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This week marks a significant milestone in the animation industry as three distinct groups of workers have announced their efforts to unionize under The Animation Guild (TAG), part of IATSE Local 839. The groups include:

• 60 production workers at Netflix Animation Studios
• 12 production staffers from Ted at NBC Universal
• Over 100 artists at SpindleHorse, the independent studio known for Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss

Together, these efforts highlight the growing trend of labor organizing across various sectors of the animation business, including feature films, episodic television, and independent projects.

Netflix Production Workers
After nearly two years of organizing, a group of 60 production workers at Netflix Animation Studios has formally requested union recognition. Ana Tessier, a production coordinator at Netflix, expressed her enthusiasm: “Production workers in animation deserve the same protections as artists—we deserve to fight for sustainable careers. I’m thrilled that we’ll now have a seat at the negotiating table.”

Tessier also noted the inspiration drawn from organizing efforts at other studios, stating, “The more studios start to unionize, the more we can create a stable future for the animation industry at large.”

According to TAG organizers, the Netflix campaign is part of a larger movement for recognition. Organizer Allison Smartt remarked, “For the last five years, production workers at almost every major animation studio in Southern California have demanded recognition for their essential roles in keeping the animation pipeline flowing. Many union production workers are negotiating their second contracts, proving that this movement is here to stay.”

Ted at NBC Universal
The production team behind Ted, the series inspired by the Seth MacFarlane film franchise, is also taking steps to unionize. This 12-member unit is seeking joint representation from TAG and The Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700. Production coordinator Kelly Simmons shared her excitement: “We’ve been hard at work the last two months trying to get this show on the road, and it’s incredible to see what we’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

Simmons added, “It’s been inspiring to see so many production teams joining the union over the last few years. I hope others will find our efforts equally inspiring and feel encouraged to fight for positive change in their own workplaces.”

SpindleHorse
Completing this week’s announcements, SpindleHorse, a studio founded by creator and TAG member Vivienne Medrano, has voluntarily recognized its artists’ request to unionize. This independent studio, known for producing Helluva Boss and collaborating on Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel, will now negotiate with TAG on behalf of 106 artists, including storyboarders, background designers, illustrators, and 2D FX artists.

Melanie An, a clean-up artist and renderer, stated, “SpindleHorse is leading the charge in the indie animation industry by pushing for stability for its passionate and highly creative team. We look forward to working with SpindleHorse to overcome boundaries and show what dedicated artists can achieve in the indie scene!”

Storyboard artist Amelia Kasten expressed her excitement about moving forward with negotiations: “I am thrilled for us to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that will elevate Spindle as a studio and allow these incredible employees to take ownership of their careers, building a more sustainable community at our home studio that benefits all!”

With most of its workforce working remotely across the United States, SpindleHorse’s recognition underscores another critical issue: equity for remote workers. TAG Organizer Ben Speight emphasized, “As a national local, TAG supports animation workers regardless of their ZIP codes, as long as they are willing to stand up for themselves and their co-workers.”

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.