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Category: Diversity and Inclusion

Business Headline News

Carl Reed Launches Composition Media Animation Studio

Producer of Oscar-winning animated short ‘Hair Love’ opens new shingle with 2 animated features and an animated series; content creation to highlight minority and underrepresented communities.

Mentoring the New Animation Filmmakers Headline News

HBO Max to Stream Animated Shorts From 12 Underrepresented Artists

The final 8 shorts from the HBO Max x Warner Bros. Discovery Access Animated Shorts Program will stream March 23 as episodes in the Max original series ‘Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection.’

Helping Make the World a Better Place ANIMATIONWorld

‘Princess Power’: Where ‘Princess’ is a Verb, not a Noun

Showrunner and Executive Producer Elise Allen discusses her new preschool series and its core messages of inclusivity, diversity, community, teamwork, and friendship; based on the New York Times Bestselling book series ‘Princesses Wear Pants’ by ‘Today’ anchor Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim, the show is now streaming on Netflix. 

Promoting a New Generation of Animation Artists Headline News

2023 WIA Scholarship Recipients Announced

By Dan Sarto | Monday, February 13, 2023 at 8:53am

Out of 192 worldwide applicants from 74 schools around the world, 15 students were awarded scholarships, with an additional 25 receiving honorable mentions.

Wait Until Mom Finds Out! ANIMATIONWorld

‘My Dad the Bounty Hunter’: Representation Beneath the Skin

Everett Downing Jr. and Patrick Harpin’s new animated sci-fi series turns familiar tropes on their heads, showing the struggles of a split Black family in a warp-speed space adventure; show debuts February 9 on Netflix.

Diversity in Artistic Development Headline News

Nickelodeon Reveals New Writing and Artist Program Participants

Programs align with ‘Content for Change’ initiative, a commitment to foster inclusive and diverse talent while developing tools needed to launch careers; 4 writers and 8 artists join the annual programs.

Business Headline News

WGA West Blasts Warner Bros. Discovery Merger for Repercussions to Writers and Diversity

Showrunners of ‘Tuca & Bertie,’ ‘Gordita Chronicles,’ and ‘Whistleblower’ contributed personal accounts for the “Broken Promises Bulletin,” an addendum of a larger 2021 report showcasing the creative carnage caused by corporate mega-mergers.

Coming in 2024 Headline News

PBS KIDS Announces New Animated Series ‘Lyla in the Loop’

The kids' show from Mighty Picnic and Pipeline Studios, premiering early 2024, aims to boost problem-solving skills and showcase benefits of working collaboratively.

Call for Submissions Headline News

Submissions Now Open: 2023 LXiA Spark Animation Grant

Supported by Netflix, the community outreach program awards 3 emerging independent Latinx animation filmmakers with money, mentorship, and support for production of an animated short film; the submission deadline is February 3.

Supporting Animation Education for Neurodiverse Artists Headline News

Rock Autism Benefit Concert for Center for Learning Unlimited Set

An evening of live music with Max Muscato, David Nolf, and Telephone Tag will benefit the organization’s Brainstorm Productions’ animation school for autistic students; show coming February 5 to Hotel Café in Los Angeles.

Kids Are Ready for the Tough Conversations ANIMATIONWorld

‘Karma’s World’: An Invaluable Education in Black Character Animation

Series head writer Halcyon Person shares how Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges’ hit children’s show pushes boundaries and tell stories never told before in animation, representing both the Black experience and Black culture of a true Brooklyn neighborhood; Season 4 now streaming on Netflix.

Education Headline News

Exclusive: LAIKA and Bowie State University Celebrate Stop-Motion Studio Opening

The award-winning ‘Coraline’ and ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ studio’s head of animation, Brad Schiff, was on hand for the launch of the first stop-motion studio at a historically Black college and university (HBCU), as well as first at an institution of higher learning in the state of Maryland.

Diversity in Animation Headline News

6th Annual WIA Diversity Awards Honorees Announced

The award recognizes individuals, films, and organizations working to expand diversity; recipients include producer Chris Nee, Epic Games, and Seyed Mohsen Pourmohseni Shakib's film, ‘It's a Gray, Gray World.’

Community Outreach Headline News

Access: VFX Launches European Chapter

Netflix joins The Foundry to support new chapter helmed by Glassworks’ Chris Kiser; studio coalition aims to promote diversity within the VFX industry.

Close the Literary Gap Headline News

Nine PBS and Lion Forge Animation Team Up on ‘Drawn In’

The multi-media initiative aims to close the literary gap with educational games, digital comic books, resources for grownups, and an animated series that follows the epic comic adventures of 4 Midwest kids who LOVE comic books.

Indigenous Native American Animated Superheroes! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Spirit Rangers’: Bringing Native American Stories to Preschool Animation

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Samala Chumash tribal member and series showrunner Karissa Valencia takes audiences on an adventure of magic, animal lore, and Native kid empowerment, with superhero characters she wished she’d seen as a child; all-new CG preschool series debuts today on Netflix. 

New Pioneers in Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Hulu’s Kelci Parker Fights for Diverse Voices in Hard Comedy Adult Animation

At the recent SCAD AnimationFest, the streamer’s VP of Adult Animation Originals, who was honored with the festival’s Award of Excellence, shared that you must reach for the stars, take risks, dare to fail… and earn your fart joke.

Submit Your Work Headline News

SPARK ANIMATION Returns to Vancouver In-Person and Online

British Columbia’s only Oscar-accredited festival is back as a hybrid event, with an expansive program of talks, presentations, screenings, and career networking events, running October 27 – November 30; submissions still being accepted through September 16.

It Was Only a Matter of Time Headline News

‘Peppa Pig’ Introduces First Same-Sex Couple

Penny Polar Bear’s two moms debuted last week in the hit eOne animated preschool series, evoking praise for embracing representation by some, criticism as age-inappropriate by others.

Business Headline News

Fred Rogers Productions Secures ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’ Grant

The award-winning production company receives funding from the Bezos Family Foundation to develop resources surrounding the show for caregivers, organizations, and professionals in partnership with foundation program Vroom.

Kid Power! Headline News

DreamWorks and UNICEF USA Launch ‘Gabby’s Kid Power Challenge’

New program gives kids a chance to make a difference while learning important social-emotional lessons; by watching ‘Gabby’s’ challenge videos kids bank kitty hearts in support of UNICEF’s work and help target the animation studio’s $400K donation.

diversity and inclusion Headline News

First Autistic Character Joins ‘Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go’ For New Season

Mattel’s iconic franchise introduces a positive, neurodivergent role model, Bruno, as a joyful, pun-making brake car, voiced by Chuck Smith, an autistic actor, who makes his debut during the Season 26 premiere September 12 on Cartoon Network’s Cartoonito.

Community Outreach Headline News

Netflix Animation Foundation Program Launches Session 3

Initiative pairs students and young professionals with Netflix Animation mentors to build equity and access for underrepresented early creatives; latest edition partners with LA-based Black N' Animated.

career development Headline News

FLAMIN Fellowship Selects Six Artist-Filmmakers

The Film London initiative supports animators early in their careers with mentoring and development support, including £2,500 seed money to fund their work.

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