Cartoon Vector Illustration, 1 now; more + Animated later

We are a product sales website looking for an illustrator/animator to work with us on a recurring basis to create little cartoon illustrations/animations for our two mascot characters for marketing purposes. RIGHT NOW: - We need 1 cartoon/comic style vector illustration, 2D design, 3 cells. - It needs two characters (dogs) to be created with design/style to be based on example style to be provided, set on a background scene of a snowy forest clearing. - Design must be bright, colourful, cheery, with an almost 3D-like-feel. - Story and texts to be provided. - This is for marketing purposes so it needs to be scalable (vector) to different common ad sizes. - Preference for it to be in Illustrator / Flash for future animation. FUTURE: - We want to make this a series ongoing indefinitely, always featuring the same two mascots plus possibly other new characters in future, on different backgrounds, humourously promoting different products each time. - We want to order several per year depending on cost. - We would like future ones to be Flash animated cartoons if we can afford it. QUOTE: - We must own all Intellectual Property Rights over all designs and items created, files, etc. - For now, please provide two quotes: 1. for vector illustration. 2. for Flash animation. - Please send links to at least three relevant examples in your portfolio. Thank you!