Jul 5, 2020

This Youtube channel teaches people about the business side of the animation industry

Since 2018, Eric Calderon has been quietly, consistently blessing Youtube with priceless insider's advice on navigating the business of cartoons. The experienced producer and executive regularly uploads videos to his channel Surviving Animation, an excellent resource for newcomers and veterans alike.

Most videos consist of a short primer on a very specific business matter. Whether he's breaking down the byzantine structure of Warner Bros., predicting the animation strategy of Apple (in brief: they want A-listers), or giving advice on when to sign an option, Calderon is always informative, concise, and refreshingly jargon-free.

He occasionally mixes in an interview with an industry figure. In a recent video, he caught up with his friend Chase Conley, a designer and director (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, The Boondocks). Conley reflects on his experience as a black artist working in animation, explaining that he wants to show the African-American community by example that success doesn't have to mean a career in music or sports.

Having notched up more than 25 years in the industry, Calderon knows what he's talking about. He is currently senior vice president of development at Octopie in L.A., which is working on an animated adaptation of the card game Magic: The Gathering for Netflix. Previously, he worked as a producer at Warner Bros. Animation and 20th Century Fox Film, among other studios. He has also written for Cartoon Brew about selling a show.

Like any good teacher, Calderon listens, too: he encourages viewers to submit questions in the comment section. If there's a subject you want him to cover, don't hesitate to ask.