It really hurts to see “indie” projects that surface and arent looking to pay their artists and treat it like a “passion project” It sets a bad standard for both indie and studios and hurts those who do it for a living. If you cant afford others do it yourself until you can.
I want to mark this down now for next year, when the animation guild’s negotiations happen.
If you hear the words “We dont need to strike because of what was given from the SAG and WGA strikes!”Its a blatant lie.
Dont settle for less, Animation has been overdue for decades.
1/5
Happy
#IndieAnimationDay
! With that said wanted to share a few things. First is we will be releasing Port by the Sea in February 2024! I wanted to share how far we've come from the very first clip we shared online. As we get closer to release we will be sharing the trailer & more
Keep in mind as the anim rally begins today. Zazlav has been getting $50 mil cash bonuses for the companies downfall approved by the board. No one is holding him accountable and I would argue many of the actions weve openly seen generally go against fiduciary responsibilities.
Cartoon Network has been scrubbed from the web as Warner Bros. Discovery has pulled the entire contents of offline. The website now redirects visitors to a Max landing.
A pop-up message on Max reads: “Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network
Hi my name is Georden and I'm a creator / bg artist / painter who's worked in animation. I'm currently seeking opportunities in either full time or freelance work within animation. Thanks so much for looking!
#PortfolioDay
#BGPaint
#Visualdevelopment
When creating an animated show or property most studios don’t give you any royalties and take full IP ownership for the thing you made. This should not be normal.
The west has a large problem when it comes to morals, and serious tones in animation today. Its why I started pursuing animation. Not every character should come back to life when tears hit their cheeks. Sometimes people die and grieve but we dont show that a lot in healthy ways.
Hot take (I may be wrong):
I feel one of the reasons children are becoming more cruel and mean nowadays is that these kind of scenes arent done much anymore
Heartbreaking scenes make kids realize ppl get hurt, and that hurt isnt fun
Heartbreaking scenes make kids empathetic
Because the comments to this don't seem to get it. You are allowed to keep going till its right, BUT you also have to give more time and money to do it. You can't keep the same deadline and kill your team. This is an example of a producer failing at their job to give more time.
Amy Pascal on workers for ‘ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE’ who felt demoralized about revising final renders 5 times — “If the story isn’t right, you have to keep going until it is.”
“I guess, Welcome to making a movie.”
(Source: )
This is what ive been yelling about for the past 5 years. Your IP should belong to you. If studios want your characters to sell merch and profit from, then make a deal worth while. Then when they are done with it, it returns to you after lets say 1-5 years. This should be normal!
Artists should own the characters they create. Studios should have to license these IP and return them back to creators if they're not using them after a certain time. Wishful thinking I know. But it's how it should be.
Can I just say, when negotiations come in July for animation, can there be a conversation on how its intentional that companies are not making new things and doing mass layoffs, all to starve us out and make people desperate. Can we come together and strike longer for each day -
So recently I started doing some Background work for
@FarFetchedShow
and really enjoying what I've seen and all the wonderful people on it! Can't wait for everyone to see!
THIS is why we need a creators guild or something that resembles it in animation. Why wasnt the showrunner/creator involved with large decisions and arguments made for their own show? Time to unite as creators and fight for better contracts and more ownership of our work…
"Even getting the consolation s3 episodes was difficult, apparently. Hard to say, I wasn't allowed to be a part of any conversations until I was just... Told"
"In any case, [...] all the support IS seen and appreciated [...] Who knows? Maybe there's a future for the Owl House...
@starteas
Yeah I dont like the weird numbers mentality. Honestly who cares, like what you like. I have amazing friends on both of these and so many others! But being dismissive like this is just being rude to a lot of labor and love.
Ok I want to address this simply, Companies who hold "contests" to have your work shown in a show or movie need to stop, especially if they dont properly compensate. There are a million better ways to find or get work for things, but this just takes advantage of so much. 1/6
I wont lie, reaching out to multiple studio contacts on just pitching Port and getting radio silence is a bit disheartening after spending so long making it. I know the industry is in a slump but it just kinda reads as a slap to the face and really makes me question this industry
Wanted to share this to help others in a similar situation. Also a hearty thank you to those who have given me new opportunities and allowed me to grow after.
Hey all! We are excited to announce "Port by the Sea" an animated pilot we have been working on for the past year! it's about two kids as they attempt to fix a now broken moon before an ancient being can consume the world in ocean. The pilot will revolve around ONE of the pieces.
Happy
#PortfolioDay
I am currently looking for more long term work! I specialize in Vis Dev / BG Paint & Design, But have also created things like Port by the Sea, and Nomad of Nowhere! Thanks so much, and you can find more of my work below!
I feel the need to reiterate this sentiment. When we made our pilot,it was made because we deeply wanted to make something and had the means to do it. We were fortunate that we could share it with the world at all! Making one ourselves though took 4.5 years and 100k out of pocket
‘Going indie’ is not the winning response a lot of you think it is. Not everyone can make a Hazbin or a Digital Circus. To even be able to TRY, you need ridiculous amounts of time and money. And that’s just to attempt, not everything will find its audience amongst the algorithm.
Keep in mind this man founded Quibi. We all saw how that went, and can help paint a picture for the kind of animated movies he wants to push for. Not to mention his fast pursuit with the layoffs from Dreamworks. This guy doesnt want art he wants cheap labor and fast results.
Dreamworks co-founder Jeff Katzenberg says AI will cut cost of animation movies by 90% within the next three years:
“In the good old days, you might need 500 artists and years to make a world-class animated movie. I don’t think it will take 10% of that three years from now.”
Freshman year was told by my teacher my artwork “couldnt be fixed.” I said “Anything can be fixed” he responded with “try putting toothpaste back in its tube again” Later I got into society of illustrators and sent him a video on how to do that.
Artists: Did you ever have a bad art-school critique that really set you back, knocked you off your pins?
What was it? Keep it short; don’t exaggerate. Often, it can be the least thing.
Have you ever made a “revenge” work of art?
What was it?
I don't want to share too much as we are moving into comp and want to keep things pretty quiet until release to keep things fresh, but we wish you all a happy
#IndieAnimationDay
regardless! Port by the Sea should be available to watch later this year!
This may be a tall order for the internet, but does anyone know of a contact for Netflix or Amazon animation services? We are doing our best to reach out to places for pitch inquiries with Port but haven't had much luck. DMs are open.
Any help is appreciated!
Its time!!! I cant wait for people to watch next week!! Please help spread if you can, and our youtube vid as well to help get the word out! Link in bio
Happy to help with more Bgs for
#HelluvaBossSeason2
and well done to everyone who worked on the new ep and the wonderful job they all did!
#HelluvaBoss
Its one thing if its you and your best friend but when its a team or hundreds of artists you are just taking advantage of people and setting a bad precedent for the entire industry. We were all taught that exposure doesnt pay. I urge others to call it when they see it. Its not ok
The norm for indie shouldnt revolve around free labor just because you want to make your thing. Thats why people use kickstarter etc. To compensate those they work with. Animation is expensive for a reason, its a lot of work.
Ok so to appease the amount of people asking about it, I have the rights to my original IP Knight of Nothing
which would effectively be the original story for Nomad. I'll finish the story, I'm just tired of people spreading misinformation they don't understand. Please and thanks
Wanted to say thanks for the surge of new followers recently! It means a lot! As its the day before indie animation day we realized we never really mentioned publicly you can get our digital artbook from our store. This goes over our process and can even help other animators!!
(Sprinkle on top) California Cost of living (everything basically doubled) and the housing crisis / fires/ earthquakes/ water shortages and I think animation workers can hit that point of realizing “the industry” might not be worth it anymore until some serious changes happen.
Calling all storyboard artists! If you are available for a paid months worth of work in January please comment below with a link to your folios! The project is an unannounced pilot for a potential animated series, that will hopefully blow people away. Thanks :)
Thanks so much for the support on Port! A month ago we got to share a peak at a story I've been building for years, and hope to share more of! Until then, here's a peak at some characters who didn't quite make it into the pilot, but will play a large role if we ever make more!
A more common stream issue that was overlooked last negotiations: When making a show, if it moves to a new season, a small raise is given to workers; but if the studio labels it as season 1 A & B in house no raise is given, and then they release it publicly as Seasons 1&2. A scam
Hello
#PortfolioDay
My name is Georden. Im a BG Designer and Painter. At the moment I’m only seeking more full time work. You can find my full portfolio with contact linked in my bio. Thanks so much for looking! and all the best!
Just look where things are, nothing new being made prior to the strikes, no work, less pay, most expensive state is where most is made. Yet it profits equivalent / if not more than live action works. I beg people in the guild to see waving red flags if we get another “new deal”
Hi there, I'm Georden! I am a Creator/writer as well as a BG designer & painter I have done work on things like Bravest Warriors, BOOM! Comics, Created Nomad of Nowhere and am currently writing/directing on a new unannounced animated pilot.
#thisisanimation
I have a bad feeling based on the last negotiations that people will buckle in a bad way. Please know your worth. IE: Creators in animation deserve royalties on the shows they create and build. They deserve a piece of merchandise. We’ve never really had THAT where live action has
Its all making money, and not giving back. Theres so many more I can think of for all workers and artists in animation. And its gross how un appreciated they are. Please when the time comes next year, make sure you get the deal you deserve and not just what sounds better.
They knowingly did this. It is very clear based on their actions. And while I know people are hurting, when the time comes, all I ask is for people to remember whos fault that is, and when the deal is being discussed. Same for if they try to pivot overseas. Dont let them.
Over the course of this year I may not be uploading as much art, I'm currently developing a fun new project that I'm hoping will turn out wonderfully :) so here's a piece to look at for a while.
Happy
#indieanimationday
! If you havent already you can help us out by watching Port by the Sea! Today is a nice day to look out for whats being made in indie and there's a lot of amazing stuff! We hope you enjoy all that you see! You can also support us by grabbing our art book!
Just wanted to doodle Coco after seeing news for the new Crash Bandicoot game. I grew up with them and the new one looks lovely!
#CrashBandicoot4ItsAboutTime
After all the time put in this pilot I still enjoy it, its not perfect but I deeply love how everything came out regardless. Thanks to everyone who helped bring it to life, and hope you all can take some time to enjoy the pilot today!
Hey there all! Do YOU want an end to Nomad of Nowhere?! Too bad it likely wont happen as ive heard nothing from RT regarding that piece of property...BUT! Would you be interested in reading a Comic on an old IP that definitely is its own thing called Knight of Nothing?
Now that Port is done, Id like to formally put myself out there for any fulltime work if anyone is looking. Whether its art direction, bg work, or making more port haha Id be happy to help! Until then ill be finishing up some freelance!
Hello my name is Georden Whitman and I'm currently available to help with either freelance or in-house work in
#animation
I have 3 years experience as a visual development artist and did work on shows like (Bravest Warriors & Nomad of Nowhere)
#portfolioday
#bgpaint
🌟Lumi and the Great Big Galaxy is an original animated series about six aliens traveling the galaxy to help a lost star return home.
Now LIVE on KICKSTARTER.
Two years ago I started a small llc to make a pilot and hopefully show that I'm capable of telling unique stories with visual appeal. This last year was hard for a lot of reasons, but thanks to this small team I look forward to showing what's been made and their amazing work soon
We recently made a discord space for creators in animation who have pitched and created serialized / featured works within a studio space. Its my goal to now sit down and talk with others to start discussions and organize so these things happen less and fight for better contracts
I was so surprised to see Port even mentioned haha we’ve been so quiet. But IT IS in the final stages! 20 minutes of love and hard work from an incredible team! (However Itll still take a little more time) Maybe we can make more after if we are lucky.
Thanks so much for everything in the past few weeks! We wanted to share our credit song on here for those who may have over looked it!
@OliveOlson
made something really wonderful! You can find it on her Spotify too!
This review did a really nice job going over things as well as picking up on some things to come if we ever make more. I wasnt sure if people would pick up on them from the just pjlot alone haha. Thanks again for the wonderful review
@CartoonUV
❤️
ONE MORE DAY!! The pilot premieres tomorrow at 1 PM EST, 10AM PST on Youtube! Everyone put a lot of hard work into this, we really hope people will watch it and enjoy it when it comes out 🥺🦀
Link below!
@MurderOfBirds_
@CathalMad
@ThatKaitoDan
@UnicornOfWar
@Raymond_McNeil
Ill be the reliable one when i say its true and people likely dont want their careers affected when seeking jobs elsewhere. A ton of people were let go with the promises of that they would become full time. When they asked during production where things stood, they were lied to.
One thing that Ive seen people say and think lately is that Port is underrated which is a compliment but I feel like so many people overlook the fact that when we published it we had 2k subs. And are about to statistically hit 250x that number with high engagement. Thats insane
The disc will likely be rather small at the start and have to meet the above criteria, but the more creators in animation within the channel the more likely we can work together to prevent these issues and prepare for them, and even help others who want to do the same. Thank you!
NFTs are garbage as is, and you wont find my work involved in them. They are solely to make profit. When that bubble pops the government will not bail them out. They steal from actual artists, hurt the environment, and give nothing of unique or actual value in return.
and conditions. If you are a creator who has worked within a studio space or are currently developing a pitch intended to be shown to studio execs (please only those who have a complete bible or a majority of work completed) please feel free to reach out privately or publicly.
Im doing this because I see the same issues happen over and over. Its happened to me, my friends, and other talented people.I want to open conversations in a space where we can solve problems and work together to have a safer space to make the work we love and put our hearts into
The contests typically read that they own everything you submit for it, which means even if you don't win they can still use it later and you get nothing. IF they insist on using students work, why not make it a part of the curriculum. If your an animation studio and want-
So to make up for the cruel april fools, I'd like to share the VERY ROUGH pass of some of the opener for Knight of Nothing "A Familiar Tale". It has been cut up and will be longer with more explanation once I start after Port.