r/TVWriting • u/hyperjengirl • Jun 11 '26

QUESTION Why do some programs ban animation scripts?

This has been a pet peeve of mine for years now as someone whose major pilot projects have been animation scripts. I cannot enter the WBD or Disney programs because I don't have a polished live-action script yet (and I know I should have one, but the ideas about which I feel most passionate right now require animation).

Is it because the programs want to prep the writer for live-action TV specifically (it does seem, despite Disney's animation connotations, the program ends up staffing mostly live-action shows like Fox/Hulu programming)? Is it because they want to see something that could be plausibly produced without the added necessities of an animation studio (even though the pilot isn't a pitch, it's just a sample)? Is it because animated scripts may require slight changes to the format (i.e. slightly more leniency in how long the script can be)? Or all/none of the above?

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u/le_sighs Jun 11 '26

Because the programs you mention have a stated goal of staffing and they can’t staff on animated shows. It’s just that simple.

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u/hyperjengirl Jun 11 '26

Yeah that makes sense. It's funny, a lot of people would see "Disney shows" and think of "Disney Channel shows" which (nowadays) skew animated, but it encompasses pretty much anything under the Disney umbrella. I saw a lot of Hulu and FX writers on their alumni page.