An Indie Animation Renaissance on the Horizon
By Sharon Kim
By Sharon Kim
Disney’s 100th anniversary movie “Wish” flopped on the big screens compared to “The Amazing Digital Circus,” a YouTube pilot that garnered over 100 million views in just one month. It’s a sign that Disney’s glory days are long gone, and it is now time to make way for the indie animation renaissance.
It’s refreshing to see inspired artists work hard and succeed in a field dominated by giants with their original stories being told. Big corporate animation studios like Disney have been stuck in a pattern in recent years of hanging onto what’s familiar, with their new live-action adaptation here or endless sequels there. They all beat a dead horse and shove its soul into a corpse that really just needs to stay down when they mangle these beloved classics into cash grabs. With big budgets, they shove out half-baked products that weren’t asked for and thus the market for their films is becoming lethargic. While a couple of these new animated movies are hidden gems like “Elemental” and “Luca,” the frequency of these hidden gems and multi-million dollar wastes are few and far between.
It's truly amazing what indie animators are accomplishing in the animation field today and even in the past, as they have been the pioneers of progressive change. They’re experimental, original and have often made strides in including minorities such as women, people of color and LGBTQ people in the animation process and in animated products. Then when I look at Disney’s 14th “first ever” gay background character on screen, I just facepalm.
These big studios have been missing a major component in their animations, and that is creativity. It’s truly ironic when these bustling art hubs shouldn’t be lacking anything but they clearly do. I don’t blame them if the work environment squeezes that out, as mistreatment, underpayment and working their animators with implausible hours and little pay run rampant. However, these issues aren’t as prevalent in indie animation as managing smaller teams of artists and animators can really be helpful in ensuring that everyone understands the creative vision to be made and that both the crew and creation are treated with respect.
Working hard to have your creative visions realized by directing your movie or film in the big industries could take more than 10 years of climbing the ranks, yet it isn’t even guaranteed. That is why some artists attempt to cut the middleman out and try to fund their processes through community efforts and interest. This ensures a dedicated audience in support of what you are creating. It doesn’t matter what the subject's niche is, as long as it resonates with enough people.
It's crazy to see that individuals on free platforms like YouTube now have the ability to upload their films and reach millions of views is insane. Many indie animated series like Lackadaisy created by Tracy Butlerthese, Murder Drones by Liam Vickers, Helluva Boss by Vivienne Medrano and Bigtop Burger by Worthikids are all viewable on YouTube. Those are only a few of many talented indie creators out there.
When you give people a platform to stand on, some real talent can be found and I think it's about time for new blood and new minds to take the spotlight in the animation industry.
It’s refreshing to see inspired artists work hard and succeed in a field dominated by giants with their original stories being told. Big corporate animation studios like Disney have been stuck in a pattern in recent years of hanging onto what’s familiar, with their new live-action adaptation here or endless sequels there. They all beat a dead horse and shove its soul into a corpse that really just needs to stay down when they mangle these beloved classics into cash grabs. With big budgets, they shove out half-baked products that weren’t asked for and thus the market for their films is becoming lethargic. While a couple of these new animated movies are hidden gems like “Elemental” and “Luca,” the frequency of these hidden gems and multi-million dollar wastes are few and far between.
It's truly amazing what indie animators are accomplishing in the animation field today and even in the past, as they have been the pioneers of progressive change. They’re experimental, original and have often made strides in including minorities such as women, people of color and LGBTQ people in the animation process and in animated products. Then when I look at Disney’s 14th “first ever” gay background character on screen, I just facepalm.
These big studios have been missing a major component in their animations, and that is creativity. It’s truly ironic when these bustling art hubs shouldn’t be lacking anything but they clearly do. I don’t blame them if the work environment squeezes that out, as mistreatment, underpayment and working their animators with implausible hours and little pay run rampant. However, these issues aren’t as prevalent in indie animation as managing smaller teams of artists and animators can really be helpful in ensuring that everyone understands the creative vision to be made and that both the crew and creation are treated with respect.
Working hard to have your creative visions realized by directing your movie or film in the big industries could take more than 10 years of climbing the ranks, yet it isn’t even guaranteed. That is why some artists attempt to cut the middleman out and try to fund their processes through community efforts and interest. This ensures a dedicated audience in support of what you are creating. It doesn’t matter what the subject's niche is, as long as it resonates with enough people.
It's crazy to see that individuals on free platforms like YouTube now have the ability to upload their films and reach millions of views is insane. Many indie animated series like Lackadaisy created by Tracy Butlerthese, Murder Drones by Liam Vickers, Helluva Boss by Vivienne Medrano and Bigtop Burger by Worthikids are all viewable on YouTube. Those are only a few of many talented indie creators out there.
When you give people a platform to stand on, some real talent can be found and I think it's about time for new blood and new minds to take the spotlight in the animation industry.