Can Animation Render a More Sustainable Production Future?

- By Jessie Nagel

Animation has the ability to bridge gaps of understanding and can transport audiences to places they couldn’t otherwise go. It’s been a vehicle for empathy and for division, but much of the time animation is a place of creative delight. Behind the scenes, however, the industry has grappled with most of the same issues experienced by those in live action — including systemic inequity, lack of diversity and processes that, like all industries, have a negative impact on the environment.

Change in all areas requires collective will, understanding and resources to support transition. That perspective, seen in the work done by a variety of other organizations from Women in Animation to Free The Work, was the inspiration behind the development of Green

The Bid. Green The Bid was launched nearly three years ago to bring together the entire advertising industry — brands, agencies, production and post studios, including VFX and animation, along with individuals and supporting organizations — to reduce the waste and shrink the carbon footprint of our industry.

Today, over 400 companies around the world of all sizes have pledged to participate and take meaningful action. The participation is unique to what each company does — or, as I like to put it, according to their superpower.

For animation company, this means adopting some key practices in office:

Going paperless, eliminating single-use plastics, getting on a green/renewable energy plan (where available), turning off climate control when not needed, eliminating red meat in catering and food orders, donating and composting leftover food, promoting carpooling or public transport commuting and minimizing the use of toxic solvents. Unlike live action, animation and VFX don’t have generators and idling trucks, numerous people flying to location, massive set builds (with