NOMA BAR x LA TIMES 'Hollywood’s New Book Boom'

IllustrationNoma BarEditorial Illustration
Written By Dutch Uncle

In the realm of entertainment, the Book-to-Screen industry experienced a thriving boom in Hollywood.

In an issue of the LA Times, with a captivating cover illustration and animation by NOMA BAR, we delved into the phenomenon.

As we navigated through that tumultuous, lockdown-induced year, many of us sought solace in television series like "The Good Lord Bird," "The Queen’s Gambit," and "The Undoing." While these shows seemed disparate in theme, they shared a common thread: they were all adapted from books.

The so-called "IP pipeline," which facilitated the transformation of stories from authors' minds to our screens, had become as essential to the cultural economy as oil pipelines were to our fossil-fueled lives.

Books had long been a vital source of intellectual property for Hollywood, but the rise of streaming platforms had led to an explosion of book-to-screen adaptations. Surprisingly, this sector of the entertainment industry not only weathered the pandemic storm but also accelerated its growth.

As reported by Ryan Faughnder in The Times back in October, the combination of more time spent at home and reduced production activities gave Hollywood's decision-makers an opportunity to delve into books. That newfound availability, combined with the insatiable hunger of streaming services and media companies for fresh content, led to a substantial surge in book sales and rights acquisitions.

During the pandemic, Hollywood voraciously devoured the rights to numerous books, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the entertainment industry in those challenging times.

Dutch Uncle

Dutch Uncle is an award-winning international illustration and animation agency founded in 2006 by Helen Cowley. With offices in London, New York, and Tokyo, we operate across every major timezone, connecting the world's most ambitious brands with exceptional global creative talent.

Over nearly two decades, Dutch Uncle have built one of the most decorated artist rosters in the industry. Our artists have produced Gold Clio and Cannes Lions award-winning work for clients spanning fashion, luxury, fintech, tech, healthcare, and publishing. We have collaborated on prestige illustration and animation projects for global leaders, including Hermès, Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Rimowa, as well as Apple, Google, Mercedes, Netflix, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, The New York Times.

We represent illustrators and animation directors who lead their fields in conceptual thinking, visual intelligence, and craft. Artists whose work cuts through algorithmic sameness to deliver genuine cultural impact.

Beyond our core roster, we also draw on an international network of talent across five continents to meet the scale and complexity of any brief.

Dutch Uncle operates as a full-service creative production partner, managing everything from artist sourcing and briefing through to licensing, copyright, animation production, and final delivery.

We specialise in complex, multi-market projects that demand creative precision and seamless execution. Whether that is a single editorial commission, a suite of high-impact social media assets, or a global animated campaign.

For nearly twenty years, the world's leading agencies, publishers, cultural institutions, and brands have trusted us to bring their most ambitious work to life.

https://www.dutchuncle.co.uk
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