really curious if you have any thoughts on the amazing digital circus. not necessarily on the show itself but I find it really fascinating that an animated show that started on youtube is getting its finale played in theaters. like what do you make of that now that you work in indie animation?
I’ll admit I’ve still only seen the first episode, and it wasn’t super My Thing but by no means does that mean I think it’s bad. I’ve heard the humor improves and the storytelling seems interesting! I just haven’t gotten around to watching the rest of the episodes. I intend to give it chance before I judge it completely.
As for the theater release, I think it’s amazing!! But it’s also is a really good representation of the state of animation right now. Which is… bleak..
It’s no secret that cable tv has moved to streaming, and this has affected a LOT of how animation works. Streaming has affected how everything from tv show titles are chosen (you can’t name your show something people can’t pronounce if there’s no tv bumper between commercials that tells you how it’s pronounced, which you used to be able to do with cable tv) to how posters are designed (you need your tile to be the most enticing amongst the grid of all the other shows) to what shows up in the first two minutes (analytics show that this is when most people click away). All of this is doubly true for shows aimed at kids.
And as for kids cartoons, they just… barely exist anymore. Cartoon Network has no current programming that isn’t a reboot/spin-off/acquisition, and other networks aren’t doing much better. Kids have nothing to watch nowadays!!
Streaming has been the focus of a lot of the recent strikes in the entertainment industry, and we’re already starting to see more regulations that are shifting streaming into something resembling cable tv again.
But ‼️ already, entertainment is pivoting away from streaming to social media. People can’t afford subscriptions anymore. Social media is free.
For now. If streaming is turning into cable, then what does that imply social media might look like 10 years from now?
I really need everyone to be sympathetic towards indie animation: a lot of labor right now is being done for little to no money. Animation is HARD to do, let alone by yourself. If you want help, it’s a lot to ask someone to work on your animation project pro bono and expect professional level quality. So, with the animation industry in the hands of individuals, how are people getting paid? Right now, the main options are:
Crowdfunding (but some part of the pilot/designs/etc had to have been done for free for you to know about the campaign to begin with)
Selling Merchandise (but someone had to design the products already even before a presale)
Ad revenue (but you had to have made the thing already to be showing ads on it in the first place)
Know someone rich enough to pay everyone’s wages?????
Or, do more of the traditional industry business practices like Co-Productions, aka selling parts of your concept to companies who will agree to help fund it in exchange for partial ownership/profit.
In other words, in many circumstances the labor is done ahead of time and you just have to hope that you’ll make your money back and pay people what they deserve. Because people deserve to get paid for their work!!
So tadc getting a theatrical release is incredible. It’s opened up a new avenue for indie creators to make money!! I mean, it’s still “do work first > get paid later”, but it’s something!
Tons of industry show creators are pivoting to indie: Dana Terrace, Emily Brundige, Kiana Mai, Matt Braly, Pat McHale, etc etc. Everyone knows major studios aren’t greenlighting new cartoons anymore. It’s hard, but we’re going to keep making animations because we love it so much that we can’t just let it die. The more support we can get from the general public, the better!!
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