The Animation Guild (TAG) has shared the complete terms of its tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which could shape relations between animators and studios for the next three years. 

The 54-page memorandum of agreement (MOA) covers a wide range of issues, including wage minimums, paid sick leave and protections against AI. Animators will also get yearly pay increases of 7% (retroactive to August 2024), 4% (August 2025) and 3.5% (August 2026). 

If union members vote to ratify the agreement, it will kick in on August 1, 2024 and expire on July 31, 2027. A vote is expected to be called following a series of townhall meetings this month, the third (and seemingly last) of which is scheduled for December 12. 

A majority of TAG’s negotiating committee voted to recommend ratification, and its executive board is unanimously in favor of the same. These groups “feel this contract addresses key concerns raised by our membership,” according to a statement in the FAQ section of the TAG site, adding that if the contract is not ratified, the negotiating committee “will have to determine the will of the membership and return to the bargaining table.” But the union cautions that if negotiations start up again, “There is no way to predict how long this new process would take, or if any further progress could be made.” 

TAG and AMPTP reached this tentative agreement on November 22. TAG also successfully negotiated for health and pension fund increases and the declaration of June 19 as a holiday for its 5,000-plus artist, technician, writer and production worker members. AMPTP represents more than 350 TV and film studios, including Walt Disney Studios, Netflix and Sony Pictures. 

When it comes to the hot-button issue of AI, the MOA has clauses acknowledging that studios will continue to use animation tools that have some AI built into them. Specifically, the clause references “historically used digital technologies, including without limitation so-called ‘traditional AI’ technologies programmed to perform specific functions (e.g. CGI, VFX, Interactive Development Environments, sound effects), and technologies such as those used during any stage of pre-visualization, pre-production, production, post-production, marketing and distribution (e.g. the non-Gen[erative] AI functions of Maya, Blender, Adobe Photoshop, Nuke, Shotgrid, Microsoft Visual Code Studio and Houdini).” 

When it comes to newer AI-based technology, subsequent clauses state that producers have the right to use the software for motion picture production, and employees who use generative AI tools to make content will not lose any rights or entitlements, including getting credit for their work. 

The MOA also calls for producers to give employees notice if they’re going to use AI, and to consult with employees (if there’s time during production). Even if there isn’t, the producer “shall give advance written notice to an employee who might be asked or required to utilize a Gen AI System in the performance of covered work.” According to the MOA, consultation should involve having an opportunity to explore alternative approaches that don’t involve using AI. 

If ratified, the agreement will require studios to protect their employees if their use of AI or the output leads to any legal trouble (including claims of copyright infringement). 

Photo courtesy of Israel Andrade via Unsplash