Surge in Streaming Services Leads to Animation Job Boom

Variety ^ | July 26, 2017 | Calum Marsh

[2ndDivisionVet]

There’s general agreement that this is a golden age of television. But less apparent is the fact that it’s also a golden age of animation, spawned by the same subscription video-on-demand companies — such as Netflix and Amazon — that are ushering TV’s shining period.

The rise of streaming services — which are ordering season after season of animated shows for children and adults — has created an urgent demand for original content, leading to a surge in jobs at all levels of production. For now, the deluge shows no signs of letting up.

“There’s more animation work now than ever,” says Chris Prynoski, president and owner of Titmouse, an independent animation studio headquartered in Los Angeles. More than half of the programming the company is working on is for web-based platforms, including “Niko and the Sword of Light” for Amazon Studios and the upcoming “Big Mouth” for Netflix.

The content is extremely valuable to the streaming services. “Animation is a medium that works very well for SVOD,” explains Tara Sorensen, head of kids’ programming at Amazon Studios, which also collaborates with Titmouse on the animated kids’ series “Little Big Awesome.” “It’s somewhat evergreen compared to live-action content, which can age more quickly. It also travels well internationally because it can be dubbed easily.” What’s more, shows for little kids are never without viewers: “A preschool audience essentially regenerates every three to four years,” Sorensen says. “That’s appealing for us.”

Titmouse has grown a lot over the past several years as a result of the influx of shows.....

[miliantnutcase]

I was in animation and had to switch into IT because my job was too volatile. Animation is now being outsourced to other countries that employ animation sweat shops.

[ErikJohnsky]

2017-2025 will definitely be an American golden age. #MAGA

[onedoug]

The golden age for television was the 50s & 60s.

This is the dearth of ages by comparison.

[Drew68]

I was in animation and had to switch into IT because my job was too volatile. Animation is now being outsourced to other countries that employ animation sweat shops.

It seems America needs to step up our game in the animation department. My kids are bilingual and my youngest has been enjoying Russian animated cartoons, particularly "Masha i Medved" (Masha and the bear). I watch it with her and it is some of the most outstanding computer animation I've ever seen.

Here's one of many episodes that can be found on YouTube:

Маша и Медведь - Крик победы (Серия 47)

[DakotaGator]

There’s general agreement that this is a golden age of television.

Hardly.

This is a golden age of television technology. TV content is only golden if you are in the fertilizer business.

Streaming video services and nostalgic TV permit entertainment starved consumers to view old gold. Quality new programming and movies are as rare as panning for actual gold.

So this is no golden age of television. That requires creativity and values. The entertainment industry promotes neither.

[dfwgator]

When I took Russian, they would show us “Nu, Pogodi.”

[Drew68]

So this is no golden age of television. That requires creativity and values. The entertainment industry promotes neither.

I disagree. From recent shows such as Breaking Bad to Game of Thrones I think the quality and production of today's television is the best it's ever been. It's at the level today where even A-list movie stars want to be involved in television, particularly on streaming mediums such as Netflix, something that a decade ago would have been career suicide.

[Drew68]

When I took Russian, they would show us “Nu, Pogodi.”

I know that one, as well as "Bag of Apples" --another old Soviet cartoon from the 70s.

It seems the Soviets then and now Russians have always been serious about the art of cartoon animation.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

You couldn't be more wrong. Today's shows are far more entertaining and riveting than the perceived "wholesome" golden era of TV. Yes, there are a lot of Christian-based shows as well.

I have completely cut the cord. I don't even watch network TV anymore, so I don't have basic cable nor an antennae. I have a Roku 3, and I have about 15 channels (12 are free) that I subscribe to and watch anything under the sun.

[onedoug]

“Lamp Unto My Feet”

[unlearner]

That is pretty good quality.

[montag813]

I was in animation and had to switch into IT because my job was too volatile. Animation is now being outsourced to other countries that employ animation sweat shops.

HUH? You can't produce a creative masterpiece like "Frozen" in sweatshops. Perhaps to create armies of clones, such as in the LOTR epics with Orc vs man armies. But those can be done using plug-ins and scripting anyway now.

[miliantnutcase]

90% of the direct to DVD animation is sweat shop. So is lots of architectural visualization and commercial CG work. But, you are correct high quality animation from Disney is still in-house.