Members have expressed discontent over the agreement negotiated by the guild (TAG 839), citing a lack of protections for artists against generative AI and staffing minimums.
The Animation Guild (TAG) has revealed the full negotiated terms on its new contract with major studios, which many claim falls short on AI protections, according to Variety.
After three months of bargaining, the guild (TAG 839) reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on November 23, with special considerations for fair wages, job security, and guardrails around generative AI use. Notably, the contract does not allow animators to opt out of using gen AI, nor can they prevent their work from training AI models.
Members have begun to voice their disappointment at the AI terms, indicating there are no actual protections for artists.
“Everyone I talk to is angry and desperately concerned about the future and their ability to make a living wage in one of the most expensive cities in the country,” said Shion Takeuchi, creator of the Netflix show Inside Job. “I have spoken with executives who have looked me dead in the eye and said they were experimenting with AI in the hopes of completely automating storyboarding — eliminating an entire craft! — without blinking.”
Responding to the inevitable backlash, TAG stated, “We could not propose that GenAI simply be banned from use in signatory studios not only because the Producers would never have agreed to that, but because it would also result in the work being sent to non-union workers, without the protection or benefits of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
The agreement also does not include minimum staffing levels for animators/craftspeople, although a minimum of three writers was established for animated TV shows. However, the minimum can be waived if a solo writer or a writing team are hired to write an entire show.
“We did the best we could,” said Teri Hendrich Cusumano, a union vice president who served on the negotiating committee. “It was definitely a long, drawn-out process. From my point of view, it felt like we bled them dry at the table. There really wasn’t much left to gain.”
On a positive note, members will see a pay increase of 7%, 4% and 3.5%, matching terms with those already won by SAG-AFTRA and IATSE.
Members must now vote to ratify the agreement. Some members may challenge the agreement at a series of virtual town halls, but it is unclear whether discontent is high enough to threaten the ratification.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
