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Cailen Young

Connor Pearce

Composition I

1 December 2022

The Issues Within Animation: Push to Support Indie Animation

“Animation is an art that includes every single art that you can imagine. Animation for

adults is a fact, it's happening. Let's call it cinema.” These are the words spoken by Alberto

Mielgo in his acceptance speech for his oscar-winning short film, The Windshield Wiper. This

quote is a response to the blatant disrespect and dismissive attitude given toward animated films

at the Oscars. The animation industry is often ignored or treated as less valuable than live-action

filmmaking due to western culture’s association with the art form being only for children. After

decades of learning, improving, and challenging the boundaries of filmmaking, animated films

are still ostracized by audiences. However, it is not just audiences that are the contributors to the

issues within animation, the industry itself is full of toxicity. Yes, along with not receiving the

proper recognition from audiences, workers often face low salary wages, overworking

conditions, strict deadlines, and social issues rooted in censorship. With all of these overbearing

stressors, a very distinct solution stands out. Independent animation. Pushing to support Indie

animation could help remold and remove the poison that is corporate greed and instead replace it

with ambition and passion.

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Representation is important in the media we consume. Including deeper more complex

mature narratives and diverse cultures is educational and allows others to feel seen. Censorship is

a major problem in animated media. An interview with Karen Toliver, VP of Netflix animated

films, covers the subject well. Toliver believes that we need more diversity in our chairs making

executive decisions and leading projects as she strongly believes that not only does this promote

a positive workplace environment and inclusiveness, but it will also help in bringing this

diversity and representation into our media. Representation in our media as the interview states is

important, it promotes diversity, love and educates us on others' cultures and struggles. Many

people who are running large companies need to consider this. While the field of animation is

changing for a more welcoming environment and opportunities, it is still scarce for those of

unique backgrounds and cultures to have a significant executive position. Independent projects

and studios are a positive way for this to change as indie projects are often driven and led by the

original creators of said project, not those producing it (Major Corporations). It also will prevent

censorship from watering down mature topics in animation and adding more diverse

representation. By supporting these creators we can start pushing to see more diversity in not just

the entertainment we consume, but also as leaders and executives making significant decisions.

Low wages and overworking are unfortunately common in the animation industry. The

Disney Strike of 1941 is a solid example of mistreatment and unfair payment in the industry.

Disney pushed their workers to provide a service for long nights with no increased pay. When

the issue is brought up to Walt, it is dismissed and ignored, pushing employees to take the next

step: striking. Employees began striking, demanding a raised pay, to which Walt retaliated by

firing any striking workers, which would be half of his team. Most of these striking employees
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were animators, animation assistants, inker, painters, background artists, story artists, and effects

artists. The author, Jake Friedman, details the event in an article where he shares his struggles of

the experience of being a Disney employee during this time, and how they felt conflicted about

who they needed to side with. The article is a good summary of an important event for the

animation industry on the mistreatment of animators by large corporations. While this event was

many decades ago, it is still relevant in the fight for better workplace conditions for animation

workers as it demonstrates how corporations view their employees as easily replaceable and not

worth the pay. However, while it shows the apathy of corporations towards their employees, it

also provides hope for animators to make a positive change in the animation industry. Pushing

for independent animation will help prevent these awful workplace environments and encourage

more positive and fair wages.

Passion is the most valued thing in the arts. This article describing the inclination of

Studio Ghibli affirms how important spirit is in creating an animated piece. Miyazaki Hayao

aimed to surpass Disney animations, finding that Disney’s animation held realistic movement but

lacked human emotion. Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli and began working on animated films.

Many of the studio's films went head to head with Disney’s major animated pictures, even

beating out Pocahontas at the box office with their fifth film Whispers of the Heart. Studio

Ghibli's techniques used to create the stories for their films show that the studio creates paintings

and animation first, then fills in the pieces to the story. This trick has proven to be effective as

stated previously, the studio has gone toe to toe with Disney studios. Studio Ghibli is a clear

example of choosing quality over quantity, and how putting love and passion behind a project

can make a major difference in how it is perceived by the audience. Disney undoubtedly has
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high-quality animations, however, it is evident that the push to get films published as soon as

possible has affected the creative writing of said films. Miyazaki's methods of choosing to focus

on art and animation first elevate the narrative of the film as the artists are valuing the passion

and love for forming the world and the art first, then filling in the rest of the story. Ultimately

passion is what is the inspiration and drive for indie projects. If a project is full of a team and

creators with dedicated love and passion for their work and the story they want to share, it is

more likely to have high-quality visuals and effective writing.

Alberto Mielgo’s short film The Windshield Wiper explores the complexity of society and

asks a thought-provoking question: “What is love?” It then presents various couples

demonstrating the longing for human connection, all done with nearly no voice acting. Despite

the film’s profanity and occasional graphic imagery, these things are not what makes it unique or

mature. It is the deeper complex message layered underneath a well-articulated animated piece.

The Windshield Wiper is an independent animated work, a masterfully crafted piece proving to

its audience how limitless it is. This is what animation can be, however as long as major

animation studios remain rigid in western stereotypes, this will never change. Indie animated

projects can offer the solution as it works outside of major corporations and is run by individual

and groups of passionate artistic people. Without corporate limits, perhaps animation can truly be

appreciated. In the words of german film director Lotte Reiniger, “Animation is basically not so

much a technical implement as the expression of the spirit behind it. To see that that spirit goes

into your shooting must be your overriding ambition.”

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Sources

International Journal of the Arts in Society; 2011, Vol. 5 Issue 5, p1-8, 8p

Jun/Jul2022, Vol. 36 Issue 6, p76-77, 2p, 1 Color Photograph, 4 Cartoon or Caricatures

Friedman, Jake S., Jun/Jul2022, Vol. 36 Issue 6, p96-97, 2p, 1 Color Photograph, 3 Black and

White Photographs, 3 Cartoon or Caricatures

Schilling, Mark. Japan Quarterly; Tokyo Vol. 44, Iss. 1, (Jan-Mar 1997): 30-40.