Recent threats to the livelihoods of animation workers have been an increasing concern for those in the entertainment industry. After the Screen Actors’ Guild’s (SAG-AFTRA) strike last year, The Animation Guild (TAG) are paying close attention to the rights of its members. Part of the international union’s responsibility is to highlight current challenges within the animation industry— notably generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), job layoffs and outsourcing. Prior to their negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), TAG members organized a rally to bring both the artists involved in the union as well as animation fans together to further the conversation.The rally’s discussions mainly included GenAI, which threatens jobs and the irreplaceable creative expression that goes into the industry.
TAG consists of more than 6000 skilled artists, writers, animators, and technicians in the animation industry. It strives to protect its members and improve their quality of work, including wages, working conditions, and providing pension and health benefits. Its members work hard as a collective to fight for the rights of animation workers as ongoing issues affect the industry. TAG has also protected workers by ensuring that employers follow the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreements.
On August 12, 2024, TAG started negotiations with the AMPTP to discuss key threats to the members of the animation industry. The guild wrote in an update, “As it enters these negotiations, the animation industry has been decimated by numerous issues that endanger the livelihoods of animation workers. During the pandemic, animation workers supported the industry by working remotely to produce high-quality content. As a reward for stepping up during this difficult time, they are facing great threats to the sustainability of their crafts.” Prior to the negotiations, TAG hosted the “Stand with Animation!” rally outside of their headquarters in Burbank, California.
Members and speakers of the guild shared their thoughts as industry workers, other unions, politicians, and fans came to show their support. They discussed a plethora of issues currently being faced in the industry, but GenAI was the most potent topic. GenAI threatens human creativity that goes into animated works. This personal touch is what makes animation so unique and creates such a valued industry. With the rate of entertainment companies that have used or considered GenAI, it could potentially devastate the industries’ workers and their livelihoods. An impact study conducted between TAG, CAA and CVL Economics revealed that 29 percent of animation jobs could potentially be disrupted or lost in the next three years. Some doubtlessly argue that GenAI could enhance the industry, which could pose a potential roadblock in negotiations. General arguments from GenAI supporters are that it is revolutionizing the industry in ways that “build creativity” by exploring new possibilities and styles by generating unexpected outcomes.
On September 20, 2024, TAG released an update on the second week of negotiations with AMPTP. Fortunately, The Negotiations Committee plans on obtaining an agreement that will ensure the protection of sustainability and human-driven creativity in the animation industry. Although some progress was made, additional bargaining is needed between TAG and AMPTP before a deal is set in motion.
As AI-powered animation tools continue to advance, many predict that they will stifle creative jobs in not just the animation industry but also the entertainment industry as a whole. Will TAG have success with their proposed deals or is an animation strike imminent? Negotiations have just begun, but there is still a long road ahead until the employers involved manage the potential threats posed on their workers.
