Shotlist for a Transmedia Trailer: Visualizing IP like ‘Traveling to Mars’ for Multi-Format Promotion

Hook: Stop wasting production time — visualize a transmedia trailer that sells your IP in 60–90 seconds

Creators and small teams tell me the same thing: slow, manual storyboarding and inconsistent assets ruin momentum when you need to tease an IP across formats. If you’re promoting a graphic novel or comic like Traveling to Mars, you need a razor-sharp, re-usable plan that turns panels into motion, motion into narrative, and narrative into clicks—fast.

Why a transmedia trailer matters in 2026

2025–26 accelerated two realities: first, studios and transmedia outfits (notably The Orangery, which strengthened industry ties by signing with WME in early 2026) are packaging graphic-novel IP for multi-format promotion; second, creators expect streamlined pipelines driven by AI-assisted storyboarding and real-time engines. That means your promo must be designed to scale across social, linear, and theatrical outlets.

Variety reported in January 2026 that The Orangery — the transmedia studio behind hits such as "Traveling to Mars" — signed with WME, underscoring high demand for IP that migrates between comics, animation, and live-action.

Practical takeaway: Build a single 60–90s core trailer that can be re-cut, reformatted, and localized. The shotlist and animatic below are a production-grade springboard for that exact workflow.

What you’ll get in this blueprint

• A ready-to-use shotlist for a 60–90 second transmedia trailer that teases comic panels, animated sequences, and a live-action hook.
• An animatic blueprint — timings, camera moves, transitions, and sound cues — built for fast assembly in Storyboard Pro, Premiere, or Figma/After Effects pipelines.
• An asset library checklist (downloadable filenames and formats) so editors and creative directors can plug-and-play.
• Platform adaptation notes for vertical, square, and widescreen cuts.

High-level trailer design (60–90s)

Keep the arc simple: hook → world tease → character jeopardy → payoff/CTA. Use comic panels as staging frames, animated sequences for immersion, and a live-action hook to humanize the IP and connect to partners or creators.

Format & pacing recommendations:

• Core edit: 60 seconds (web trailer) — tight, punchy, ideal for social drops.
• Extended cut: 90 seconds — adds a character beat and extra panel transition for festivals or press kits.
• Aspect ratios: 16:9 main, 9:16 vertical re-cut, 1:1 square for social grid. Deliver masters in 4K DCI where possible to future-proof assets.
• Frame rate: 24 fps for cinematic feel; 30 fps for social-native versions that need smooth motion.

Pre-made shotlist: "Traveling to Mars" transmedia trailer (60–90s)

Below is a production-ready shotlist. Each shot includes duration, framing, action, audio cue, and asset name. Use this as a checklist while assembling your animatic.

Legend

• Dur: duration (sec)
• AR: aspect ratio suggestion
• Asset: recommended downloadable filename (see asset pack)

Shotlist — 60s core cut (total ~60s)

1. Shot 01 — Opening emblem (Dur: 3s, AR: 16:9)
   • Visual: Slow reveal of publisher crest and title treatment, distressed half-tones inspired by comic ink.
   • Camera: Subtle push-in (slow zoom).
   • Audio: Low synth rumble + record scratch underscore.
   • Asset: /assets/title_plate_traveling_to_mars.png
2. Shot 02 — Comic panel montage (establish) (Dur: 8s, AR: 16:9 / will crop for vertical)
   • Visual: 3 glued comic panels (wide → medium → close), animated with parallax and ink-spray transitions.
   • Camera: Panel-by-panel slide left to right; slight rotation for kinetic energy.
   • Audio: Static pop, page-turn SFX.
   • VO/Text: “They said Mars was a destination…” (line 1)
   • Asset: /assets/panel_pack_01.psd (layers: lineart, color, captions)
3. Shot 03 — Animated sequence: ship launch (dynamic) (Dur: 10s)
   • Visual: 2D animation of launch sequence from panel art. Smoke layered with particle effects for depth.
   • Camera: Slow orbiting dolly; parallax multiplane.
   • Audio: Thumping sub-bass, rising whoosh.
   • Asset: /assets/anim_launch_comp.aep (precomp layers)
4. Shot 04 — Character tease (animated) (Dur: 7s)
   • Visual: Stylized animated close-up of protagonist's eyes reflecting Mars’ horizon.
   • Camera: Rack focus from reflection to face.
   • Audio: Whispered line: “We’re not alone.”
   • Asset: /assets/char_closeup_frames/char_eye_01.png
5. Shot 05 — Live-action hook (interstitial) (Dur: 8s)
   • Visual: Quick handheld live-action clip of creator/actor in a workshop—practical prop: Mars rover model in foreground, creator’s hands adjusting it.
   • Camera: 1/2 stop handheld jitter to feel authentic.
   • Audio: Ambient workshop noise + short line: “This is where it started.”
   • Asset: /assets/live_hook_creator_01.mov
6. Shot 06 — Comic panels become animated environment (Dur: 10s)
   • Visual: Panels fold out into a 3D environment; animated characters step from panel borders into a continuous shot.
   • Camera: 3-axis pan through panel-turned-world.
   • Audio: Crescendo theme + rising choir pad.
   • Asset: /assets/panel_to_world_comp.aep
7. Shot 07 — Threat reveal / stakes (Dur: 7s)
   • Visual: Silhouette of unknown structure on Mars horizon; quick cuts to character reaction panels.
   • Camera: Smash cut montage, high-contrast inks with red overlays.
   • Audio: Heartbeat, staccato percussion. VO/Text: “No map, no allies.”
   • Asset: /assets/threat_reveal_frames.png
8. Shot 08 — Logo & CTA (end)** (Dur: 7s)
   • Visual: Final title lockup, publishing/streaming logos, release window, QR code for vertical versions.
   • Camera: Fade to black with glitch reveal of release date.
   • Audio: Single piano hit into silence; SFX: digital chime for QR focus.
   • Asset: /assets/final_logo_pack.png, /assets/qr_vertical.png

Optional extension shots (add +30s for 90s cut) — micro-beat additions: a character morality flashback (8s), a montage of world-building panels with archival audio (10s), and a director/creator signature close (12s).

Animatic blueprint: from storyboard to animatic in 6 steps

Use this blueprint to turn the shotlist into a tight animatic that editors can refine into a promo in hours, not days.

1. Frame rate, resolution & timeline setup

• Set timeline at 24 fps for cinematic sound, but create a 30 fps duplicate for social platforms if necessary.
• Master resolution: 4096x2160 (4K DCI). Create sequence presets for 1920x1080 and 1080x1920 using linked sequences in your NLE.
• Label tracks: VO, SFX, Ambience, Music, Temp Graphics, Video Layers.

2. Import assets & layer structure

• Bring PSDs with preserved layers for panels so you can animate lineart and color separately.
• Use placeholders for complex comps (import low-res proxies to keep playback real-time).
• Name layers exactly as the shotlist filenames: e.g., panel_pack_01.psd → seq/panel01.

3. Timing & edit passes

• Pass 1 (structure): Block in shot durations from shotlist — no easing, no effects.
• Pass 2 (motion): Add camera moves: zooms, pans, parallax offsets. Keep motion curves linear until pass 3.
• Pass 3 (refinement): Add easing, secondary motion, and sound cues aligned to frame hits.

4. Sound design & temp score

• Choose a short motif (4–8 bars) to be your sonic anchor. In 2026, creators often use modular AI-assisted tools to generate stems that adapt to cuts.
• Layer SFX: page turns, digital glitches, and environmental ambiences. Place a heartbeat under the stakes reveal for emotional punctuation.

5. Transitions and flourishes

• Comic-to-animation transitions: use mask reveals, panel borders as wipes, or a particle “ink” dissolve for brand consistency.
• For live-action inserts, apply a subtle grain match and color LUT derived from panel color theme to maintain cohesion.

6. Export & deliverables

• Master: ProRes 422 HQ, 4K DCI, 24 fps.
• Social masters: H.264/H.265 adaptive bitrate, vertical 1080x1920, square 1080x1080, and 16:9 1920x1080.
• Upload animatic .mp4 with an burn-in timecode and include an XML/AAF for editorial handoff.

Asset library checklist (downloadable templates & filenames)

Package your assets so anyone on the team can rebuild the trailer fast. Below is a recommended folder structure and file naming convention for the downloadable pack.

/assets — root

• /assets/title_plate_traveling_to_mars.png (transparent PNG; 4K)
• /assets/panel_pack_01.psd (layered; line, color, shadow, caption; 4K)
• /assets/anim_launch_comp.aep (After Effects comp w/ precomps)
• /assets/panel_to_world_comp.aep
• /assets/char_closeup_frames/ (sequence PNGs for animatic)
• /assets/live_hook_creator_01.mov (proxy + hi-res versions included)
• /assets/final_logo_pack.png, /assets/qr_vertical.png
• /assets/sfx_pack.zip (page turns, whooshes, heartbeats)
• /assets/music_stems.zip (4–8 bar motif stems: bass, pad, percussion, lead)
• /assets/shotlist_printable.pdf (printable call sheet with durations)
• /assets/animatic_template.prproj and /assets/animatic_template.sbp (Premiere & Storyboard Pro templates)

How to distribute: Provide a single ZIP and a Figma kit for remote teams. Add a README.txt with color codes, font names, and voiceover scripts. This is essential for production speed and brand consistency.

Voiceover & copy bank (short lines for the trailer)

• Line A (opening): “They said Mars was a destination.”
• Line B (tease): “But the map was missing.”
• Line C (stakes): “We thought we were first.”
• Line D (payoff/CTA): “Traveling to Mars — Issue One, available now. Scan to pre-order.”

Platform adaptation rules (2026 best practices)

By 2026, audiences expect native feeling cuts for each platform. Don’t just crop: re-edit.

• TikTok / Reels (9:16): Prioritize faces and live-action hook; move text away from the top/bottom safe zones. Add tap-to-join card at 3–4 seconds.
• Instagram Grid (1:1): Use a focused 30s cut emphasizing visual style; often performs best as repeatable loop (seamless start/end frame).
• YouTube / Vimeo (16:9): Use the 60–90s master. Include a creator commentary version as extended content to increase watch time.
• ILMs & Partners: Provide high-res comps with alpha channels and LUTs to partners for co-branded campaigns.

Collaboration workflow: speed tricks for lean teams

Make the edit process frictionless with clear versioning and shared libraries.

1. Create a shared Figma/Notion board with the shotlist and asset links; pin the animatic sequence and include timestamps for key beats.
2. Use Frame.io or similar for timestamped comments; insist on one decision-maker for each feedback round to avoid scope creep.
3. Adopt proxies during the animatic phase and swap hi-res comps only at final export to save cloud transfer time.
4. Leverage modern AI-assisted cut tools (2025–26 maturity): use them for quick rough-cuts and alt-trim suggestions, then polish manually.

Case study snapshot: How a small team used this blueprint

In late 2025, a European transmedia studio used a similar shotlist to create a 75s trailer for a sci-fi graphic novel launch. They produced a 60s social cut, a 90s festival cut, and a 30s vertical ad in under 72 hours of edit time by using layered PSD assets, an AE template, and a shared Figma board. Results: pre-orders increased 42% in two weeks; partners cited the live-action hook as the conversion driver.

Advanced strategies & future-proofing (2026–2027)

Think beyond the trailer. Use your shotlist as the basis for a modular asset tree that can seed:

• AR experiences (layered PNGs become AR stickers)
• Micro-episodes (convert panel animations into 15–30s narrative shorts)
• Playable teasers (export 3–5s loops for interactive ads)

Also consider rights and metadata. Tag every asset with license info and contributor metadata (especially important in transmedia deals—see industry moves like The Orangery signing with global agencies in 2026).

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Overworking transitions: keep them consistent with the comic aesthetic.
• Ignoring platform-specific pacing: vertical audiences consume faster; shorten cuts or add captions.
• Late-stage asset swaps: lock color and key VFX early; last-minute changes kill deadlines.
• Poor naming conventions: follow the asset pack names to prevent editor confusion.

Downloadable templates & next steps

To make this actionable in your pipeline, we prepared a downloadable pack with the exact filenames and templates referenced in this article: layered PSD panels, AE comps, Premiere/Storyboard Pro templates, audio stems, and an animatic timeline (.prproj/.sbp). Use them as-is or customize the color palette and credits for your IP.

Where to get the pack: Visit storyboard.top/templates/traveling-to-mars-pack to download the shotlist, animatic template, and full asset checklist (free & pro tiers available).

Final checklist before you press publish

1. Run the animatic with sound only — does the arc read without visuals?
2. Check branding & release info in the final 5 seconds for legibility across aspect ratios.
3. Confirm captioning and localization for primary markets.
4. Validate proxy/hirez swaps and finalize exports for all deliverables.

Closing — convert momentum into conversions

Transmedia trailers are storytelling tools and sales engines. In 2026, with studios like The Orangery proving graphic-novel IP’s cross-format potential, the teams that win are the ones who can prototype and iterate fast. Use this shotlist and animatic blueprint as a reusable production kit: one core trailer, many variations, and scalable assets that make your IP live across platforms.

Action step: Download the “Traveling to Mars” shotlist & animatic pack at storyboard.top/templates, build your animatic in one day, and share a vertical cut with your community within 48 hours.

Want a custom version? If you need the shotlist adapted for longer formats or a bespoke live-action hook, reach out to our studio services team at storyboard.top/services for a fast turnaround.

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