie publishers built nationwide pop-up circuits for practical logistics and market timing: an interview on pop-up strategy and a practical guide to how to host a city book launch in 2026.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Pitching without rights clarity — fix before outreach.
Overloading with sales figures without showing funnel or engagement.
Ignoring merchandising feasibility — show prototypes, not ideas. Plan fulfillment and fragile-item shipping using best practices like how to pack and ship fragile art prints.
Too many slides or text-heavy pages — aim for visual storytelling.

Bonus: Quick templates you can copy-paste

Logline template: "[Protagonist] must [goal] before [antagonist/obstacle] because [stakes]."

One-liner for industry: "[Title] is [tone] [genre] exploring [theme]. It reached [metric] and shows [audience behavior]."

Revenue paragraph template: "We expect revenue from (1) streaming/licensing deals, (2) direct-to-fan sales (print + eBook), (3) merchandise licensing and POD; projected conservative three-year revenue $[X], upside $[Y]."

Final checklist before you hit send

All rights documented and shareable
Metrics slide updated to last 30 days
Sizzle/mood reel hosted on private link (use cloud workflows to compress and deliver — see cloud video workflow)
One-sheet and two-page leave-behind ready as PDF
Contact & follow-up plan for 14 days post-pitch

Closing: Turn readers into deal-ready evidence

In 2026 the appetite for serialized, visually driven IP is high, but so is the competition. Executives and merch partners buy clarity — the world, the audience, the rights, and the path to revenue. Use the fill-in-the-blank slides above to turn your graphic novel from a beloved story into a business-ready transmedia property. If you’re building a merch-first strategy, consider micro-gift or bundle tactics from a micro-gift bundles playbook, and map SKUs in a simple product catalog before manufacturing.

Actionable takeaway: Complete slides 1–6 (cover, ask, logline, market, audience metrics, demographic funnel) and deliver them with a 45-second sizzle. That lightweight package opens conversations; the rest of your deck closes them.

Get the downloadable pack

Ready-made templates, a one-sheet PDF, a pitch-email swipe file, and a rights checklist are available as a free pack. Download the Transmedia Pitch-Deck Pack for Graphic Novels at mybook.cloud and get a 30-minute review session with our editorial/licensing advisor.

Want feedback on a slide? Attach your slide or one-sheet in a reply and we’ll give you targeted notes to sharpen your ask. If you need help producing the sizzle, consider portable capture options (e.g., the NovaStream Clip) or a cloud video workflow for adaptation prep (see workflow).

mybook

Contributor

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.

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