Animation Guild Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios After Bargaining Over AI Guardrails and More

After three months of bargaining over issues like artificial intelligence, wages, shrinking crews, and more, The Animation Guild has reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract with the group that represents Hollywood’s studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

Negotiations initially began on August 12 between TAG and the AMPTP, although the two organizations did not come to an agreement in the five days allotted for bargaining. Negotiations resumed on September 16, with the tentative agreement being reached on Saturday morning and announced on Monday, per a email from TAG sent to guild members.

Among the issues that TAG touts gains in are stronger AI guardrails, including consultation and notification provisions; health and pension fund improvements; wage increases; protections for remote work; additional sick days; and the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday. They also note “craft-specific gains,” including staffing minimums for writers rooms.

A tentative agreement between TAG and the AMPTP is a massive step forward, but it doesn’t mean the new contract is set in stone quite yet. The next step will be a ratification vote by the members, which is currently being scheduled.

While there were many issues at play, getting stricter protections for generative AI was a major one for this round of negotiations, something that also played a large role in last year’s writers’ and actors’ strikes and the ongoing video game actor strike. IGN ran a comprehensive report last year about how it’s become a hot-button topic in the animation industry specifically, with some believing the technology could make their work more efficient and others arguing it’s not worth risking jobs or artistic integrity.

“After weeks of negotiations that covered months in the calendar, I am very proud of the agreement that we reached with the studios for our new contract,” said Steve Kaplan, TAG Business Representative, said in a statement. “Not only have we seen the inclusion of the advancements in the industry realized by the other Unions and Guilds, but we were able to address industry-specific issues in a meaningful way.

The animation industry at large has been facing issues like crunch, layoffs, and low pay for years now, spawning an entire #StandWithAnimation movement. For more, check out our report about the tumultuous making of Inside Out 2.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.