The Animation Guild ratified its new contract with studios, despite members’ AI concerns

After three months of negotiations, the more than 5,000-member Animation Guild (a Hollywood union representing artists, writers, and other animation workers) has ratified a new contract. But as with so many issues in the industry today, the specter of AI looms.

The three-year deal, which covers animation studios including Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery, will see member wages climb 7% in the first year, followed by smaller additional bumps in the following years.

Still, the deal, which was tentatively struck late last month, doesn’t address AI concerns that some workers view as critical. The lack of AI protections remains a longer-term issue that the industry is still working through: a study released by the guild earlier this year found that around 30% of animation jobs could be disrupted by AI in the next three years.

Earlier this month, some negotiating committee members said they’d vote against the deal, saying it didn’t provide workers with enough protection against AI. For example, the new contract doesn’t allow guild members to opt out of using AI or having their work be used to train AI models.

Just over three quarters of voting members approved the new contract — likely feeling the pressure amid Hollywood’s lengthy labor contraction and an increase in Hollywood animation outsourcing. Its last contract was approved by nearly 90% of members.