WGA Coverage for Animation Deals

Negotiate for the protections and benefits that come with a WGA contract.

(5/21/2021)

Are you interested in selling or developing an animated project? If so, you may already know that you can negotiate WGA coverage, even though not all types of animation are automatically covered by the MBA. You must be clear up front that you want your project to be WGA-covered and in some cases be willing to push hard for a WGA-covered deal.

Securing WGA coverage of your animated project has significant benefits, which can include:

  • Residuals
  • Pension and health benefits including paid parental leave
  • Guild-determined writing credit
  • Safeguards such as Options & Exclusivity and Span
  • WGA minimum compensation, including script fees
  • Separated rights in original story material

The Guild has successfully negotiated coverage for numerous animated series, including in broadcast (Duncanville, The Great North, HouseBroken, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, The Simpsons), cable (Pantheon, Tuca & Bertie, American Dad), and for streaming platforms Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon, Paramount+, and Hulu (Big Mouth, Human Resources, Central Park, Solar Opposites, Q-Force, Hoops, The Prince, F Is for Family, BoJack Horseman, Paradise PD, Undone, Tooning Out the News, Disenchantment, Koala Man), in addition to animated feature projects, such as the soon-to-be-released Wendell and Wild for Netflix and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run for Paramount.

If you are offered a deal for an animated project, (1) insist upon WGA coverage at the outset and (2) make sure that the employing company is signatory to the WGA MBA, as studios may attempt to set up the project with a subsidiary that is an IATSE Local 839 signatory.

Contact Andrew Cohen in the WGAW Member Organizing Department to work with you and any other writers on the project to gain coverage. Our Contracts Department can then assist you in negotiating WGA terms, from providing the necessary contract language to advising on the application of MBA provisions.

A reminder about coverage for animation deals was sent to writers’ agents, managers, and lawyers earlier this week asking for their continued support for clients seeking a Guild contract.