Annotated Bibliography Example: Transmedia IP and Adaptation (Using The Orangery Sources)

Start fast: Compile an annotated bibliography that helps you finish sooner, not later

Deadlines, conflicting citation styles, and the pressure to show original thinking are the top stressors for students working on research projects about transmedia and adaptation. If you’re researching The Orangery and need reliable citation examples and smart annotations, this guide gives you ready-to-use templates, real-world model entries, and step-by-step workflows tailored for 2026 research practices.

Why this matters in 2026 (quick context)

Since late 2025, the entertainment industry accelerated deals linking IP holders and agencies to expand story universes across comics, film, streaming, games, and AR/VR. A high-profile example: on Jan. 16, 2026, Variety reported that transmedia studio The Orangery—which owns graphic-novel properties such as Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika—signed with the William Morris Endeavor agency (WME). That kind of trade reporting is essential primary material for adaptation studies because it documents how IP rights, agent strategies, and market interest drive adaptations across media.

What you get in this article

• Model annotated bibliography entries (with real citation examples for the Variety article)
• Annotation templates: summary, credibility, and research use
• Practical research skills: tracking sources, using citation managers, and avoiding plagiarism
• 2026 trends that should shape your research questions in adaptation studies

Core principle: Every annotation answers three questions

Each annotation should quickly tell a reader: (1) What is this source? (Summary) (2) Is it trustworthy? (Credibility & limitations) (3) How will I use it? (Reflection & relevance). Aim for 100–200 words per annotation depending on your instructor’s guidance.

Annotation structure (use this template)

1. Full citation (APA / MLA / Chicago) — keep one style consistently.
2. Summary — 1–3 sentences describing the source’s main claim or content.
3. Credibility & key evidence — trust signals: author, outlet, methodology, primary documents.
4. Relevance to your project — how this source informs your thesis on transmedia adaptation.
5. Limitations — what it does not cover or questions it leaves open.

Model annotated entries: The Orangery case (real-world practice)

Below are model entries you can copy and adapt. The first set uses the same source in three citation styles so you can paste directly into your bibliography. Each entry includes a model annotation written for a student researching transmedia IP, adaptation dynamics, and agency strategies.

1) Trade reporting: Variety piece (primary news source)

Use this when you need a dated, industry-facing account of deals and personnel. Trade articles are primary evidence of market activity and helpful for tracing timelines of adaptation deals.

APA (7th ed.)

Vivarelli, N. (2026, January 16). Transmedia IP studio the Orangery, behind hit graphic novel series 'Traveling to Mars' and 'Sweet Paprika,' signs with WME (Exclusive). Variety. https://variety.com/2026/digital/global/the-orangery-ip-studio-sweet-paprika-wme-1236632948/

Annotation (example): Nick Vivarelli's January 16, 2026 Variety report provides a concise, reporter-driven account of WME signing the newly formed European transmedia studio The Orangery. The article lists the studio's lead properties (Traveling to Mars, Sweet Paprika) and quotes industry context about agency partnerships in the current rights-climate. Vivarelli is an experienced Variety correspondent covering international media deal-making, which increases the article's trustworthiness as a record of events. Use this source to establish a timeline of agency representation and to support claims about market interest in graphic-novel IP for cross-platform adaptation. Limitation: the piece focuses on deal announcement and lacks detailed financial terms and creative strategy; follow-up interviews or filings are required for deeper economic analysis.

MLA (9th ed.)

Vivarelli, Nick. "Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery, Behind Hit Graphic Novel Series 'Traveling to Mars' and 'Sweet Paprika,' Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)." Variety, 16 Jan. 2026, https://variety.com/2026/digital/global/the-orangery-ip-studio-sweet-paprika-wme-1236632948/.

Annotation (condensed for MLA-style bibliography): Trade reporting by Vivarelli documents the WME-Orangery deal, identifies the studio's flagship properties, and situates the announcement within recent upticks in agency representation of European transmedia IP. Useful for establishing provenance and public reception. Does not include contract terms or strategic plans; supplement with press releases or interviews.

Chicago (Notes & Bibliography)

Vivarelli, Nick. "Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery, Behind Hit Graphic Novel Series 'Traveling to Mars' and 'Sweet Paprika,' Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)." Variety, January 16, 2026. https://variety.com/2026/digital/global/the-orangery-ip-studio-sweet-paprika-wme-1236632948/.

Annotation (Chicago-friendly): A trade piece providing an industry snapshot of the Orangery-WME relationship. Use as contemporaneous evidence of market movements in early 2026. Cross-check with company statements for accuracy on representation and rights.

2) Company press materials: The Orangery (use as a primary source)

Companies often publish press releases, decks, or

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