Disney’s massive success with Moana 2 has sparked concerns within the animation industry about jobs moving outside of the country. The film’s record-breaking $389 million holiday-weekend gross marks a significant milestone, but it also puts a spotlight on the critical issue of talent migration.
The Animation Guild has recently reached a tentative deal with studios to put guardrails around AI tools, which could impact nearly 204,000 positions in the industry over the next three years. However, the deal does not offer protections against jobs moving outside of the U.S., a long-standing problem that has been chipping away at animators’ job security.
The issue dates back to the 1979 strike, when studios found loopholes around the “runaway clause” that technically guaranteed local employment before work could be subcontracted out of Los Angeles. This practice, known as “runaway production,” has led to many TV shows being animated outside the U.S., with foreign animators often coming cheaper due to huge tax incentives and lower living costs.
Despite this trend, feature films tend to stick with a domestic workforce due to their higher budget and expectations for quality. However, some studios have begun to outsource asset and shot work to partner studios in tax-advantaged locations, raising concerns about the impact on U.S. animators.
The production of Moana 2 is a prime example of this trend. The film was made by Disney’s Vancouver studio, which teamed up with Burbank for the feature film. This seems to contradict previous reports that Burbank would remain Walt Disney Animation Studios’ exclusive hub for feature film projects.
Industry insiders are concerned that Disney’s success with Moana 2 could lead to more work being shifted to Canada in the future. As one artist noted, “Disney is trying to put out a TV series they turned into a movie, and they’re trying to slap on the Disney animation name and see what they can get away with.” The fate of U.S. animators remains uncertain as Disney’s production decisions continue to shape the industry.
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91241292/disney-success-moana-2-highlights-shift-in-the-animation-industry