The Animation Guild, Black Artists Group Present Drawing Ourselves: Being Black in Animation

On February 16, The Animation Guild is hosting a virtual conversation that will explore the contributions of Black animation pioneers in celebration of Black History Month. Featuring four esteemed panelists, the discussion will focus on celebrating each of the panelist’s personal journeys and will be moderated by Animation Guild member and supervising animation director Kimson Albert and “BlkWmnAnimator” Deborah Anderson.

The virtual webinar will be accessible via Zoom and Facebook.

According to TAG, after the murder of George Floyd last year, many Animation Guild members recognized that the union needed to better engage Black artists and offer productive opportunities for dialogue. TAG also vowed to create an environment where Black artists and writers feel welcome to participate in union activities as well as lead them. Paving the way, TAG Facilities Manager Jupey Krusho along with several engaged union members initiated the Black Artists Group.

“The effects of racism do not stop at the animation studio door, and we need to forge pathways into leadership positions for Black artists and writers in order to truly see change in our industry,” says TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan. “We hope this event will spotlight and raise the voices of several pioneering Black animation artists as they share their experiences.”

Drawing Ourselves: Being Black in Animation

Tuesday, February 16, 7 p.m. PST

Speakers:

• Carole Holliday, BWA Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a multi-hyphenated artist whose creative contributions span from Oliver & Company to most recently Marvel’s Spider-Man and Friends.
• Ron Myrick, a longtime veteran in the field of animation working as a director and producer, who says the industry has been a source of many joys, much passion, and at times pain.
• Everett Downing Jr., an Academy Award-winning director with nearly 20 years of experience in feature film animation who is now co-producing an animated series called My Dad the Bounty Hunter at Netflix.
• Sidney Clifton, an Emmy nominee with over 20 years of experience as an executive and producer in the animation industry and founder of The Clifton House, a writer’s and artist’s retreat space.

Zoom webinar registration at tiny.cc/DrawingOurselves.

Watch the Facebook Livestream at Facebook.com/AnimationGuild.

The Animation Guild, also known as Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), was founded in 1952. As a labor union, we represent more than 5,000 artists, technicians and writers in the animation industry, advocating for workers to improve wages and conditions.