Jul 24, 2019

Disney Television Animation Signs 17 Agreements with Creators and Animators

Disney Television Animation has signed 17 animation creators and artists to comprehensive development deals in response to the ever-increasing demand for animated series.

The studio announced agreements with the following artists:

Disney has not revealed what these artists will be working on, but they will apparently be developing a lot of new content, much of which will likely head to the company's upcoming streaming service Disney Plus, which will likely head to Disney Plus.

Netflix is leading the way in signing animation creators in general, with agreements with Shion Takeuchi, Chris Nee, Darla Anderson, Alex Hirsch, and Jibjab founders Greg and Evan Spiridellis.

The overall booming trend in contracts, which began with live-action creators, reflects the shifting landscape of the Los Angeles animated television industry. Traditional studios like Disney and Nickelodeon have found it increasingly difficult to attract and retain top-tier animation talent with pilot commitments. Overall contracts sweeten the pot, guaranteeing artists more pay and the opportunity to contribute to more projects, even if their own projects are not produced.

The deal also benefits the companies themselves, who need ever larger amounts of programming due to the rise of streaming platforms. Competition for top-tier animation talent will not slow down in the near future. Both Disney and Warner Bros. are preparing to launch their own streaming services, and Nickelodeon, in addition to producing programming for its own networks, will be able to offer original content (including the "Pinky Malinky" series, "Rocco's Modern Life," "Invader Zim," feature-length versions of "Loud House," etc.), many of which it supplies directly to Netflix.