Female animators band together for #MeToon collaboration
This week saw a segment on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee take on the pernicious issue of harrassment in the workplace, specifically against women in industry and citing a recent case study in which Loud House creator Chris Savino was fired from Nickelodeon for improprietous behaviour.
The inspiring story tells of how a group of “Fed-the-FUCK-up female animators” were able galvanise through sharing experiences on social media, which ultimately led to online coverage and eventually finding justice despite the statute of limitations being in the favour of the accused; the group would instead take their case to the Animation Guild itself with 90+ signatories attesting to disloyalty as defined by the union’s constitution, leading to a one-year suspension.
Among the animators interviewed are Cheyenne Curtis, Paula Spence, Katie Rice, Megan Nicole Dong and Ashlyn Anstee, with an all-female animation crew headed up by Kaitlin Fontana and Julie Levitsky including Janice Chun, Careen Ingle, Taylor Parrish, Angel Lam and Meghan Jones.
Since its initial airing the video, which can be viewed in full above, has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from animation and entertainment industry communities.
I’m very proud of how this piece turned out; it was a definite journey to get here. When I first started making stuff I’d obsess over work I liked and often wonder “How’d that happen?” So…I’m going to tell you how this one happened & WHO HELPED.
(THREAD) https://t.co/jm7jWmFi2H
— Kaitlin Fontana (@kaitlinfontana) 14 March 2019
If you liked the Sam Bee video I linked yesterday, please check out these wonderful women: @kaitlinfontana, who had the idea to make the piece, @janice__chun & @CareenIngle, who animated it, & @dgomezmena who edited it. I hope I’m not leaving anyone out. Very grateful to you all!
— Katie Rice (@katiejrice) 14 March 2019
Already tearing up this morn when a friend and ally showed up at my office w/ flowers :,)
I can’t thank everyone enough for all the love and support and encouraging messages after last nights Samantha Bee animated segment. Your support means everything.? pic.twitter.com/LGFmZ4xnUz— CC (@Cheyenne_Curtis) 14 March 2019
Incredibly honored to have been a part of animating such a great #MeToo story for @FullFrontalSamB.
BIG ups to @Cheyenne_Curtis, @sketchshark, @ashlynanstee, @katiejrice, and Paula Spence for standing up and telling their story.
Feels good!https://t.co/0ufcahAwrH— Careen Ingle (@CareenIngle) March 14, 2019
Thank you @kaitlinfontana & @FullFrontalSamB for sharing our story. Incredibly proud to know @Cheyenne_Curtis, @ashlynanstee, @katiejrice, Paula Spence and all of the brave women who came together to demand change in our industry. https://t.co/yfJ0ulsd8E
— Megan Nicole Dong (@sketchshark) March 14, 2019