Canadian “Rick and Morty” / “Harmonquest” Animator Talks Rough Work Conditions In Canadian Animation Business

Is this becoming the new standard in production?

Canadian-based animator Anita DeKok took part in a Reddit AMA session where there wasn’t a WHOLE bunch in terms of Q&A, however, it looked like she was looking for someone…anyone to talk to about her fledgling career as an animator.

Now, before we get into the meat and potatoes of her description of working in Canadian animation production, note that Anita DOES admit that she did not even work in the industry for her first two years out of college due to the fact that when she graduated, she wanted to more or less unlearn 3D animation and learn more about Flash and producing 2D animation. Eventually, her career path had led her to Bardel Entertainment, an animation production company based out of Vancouver that has taken part in the production of such noted works as Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty, and Harmonquest. Anita, specifically has worked on the latter two series for Bardel Entertainment and notes that working in the animation business in Canada is not for the feint of heart, in fact, here’s her description of what it’s like to survive post-college while working in the industry and as you’ll see she notes comparatively to the production studios in Asia and their non-union working conditions:

 Lots of unpaid overtime with the doctrine that we are doing it for the passion and not the money. I’m a 30 year old woman with a highly sought after career and yet I currently live in a basement I cant afford to move out of, ride a bicycle, and have my student loans in collection by the government because I haven’t been able to pay them in so long. Its very stressful and I have bailed on a few contracts because of emotional breakdowns from it. I have been lucky enough to have the studios here be pretty understanding and welcome me back though. They know it’s hard for us and they are trying to find new ways to make things better. And I understand too that they are working within deeply set parameters set by the major corporations like Disney and Dreamworks. Budgets are getting smaller, quality is getting higher, and the animators are paying for the difference with their blood sweat and tears. It does get easier the more experience you get though and if you have a good attitude and continue to work on your skills. Communication and being honest with yourself and your company are also key to making life as an animator easier. I’ve negotiated better pay before and received it.

These conditions are none-too-dissimilar to the stories from last year surrounding the production of Sausage Party and Canadian-based studio Nitrogen Studios. For those that don’t know, animation studios here in the United States will often be the face for projects that are produced both here domestically, as well as internationally. Studios like Film Roman, Hanna-Barbera, Rankin/Bass, and others have all taken advantage of cheap labor costs that come with employing non-union producers in Asian countries to help stitch together various projects like The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and yes, Starburns does the same with Rick and Morty. Is it illegal? Nope. Is it immoral? One could make the argument that thousands of jobs are given to people who live in countries around the world that may not otherwise get these opportunities and it’s no different than that new iPhone that you purchased that was manufactured mostly in China before it takes up real estate in your pocket.

On the other hand, then you get stuff like this when it comes to non-unionized labor, you hear about the horror stories that emanate from the production studios that make some of our favorite animated content, however, less we forget there are two sides to every story and everyone’s situation is unique.

Do you guys have a take on this? Sound off in the comments below and let your voice be heard: