The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), representing over 5,000 artists, technicians, writers, and production workers, has released a comprehensive report titled “Critical Crossroads” addressing the transformative impact of generative AI on animation and its workforce. The report, created by TAG’s AI Task Force established in April 2023, builds on findings from a January study conducted with the Concept Art Association.
“For over 70 years, The Animation Guild has navigated challenges, but generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) poses an unprecedented threat to entertainment, art, and animation,” the report states. A March 2024 member survey revealed that 67% of respondents viewed GenAI negatively in the workplace, and 61% expressed deep concern about its effect on future job prospects.
The report identifies key areas most vulnerable to AI disruption, including character and environment design, 3D modeling, compositing, animation, and rigging. Entry-level roles are particularly at risk, with a disproportionate impact on underrepresented and less affluent talents striving to break into the industry.
Key priorities from the updated survey include:
- Prohibiting GenAI from replacing covered work in the collective bargaining agreement (100% support).
- Preventing studios from training GenAI models with members’ work (87%).
- Addressing AI displacement with staffing minimums and guaranteed employment periods (75%).
- Ensuring new GenAI-related roles fall under union agreements (68%).
- Protecting members who decline to use GenAI technology (67%).
- Advocating for copyright protection, transparency in training datasets, and diversity safeguards (60%).
- Supporting paid on-the-job training for GenAI-related roles (46%).
To counter these challenges, the AI Task Force has outlined a six-pronged strategy: labor and collective action, new legislation, tax incentives for human-created animation, stronger federal regulations, raising public awareness, and legal interventions. Critical Crossroads signals an urgent call to safeguard the future of human creativity in animation.
Here is the full report.
