The Animation Guild is happy to be attending the CTN Animation Expo this weekend at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. For the sixth year in a row, we look forward to speaking with animation professionals and enthusiasts, sharing how we strive to keep the benefits and workplace conditions in the animation industry the best they possibly…

This has been in the offing for some time: Waterman Entertainment has bought Film Roman — best known as the source animator for “The Simpsons” — for an undisclosed price from Starz Media. Waterman is headed by Steve Waterman, who has exec producer credits on “Stuart Little” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” Film Roman’s Dana…

The Guild has just received word that the up-coming negotiations between the IATSE and Walt Disney Feature Animation has been rescheduled for 2016. In the October Pegboard, the lead article spoke of the impending negotiations being scheduled for the month of November. Unfortunately, it seems schedules have conflicted and the negotiations are going to be…

Accidentally delete that email with the latest job posting? Did you hear about a posting and not get a copy in your Inbox? Now there’s a way you can review the latest job posts that have been sent out: Jobs Email Archive Thanks to the latest features in MailChimp, the bulk email program we use,…

Los Angeles doesn’t have a monopoly on animation work, not by a long shot. But L.A. does have a goodly amount of television and theatrical cartoon production going on at the present time. We list a large part of it below. (Please understand that shows and features are constantly in development and/or production, so the…

The members of The Animation Guild, Local 839 IATSE, have ratified the new 2015-2018 contract, which the Guild negotiated with animation studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) from June 29 to July 1st of this year. The Guild, though one of the West Coast production locals in the IATSE,…

The IA locals that comprise the bargaining unit for the Basic Agreement, have spoken. Members of 13 Hollywood locals of the IATSE have ratified a new film and TV contract. The deal with management’s AMPTP, which was reached in April, provides for 3% pay raises in each year of the three-year contract, as well as…

Since I’m diving into new 401(k) enrollment meetings, here are seven human frailties that impede our ability to make good decisions generally … and especially about money. 1. Connecting Correlation with Causation. 2. Confusing Luck and Skill. 3. We *love* shiny objects. We *love* shiny objects … often to our detriment. 4. We’re lousy at…

The Animation Guild completed negotiations for the new 2015-2018 contract on July 1st. Below are highlights of the new agreement (which boils down the more lengthy Memorandum of Agreement). … Q: There’s a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo in the included “Memorandum of Agreement.” Can you give me the highlights? A: Here you go. WAGES: Minimum…

The annual Wage Survey has been opened and we are requesting all members participate. This is one of the most important things your Union does. The Wage Survey gives the Union a snapshot of the state of the industry. But more importantly it helps you, the member, when you are seeking employment. The more you…

The Animation Guild reached agreement with the AMPTP at 11:00 p.m. on a new, three-year agreement that will run from August 1st, 2015 to July 31st, 2018. The deal follows the contours of the 2015 IATSE Basic Agreement, which includes: * 3% increases to contract wage minimums (compounded). * Unchanged Health Benefits (no increases to…

* Featured Post Artwork from Carol Simpson At the end of June, the Animation Guild will sit down with the major animation studios and negotiate a new three-year contract. The guild’s negotiation committee will meet in early June to go over proposals, but it’s important to know what the IA (our mother international) negotiated for…