Jake Yancey is a product of NYU Tisch and is passionate about engaging in substantial conversation and enriching, multi-faceted dialogue in politics, tv production, and culture. Jake is excited to work at The Hollywood Insider because he believes that Film and Journalism are humanity’s first line of defense against the chaos of an uninformed public sector and so spends his time scouting for relevant stories everywhere. Jake, driven by a strong work ethic and love for people, plans on eventually working at the studios to help develop the stories which have had such a lasting impact on him.
Sep 12, 2024
The entertainment industry is at a pivotal moment. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prevalent in film and television production, it has also started to reshape the world of animation. With the recent SAG-AFTRA strike sparking conversations about fair compensation, residuals, and labor rights, the Animation Guild now faces its own contract renegotiations. At the heart of these discussions lies the impact of AI on animation—a technology that has simultaneously opened new doors and raised significant concerns for animators and creators.
The Rise of AI in Animation: Efficiency or Erosion?
AI’s introduction into animation workflows has been rapid and transformative. From automating repetitive tasks like in-betweening to enhancing 3D modeling and character generation, AI tools have dramatically increased production speed. Companies can now streamline large-scale projects and produce high-quality content in record time. However, with these advancements come concerns about how AI might erode traditional artistic practices and job security.
For years, animation has relied heavily on human creativity and labor, with skilled animators painstakingly drawing or modeling frame after frame. AI now offers the ability to automate certain aspects of this process, allowing teams to create more content with fewer resources. While this has the potential to cut costs and reduce workloads, it also threatens to minimize the role of human animators, as some tasks once handled by large teams are now being outsourced to algorithms.
As AI-driven tools become more sophisticated, they’ve begun to take on more creative tasks, like generating concept art or even full scenes based on input data. This has led to a sense of unease among animators, many of whom worry that the technology could eventually replace their artistic contributions altogether. The Animation Guild’s renegotiations reflect this tension, with calls for clearer protections for human creativity, ensuring that AI is used to assist rather than replace the talent behind animation.
Post SAG-AFTRA Strike: A New Era for Creators’ Rights
The SAG-AFTRA strike, which concluded with landmark agreements on residuals and protections for actors against AI replication, set an important precedent for other creative guilds in Hollywood. The Animation Guild now seeks similar assurances as it moves forward in negotiations, especially given the rapidly changing landscape of AI in the industry. If the strike taught anything, it’s that creators—whether actors, writers, or animators—need to safeguard their contributions in an age where technology can quickly blur the lines between human and machine-generated content.
A significant issue in the post-strike environment is ensuring fair compensation for AI-assisted work. In animation, AI tools are often used to generate background elements, assist in voice matching, or even help storyboard scenes. However, animators are now asking: Who owns the output when an AI contributes to the creative process? If an animator uses AI to speed up the rendering of an environment or to generate a character’s movement, should they still be compensated for the full creative process, or will studios argue that AI diminishes their role?
The post-SAG-AFTRA landscape makes this an even more pressing concern. The strike’s resolution resulted in clearer guidelines for AI’s use in replicating actors’ likenesses and performances, but animators worry that the intricacies of their field make it harder to define similar protections. After all, animation has always incorporated a blend of tools—ranging from traditional pencils to high-tech software. But as AI’s role expands, animators want guarantees that their creative vision and labor will be respected, regardless of how many technological shortcuts are implemented.
AI’s Role in the Future of Animation: Friend or Foe?
AI isn’t inherently a threat to the animation industry; in many ways, it offers exciting new opportunities. Animators can now create with greater efficiency, explore innovative storytelling techniques, and push the boundaries of visual creativity. Programs that assist in generating complex simulations or manage repetitive tasks like lip-syncing have already been a boon to the industry, freeing up time for artists to focus on higher-level creative decisions.
But the Guild is pushing for transparency in how AI is used. Without clear definitions and boundaries, animators fear that studios may start relying on AI at the expense of natural talent. For example, studios might leverage AI to replace certain pre-production tasks, such as conceptual art or script generation, in an effort to cut costs. This could ultimately lead to fewer jobs for actual artists and a reduction in the artistry that has long defined animation as a creative medium.
The real concern isn’t necessarily AI’s capabilities, but how studios will choose to use it. The Animation Guild aims to ensure that AI is seen as a tool for enhancing creativity, not replacing it. This distinction is crucial—AI should assist in bringing animators’ visions to life, but it shouldn’t overshadow the human touch that makes animation such an impactful storytelling medium.
As AI continues to evolve, it’s essential for animators to collectively bargain for their rights. The Animation Guild has emphasized that the industry must establish clear-cut guidelines for how AI-generated content is credited and compensated. Without these guidelines, studios could start blurring the lines between human and AI-generated work, potentially undercutting the value of human creativity and reducing the bargaining power of animators in the long term.
Much like the SAG-AFTRA strike, these negotiations are about preserving the future of the craft. Animators are fighting for recognition and compensation, not just for the work they do today, but for the labor they will perform in an increasingly AI-driven world. By ensuring that animators’ rights are protected as AI plays a larger role in production, the Guild is working to safeguard the industry for the next generation of creators.
Collective bargaining also addresses broader issues, like ensuring fair pay for work in streaming and digital media platforms—areas where AI is increasingly being deployed. The ability to negotiate as a collective ensures that animators aren’t left vulnerable in a rapidly changing industry.
Conclusion: Navigating the AI Frontier in Animation
The renegotiation of the Animation Guild’s contract in this post-SAG-AFTRA landscape marks a turning point for the animation industry. AI has undeniably transformed how animation is produced, bringing new efficiencies but also raising concerns about the value of human creativity. As studios lean more heavily on AI, animators are rightly demanding protections to ensure their roles remain vital to the production process.
In many ways, this is a fight to maintain animation’s soul. Technology, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate the imagination, emotion, and nuance that animators bring to their work. By navigating the impact of AI thoughtfully, the Animation Guild is ensuring that the industry remains a space where technology and human creativity coexist, rather than compete. The future of animation depends on this delicate balance, and these negotiations will set the stage for how that future unfolds.
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter:The Hollywood Insider’sCEO/editor-in-chiefPritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Jake Yancey is a product of NYU Tisch and is passionate about engaging in substantial conversation and enriching, multi-faceted dialogue in politics, tv production, and culture. Jake is excited to work at The Hollywood Insider because he believes that Film and Journalism are humanity’s first line of defense against the chaos of an uninformed public sector and so spends his time scouting for relevant stories everywhere. Jake, driven by a strong work ethic and love for people, plans on eventually working at the studios to help develop the stories which have had such a lasting impact on him.
Jake Yancey is a product of NYU Tisch and is passionate about engaging in substantial conversation and enriching, multi-faceted dialogue in politics, tv production, and culture. Jake is excited to work at The Hollywood Insider because he believes that Film and Journalism are humanity’s first line of defense against the chaos of an uninformed public sector and so spends his time scouting for relevant stories everywhere. Jake, driven by a strong work ethic and love for people, plans on eventually working at the studios to help develop the stories which have had such a lasting impact on him.
Jake Yancey is a product of NYU Tisch and is passionate about engaging in substantial conversation and enriching, multi-faceted dialogue in politics, tv production, and culture. Jake is excited to work at The Hollywood Insider because he believes that Film and Journalism are humanity’s first line of defense against the chaos of an uninformed public sector and so spends his time scouting for relevant stories everywhere. Jake, driven by a strong work ethic and love for people, plans on eventually working at the studios to help develop the stories which have had such a lasting impact on him.
