Transmedia Storytelling Unit Using The Orangery's Graphic Novels

Hook: Turn limited prep time into a high-engagement, cross-curricular unit using two modern graphic novels

Teachers and curriculum designers: if you’re juggling pacing guides, standards, and students who learn visually and digitally, this ready-to-adapt unit will save planning time while delivering deep literary analysis, media literacy, and creative production skills. Using The Orangery’s graphic novels Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika, this cross-curricular unit teaches narrative structure, adaptation, and developing a professional-level transmedia pitch — all aligned to contemporary 2026 trends in storytelling and classroom technology.

Why this unit matters in 2026: trends and context

In early 2026 the transmedia IP studio The Orangery — owner of the graphic series Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika — signed with WME, underscoring the commercial attention on graphic-novel IP and multi-platform adaptation (industry moves, Jan 2026). That attention drives two classroom realities educators face now:

• Students need modern literacy skills that include multimodal analysis and creation (comics, podcasts, interactive web narratives).
• Educators can leverage inexpensive, classroom-ready tools — AI-assisted storyboard & script prompts, AR creation kits, and collaborative media platforms — to teach real-world transmedia production workflows.

By centering active classroom work on Traveling to Mars (sci-fi world-building) and Sweet Paprika (character-driven, genre-blending story), this unit prepares students to analyze narrative choices and then reimagine them across platforms — a key industry skill in 2026.

Unit overview: goals, grade levels, and timing

Grade levels: High school (9–12) and introductory college media/English courses. With modifications, elements work for middle school.

Duration: 2–3 weeks (10–15 class periods) depending on depth of production work and technology access.

Cross-curricular ties: English/Literature, Media Studies, Art/Design, Drama, Computer Science (interactive media), Social Studies (ethics & world-building), Business (pitch & IP).

Key learning objectives:

• Analyze narrative structure in graphic novels and how visual choices shape meaning.
• Compare adaptation strategies across media (comics → audio drama → interactive map → short film).
• Design and pitch a transmedia extension of a text with a clear target audience, platform plan, and prototype.
• Apply collaboration, project management, and media production workflows used in contemporary transmedia projects.

Standards alignment (examples)

Adapt to your region’s standards; sample U.S. alignments:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3: Analyze how complex characters develop.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.7: Analyze multiple interpretations of a story across media.
• ISTE Standards for Students: Creative Communicator, Computational Thinker, Innovative Designer.

Materials and tech (low- and high-tech options)

Core texts: classroom copies or digital excerpts of Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika. Note: both titles are IP of The Orangery—verify educational licensing for full-text distribution or use teacher-selected excerpts and fair use analyses for classroom critique. For licensing and on-platform rights, see resources like new license marketplaces.

Low-tech: printed panels, butcher paper storyboards, index cards, audio recorders (smartphones).

High-tech (2026-relevant):

• Collaborative comic and storyboard tools (web-based platforms with real-time editing).
• AI-assisted storyboard & script prompts to speed drafting (use responsibly; require student revision and citation).
• AR/360 scene builders and simple VR authoring kits for immersive prototypes.
• Audio editing tools for podcast/drama prototypes and short-form video editors for social-format trailers (podcast prototyping guides are useful inspiration).

Unit sequence: 10 class-period plan (scaffolded for skill-building)

Day 1 — Launch & anchor texts

• Hook: show a 90-second montage of transmedia examples (comic panels, a quick podcast clip, an interactive map preview).
• Introduce The Orangery briefly as a transmedia IP studio (mention recent industry signings as evidence of the market for such IP).
• Assign reading: selected chapters/panels from Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika.

Day 2 — Narrative structure in graphic novels

• Mini-lesson on story arc, beats, and the visual grammar of comics (panel transitions, gutters, framing).
• Close-read activity: students annotate a two-page sequence from each text, identifying inciting incident, rising action, and visual cues.

Day 3 — Character & point-of-view

• Compare character development techniques in the two texts: internal thought, visual symbolism, dialogue.
• Quick write: choose a minor character and rewrite a scene from their POV (one page).

Day 4 — Genre blending and tone

• Discuss how genre conventions shift between the sci-fi of Traveling to Mars and the sensory-driven tone of Sweet Paprika.
• Group activity: create a toneboard (visual + word bank) for each novel.

Day 5 — What is adaptation? Principles & ethics

• Teach adaptation theory: fidelity vs. transformation; medium specificity.
• Ethics & IP: classroom use, rights, and The Orangery’s role as IP holder — emphasize licensing and respectful, credited classroom use.

Days 6–7 — Transmedia concept development

• Students form small teams and choose (or are assigned) a transmedia approach: audio serial, webcomic spinoff, AR heritage map, short film, or educational game.
• Deliverable: one-page concept brief with audience, platforms, and narrative hook.

Days 8–10 — Prototype & pitch

• Teams build a low-fidelity prototype (3–5 slides, 60–90 second audio/promo, clickable map sample, or a live-read scene).
• Pitch day: 4–6 minute pitches followed by Q&A. Use rubric to assess narrative cohesion, platform fit, creativity, and feasibility — consider inviting a guest critic drawn from local industry or campus outreach (micro‑events & campus outreach can help with guest invites).

Sample lesson: Adapting a scene from panel to podcast (detailed)

Learning target: convert a two-page comic sequence into a 90–120 second audio drama that preserves narrative beats while leveraging sound to replace visuals.

1. Choose a scene and map its beats (beat sheet — 6–8 beats).
2. Create a 1-page radio script focusing on dialogue and sound cues (SFX, music, silence).
3. Block role assignments: actor(s), sound designer, director, editor.
4. Record using simple tools; edit to a 90–120 second clip.
5. Peer critique guided by rubric emphasizing clarity of narrative, evocative sound design, and fidelity to theme.

Assessment & rubrics

Design rubrics that balance literary analysis and media production skills. Key criteria:

• Narrative understanding — accurate identification of story beats and character motivations.
• Adaptation choices — evidence-based explanation for changes across media.
• Platform fit — how well the chosen medium enhances the story.
• Collaboration & project management — clear roles, milestones met.
• Prototype quality — functional prototype that demonstrates the concept.

Example rubric levels: Exemplary / Proficient / Developing / Beginning. Provide concrete descriptors (e.g., “Exemplary: Prototype demonstrates 3+ platform-specific features and coherent narrative beats”).

Differentiation, accessibility, and sensitivity

Because Sweet Paprika contains mature themes in its original form, provide classroom-safe excerpts or alternate texts for younger learners. Use content warnings and offer opt-outs with equivalent assignments.

Accessibility: supply transcripts, alt-text for visuals, captioned audio, and adjustable reading levels. Scaffold with sentence starters for students unfamiliar with media production.

Teacher examples & mini case studies (experience-driven)

Case study 1 — Urban high school media class (10 days): Students adapted a minor character from Traveling to Mars into an Instagram-style webcomic plus a 2-minute AR scene. Outcome: higher engagement and improved narrative analysis scores (teacher-observed pre/post improvement).

Case study 2 — Elective media course at a community college (3 weeks): Teams created transmedia pitches combining Sweet Paprika themes with a podcast serial. One team’s pitch simulated a real-world agency brief—students received feedback from a local media producer via Zoom, mirroring industry workflows and outreach models similar to hybrid book-club community practices.

Practical tips for classroom rollout (time-saving and classroom management)

• Use templates: one-page concept briefs, 6-beat beat sheets, and 90–120 second script templates to cut prep time — templates and microformats toolkits are widely available (template toolkits).
• Chunk tech: require low-fidelity prototypes first, then optional high-fidelity upgrades for extra credit.
• Invite a guest critic (local transmedia professional or librarian) for pitch day—virtual invitations work well and are free; use campus & community outreach channels (micro-event playbooks can help structure invites).
• Keep grading manageable: use peer assessment calibrated with teacher rubrics.

Transmedia pitch checklist (what industry expects in 2026)

Teach students to think like pitch-ready creators. A strong transmedia pitch includes:

• Logline and tagline — concise and marketable.
• Core narrative — main beats across platforms and how each platform adds value.
• Audience and distribution plan — who, where, and why.
• Prototype or MVP — playable demo, sample episode, or interactive slice.
• Production roadmap and budget estimate — realistic tasks and roles.
• IP and ethical considerations — crediting source material, fair use, and licensing needs (important when using The Orangery’s IP).
• Measurement plan — engagement metrics, learning outcomes, or business KPIs.

Sample evaluation metrics (formative + summative)

• Formative: reading checks, beat-sheet accuracy, script drafts.
• Summative: transmedia pitch score, prototype usability, peer review scores.
• Soft skills: collaboration logs, reflection journals, presentation poise.

Addressing IP & classroom copyright (practical guidance)

The Orangery’s catalog has growing industry interest; always verify that classroom distribution complies with copyright. Practical approaches:

• Use short excerpts under fair use for analysis and critique; cite the source (Variety’s 2026 coverage highlights the studio’s commercial trajectory).
• Contact publishers for educational licenses for class sets or digital access — consider on-platform license marketplaces like on-platform license marketplaces.
• When students adapt the text for public release (blogs, podcasts), require original transformative elements and credit the source; consult your district’s media release policy before publishing student work online.

Future-facing extensions & assessment in 2026 and beyond

To prepare students for the creative economy of 2026, include optional modules:

• Fast prototyping with AI-assisted visual assets — teach ethical use and attribution.
• Interactive analytics: simple dashboards that track prototype engagement (clicks, listens) and inform revisions.
• Entrepreneurial module: students draft a simple IP pitch deck that addresses licensing and cross-platform revenue streams — pair that with micro-credential thinking and ledgers (micro‑credentials & ledger approaches).

“Transmedia teaches students to think across systems — story, audience, and platform. That skillset is increasingly important as IP like The Orangery’s finds multi-platform life.”

Final checklist for teachers

• Secure text access and confirm permissible classroom use.
• Prepare templates and rubrics ahead of Day 1.
• Select tech options appropriate to your students and bandwidth.
• Plan one public-facing goal (pitch day, blog showcase) to increase authenticity.
• Schedule a reflection and revision cycle after peer feedback.

Actionable takeaways

• Use two distinct graphic novels to teach comparative narrative analysis and platform-specific adaptation.
• Scaffold students from close reading to pitch-ready prototypes in 10–15 class periods.
• Emphasize ethics, IP, and industry-ready skills to align classroom work with 2026 transmedia trends.

Call to action

Ready to run this unit? Download our ready-to-use packet — beat sheets, script templates, rubrics, and a 10-day pacing guide — and get a starter transmedia pitch template your students can use. Use the packet to save planning time and bring contemporary transmedia practice into your classroom this semester.

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