In a sign of support from the company’s financial backers, the leading independent VFX and animation studio group has announced a substantial investment to support ongoing operations and strategic expansion.
The agreement between The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 (TAG), and Walt Disney Animation Studios, overwhelmingly ratified, includes substantial pay raises ranging from 24-35% as well as pension and health benefits.
Group to work from Burbank’s Nickelodeon Animation Studio; writers’ curriculum includes networking, executive mentorship, and tailored workshops, while artists will work closely with senior artist and peer mentors.
With a voter turnout even greater than the last cycle’s turnout, a supermajority of IATSE Local 839 members voted to ratify the 2024-2027 Animation Guild Master Agreement.
The guild’s executive board reacts to what it notes are ‘a small minority’ getting ‘an outsized voice’ regarding the tentative AMPTP agreement, saying it has voted unanimously to recommend ratification.
Several members of the negotiating committee have expressed discontent on social media over the guild’s new AMPTP tentative agreement, citing a lack of protections for artists against generative AI and staffing minimums.
The companies will collaborate on animated specials inspired by Meteor 17 Books’ catalogue, including ‘Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable’ and ‘Vincent: Starry Starry Night.’
In the wake of challenges faced by the U.S. entertainment industry, the union affirms U.S. Representative Adam Schiff’s recent push to evaluate how competitive tax incentives could protect the domestic film and television production jobs from overseas competition.
The move aims to bolster Watch Next’s overall CG animation development, production capabilities, financing opportunities, and talent pool; CEO and founder Philippe Alessandri remains at the helm.
The studio management platform allows producers and resource managers to visually sort projects, licenses, people, and more without spreadsheets.
The Austin-based workers’ 96% supermajority vote approves new contract prioritizing wage equality, job security and retirement benefits.
The 1-year online program trains students in production oversight for animation, visual effects, and video games; now accepting applications.
Previous animation division executive producer at the global animation and VFX studio will now lead studio’s international teams.
The platform cites challenges and costs in animation production for digital media as reason for move; GM Kerry Shawcross explains and invites viewers to access content on their website – for free.
On the heels of recent brand and digital platform launches along with a transition to the NYSE, the company adds the entertainment, media and high-tech industry executive who has held positions at the NFL Hall of Fame, Live Nation Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.
The longtime industry leader and ASIFA India chapter founder was a key player in building the animation production industry in India, including the setup of the Toonz Academy in Kerala and The Week of the Masters Animation Festival.
Co-founders Clément Calvet and Jérémie Fajner went from 2 artists working in their living room to 600 artists working in Paris, Milan, and as of next month, a brand-new location – with USD pipeline - in France’s growing animation hub.
Production studio employs an easily scalable cloud-based workflow, using tools like Maya, Cinema 4D, Arnold, Nuke, and Unreal Engine, built around a shared Amazon Web Services storage system on Amazon S3 connecting VFX and finishing artists at various locations.
New funding round values company at more than $4 billion; money earmarked to accelerate growth in sports and interactive entertainment as well as grow animation division.
With 15+ years of experience, the VFX supervisor and commercial director joins the virtual production studio to oversee the company’s visual effects and animation production.
Director Hisko Hulsing talks about the production of Prime Video’s acclaimed animated series, from the many supervisory hats he wears to the sublimity of the writing.
Bringing extensive industry experience, the former Aha Media exec joins the CG animation production company that boasts cutting edge software merging video game tech with VFX and machine learning.
The animation company’s production workers are the fifth group this year choosing to join The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839; Titmouse NY kicked off the unionization push in January 2022 with Titmouse LA following suit in March.
Tony Award-winning former Disneytoon Studios and Imagineering exec returns to Disney as Vice President, Studio Strategy and Operations, while Disney Television Animation exec promoted to Vice President, Production.
Following the deal, the UK-based animation and VFX studio plans to expand staff to more than 600 by end of 2022.
