From Graphic Novels to Global IP: How Creators Can Turn Stories into Transmedia Franchises

Hook: You have a great graphic novel — now how do you turn it into a franchise without losing creative control?

Creators and small publishers tell us the same things again and again: you build a devoted audience for a story, but translating that devotion into TV, games, merch, or live experiences feels like a maze. Agencies and studios want packaged IP, but the path to getting “packaged” while protecting creative ownership is unclear. The Orangery’s recent signing with WME in January 2026 is a real-world blueprint for doing this the right way — it shows how focused IP curation, smart rights management, and transmedia-first thinking create opportunities for franchising at scale.

The Orangery × WME: Why this deal matters for creators in 2026

On Jan. 16, 2026, Variety reported that European transmedia studio The Orangery, founded by Davide G.G. Caci in Turin, signed with WME after assembling strong graphic-novel IP such as Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika. This is more than a headline: it signals how elite agencies now pursue boutique IP studios that package narrative universes with franchising in mind.

Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery, Behind Hit Graphic Novel Series ‘Traveling to Mars’ and ‘Sweet Paprika,’ Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)

That signing illustrates four practical truths every creator should internalize in 2026:

1. Agencies want IP that is modular and rights-ready.
2. Proof-of-audience and cross-platform potential matter more than ever.
3. Rights management and clear chain-of-title are deal must-haves.
4. Transmedia-first packaging is a competitive edge.

2026 trends that make this moment crucial

Late 2025 and early 2026 accelerated patterns that matter for graphic-novel creators:

• Streamers and agencies are consolidating IP bets. With studios optimizing slates, they favor rich story universes that can sustain multi-year exploitation.
• Creator-owned deals are mainstreaming. More creators insist on retaining character and merchandising rights, negotiating licenses or revenue shares rather than outright sales.
• AI and data tools speed worldbuilding and audience insights. Tools that map audience segments and simulate story arcs are improving pitch precision.
• New formats compete: audio-first series, AR experiences, episodic games, and live events are common follow-ups.

The Orangery blueprint: 8 practical lessons creators can copy

Below are tactical steps distilled from The Orangery’s approach — the things small studios and solo creators can do right now to make their graphic novels transmedia-ready.

1. Start with a modular story universe, not just a single book

Design your world so elements can be repackaged: character arcs that spin into side-series, locations that host multiple stories, and visual motifs that migrate into animation and merch. A modular universe makes adaptation cheaper and more enticing to agencies and producers.

2. Build an IP bible from day one

Your IP bible is the single document producers and agents want. It should include:

• High-level premise & tone (one-paragraph elevator pitch)
• Character biographies with growth arcs
• Season and series outlines for TV/animation
• Core art assets and style guides
• Merchandising and licensing ideas
• Rights table and current ownership

Keep the bible concise and visual — agents skim for potential, not minutiae.

3. Lock down rights and prove clear chain-of-title

Before pitching, secure a clean rights package. Practical items:

• Register copyrights (U.S. Copyright Office or local equivalent) and keep registrations current.
• Use contracts that specify whether work is “work-for-hire,” assigned, or licensed; avoid ambiguity over joint authorship.
• Have signed agreements with collaborators (artists, co-writers, designers) with clear IP clauses.
• Trademark key character names or series titles where feasible.

Agencies like WME will screen for chain-of-title issues early; fixing these later is costly and can scuttle deals.

4. Create measurable proof-of-audience

Today, audience proof is as persuasive as a great pitch. Data you can show:

• Sales figures (print & digital), pre-orders, and subscription retention
• Social metrics (engagement rates, not just follower counts)
• Community activity — Discord, Patreon, or forum analytics
• Press coverage, awards, or festival screenings

Contextualize the numbers: a 20k engaged Discord community might be more valuable than 100k passive followers on a single platform.

5. Package a pitch that agencies can immediately evaluate

When you pitch WME-style agencies, give them the elements they need to say “yes” quickly:

• A one-page logline + one-page market comps
• A 10–12 slide pitch deck with visuals and revenue streams
• One-page rights summary (who owns what; what you’re offering)
• A 60–90 second sizzle reel or animated concept if possible

Deliver these assets in one neatly packaged folder (cloud link + zipped assets) so an agent can forward it internally without chasing attachments.

6. Negotiate smart: retain what fuels long-term value

When agencies or producers make offers, understand the deal levers:

• Options vs assignments: Options grant temporary exclusivity; assignments transfer ownership. Prefer options with defined timelines and reversion clauses.
• Merchandising & sequel rights: Try to retain or co-license these — they’re the long-term value drivers.
• Territorial scope: Keep foreign rights or carve them out to partner separately (as The Orangery did by packaging European potential).
• Credit & creative participation: Negotiate for producer credit or involvement in writers’ rooms.

7. Design a multi-phase franchise roadmap

Think in phases so every licensing partner sees a succession plan:

1. Phase 1 — Core adaptation (animated series or limited live-action)
2. Phase 2 — Audio & gaming (podcast series, narrative game)
3. Phase 3 — Merchandising & experiential (toys, apparel, conventions, pop-ups)
4. Phase 4 — Global localization & new IP spin-offs

Include projected timelines and KPIs (e.g., adaptation greenlight within 18 months; merchandising license within 36 months).

8. Leverage community as co-producers

Modern franchises grow through community ownership. Practical tactics:

• Run episodic crowdfunding campaigns tied to milestones
• Use private beta tests for games or audio adaptations
• Offer limited-run merch drops tied to story events
• Invite community creatives to produce sanctioned fanworks under a licensing umbrella

This creates attention metrics agencies love, and creates low-cost product-market validation for franchise elements.

How to pitch agencies like WME — a tactical checklist

Use this checklist when preparing to approach talent and literary agencies in 2026.

1. Do your research: Target agents who represent transmedia or graphic-novel IP. Look at their recent deals.
2. Warm introductions over cold submissions: Use mutual contacts, festival panels, or networking at conferences (Content London, Angoulême, SXSW) to get in the door.
3. Lead with a 30-second hook: “A noir sci-fi graphic novel where interplanetary postal workers uncover a planetary conspiracy — imagine Altered Carbon meets Paper Girls.”
4. Send the essentials only: one-page pitch, 10-slide deck, rights summary, and a 1–2 page proof-of-audience sheet.
5. Follow-up with value: new sales numbers, festival awards, or a newly produced animatic keep momentum.

Rights management: practical legal steps every creator must take

Before signing with an agency, do this legal housekeeping:

• Confirm copyright registrations for core works and any adaptation materials.
• Maintain written agreements with contributors; attach moral rights waivers where applicable.
• Assemble a rights table that lists rights claimed, rights available, and expiration dates for options.
• Use escrow or notarized assignments if transferring rights internationally.
• Consult an IP lawyer experienced in entertainment deals before signing options or assignments.

Small cost upfront saves six-figure disputes later.

Advanced strategies for scaling to global franchising

Once an agency shows interest, scale deliberately:

• Localize as transcreation: Don’t just translate text; adapt cultural nuance and art edits for each market.
• License regionally: Selling separate territorial licenses (Europe, Asia, Latin America) can maximize revenue and creative control.
• Partner with gaming studios early: Narrative-first games expand IP while deepening engagement.
• Explore audio-first spin-offs: Serialized fiction podcasts are low-cost ways to test character extensions before greenlighting larger adaptations.
• Use data-driven marketing: Feed audience behavior from your platforms to potential partners to prove cross-format lift.

Case study snapshot: From page to package — a hypothetical timeline

Use this 24–36 month timeline as an operational template. It’s inspired by how boutique studios like The Orangery scaled a slate before partnering with WME.

1. Months 0–6: Release core graphic novel(s), build community, register copyrights, prepare IP bible.
2. Months 6–12: Produce sizzle reel, secure merchandising mockups, gather analytics (sales & community KPIs).
3. Months 12–18: Pitch agents and boutique studios; consider selective festival submissions to increase visibility.
4. Months 18–24: Negotiate option or representation; finalize chain-of-title and legal housekeeping.
5. Months 24–36: Activate first-phase adaptation (animation or audio), license merchandising, begin regional deals.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Watch out for these traps:

• Over-assigning early: Giving all rights away for minimal upfront money kills long-term upside.
• Poor recordkeeping: Missing contributor signatures or inconsistent IP clauses create deal friction.
• Ignoring community feedback: A franchise that alienates its core fandom loses leverage when negotiating bigger deals.
• Relying solely on one format: A single successful graphic novel is a launchpad — diversify early.

What agencies look for in 2026 — the WME checklist

When The Orangery attracted WME, it matched a modern agency checklist. Use it to evaluate your readiness:

• Distinctive IP voice and visual identity
• Clear transmedia pathways (which parts become TV, which become games, which become merch)
• Evidence of audience demand and engagement
• Defined rights and legal clarity
• Scalable commercial strategies rather than one-off adaptions

Final takeaway: Think like The Orangery, act like a creator

The Orangery didn’t become attractive to WME by accident. They assembled rights, curated a slate, and presented a packaged, modular universe that agencies could visualize across screens, stages, and shelves. Creators and publishers can replicate that approach by building clear IP bibles, locking down rights, proving audience demand, and packaging transmedia-first pitches.

In 2026, the smartest move is to design your graphic novel not as an isolated product, but as the first chapter of a franchise strategy. That doesn’t mean sacrificing artistry — it means making your art legible to partners who can scale it while preserving the story’s soul.

Call to action

Ready to make your graphic novel transmedia-ready? Start with a free IP checklist and pitch-deck template tailored for creators — download it, fill in your universe, and use it to approach agents or studios. If you want hands-on feedback, submit your one-page pitch to our Creator Review board for a tailored critique. Take the next step: protect your rights, package your world, and pitch with purpose.

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