Within the last two years, due to the combined efforts of the Department of Organizing staff and the Animation Writers Caucus, the Guild has achieved major success in organizing animation writers.

WGA-covered animation writers now receive the same rights and benefits as their live action counterparts, including residual payments, credit arbitrations, Guild minimums, and pension and health.

History and Background

It started with the daytime animated series Pocket Dragon Adventures in the Fall of 1997, followed in May 1998 by the first full WGA Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) deal with Imagine TV for the primetime animated series The PJs.

In August 1998, following a successful organizing effort, the WGA and Fox entered into an agreement covering The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Futurama and Family Guy as well as all future primetime animated shows. Writers on the Fox animated shows received retroactive pension and health and script fee coverage for shows written before the contract was signed.

In February 1999, Castle Rock Television and Downtowners Productions signed a WGA agreement covering The Downtowners (renamed Mission Hill). Like the Fox deal, this contract covered all primetime animated television programs in development and provided retroactive coverage. In July 1999, CW Animation (the animation development and production company owned by Carsey-Werner), producers of God, the Devil and Bob, signed a WGA contract retroactive to the start date of that series. This contract also covered all primetime television animation.

These successes were followed by an agreement in August 1999 with NBC Studios covering primetime animation on a series called Sammy. Finally, WGA agreements were reached in September 1999 for Dilbert and in January 2000 for The Oblongs. The Guild is involved in negotiations on other series at this time.

In addition to television, the Guild entered into contracts covering theatrical animation projects and direct to video projects--again with full MBA coverage, including residuals.

Animation Writers: We Want You

The WGA plans to continue its success in organizing animation writers and needs your help. If you are about to enter into an employment or purchase agreement on a theatrical or television animation project, ask for the deal to be Guild-covered. Then call the Department of Organizing at (323) 782-4511 in order for the Guild to negotiate an agreement with the production company. Also, if you are currently on staff on a daytime or primetime animated television series and you want union coverage or want to learn more about the benefits of union coverage, please call the Department of Organizing at (323) 782-4511.

Animation Writers Caucus
Animation Links
What Every 'Toon Writer Needs to Know