Wildbrain Animation Studios Workers Unionize With Canadian Animation Guild

What once seemed like a wild fantasy is quickly becoming reality in the Great White North: Canada’s animation industry is unionizing. The British Columbia Labour Relations Board has certified a union at one of the region’s biggest animation studios.

The latest outfit where workers have successfully organized is Wildbrain Animation Studios. As we understand, the effort to unionize Wildbrain took years to achieve, but it has now become the third studio to join the Canadian Animation Guild (CAG), IATSE Local 938. The British Columbia local has previously organized both artists and production workers at Titmouse’s Vancouver studio and game developer Anemone Hug Interactive. Canadian animation workers on the East Coast are organizing their ranks as well.

Wildbrain handles animation for numerous major series and specials, including Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego, Sonic Prime, Johnny Test, and Chip and Potato, Apple TV+’s The Snoopy Show and Snoopy in Space, and BBC’s Fireman Sam.

Wildbrain workers will now begin bargaining with studio bosses on a new contract. According to the local, the employees have been discussing ways to improve working conditions at the studio since they first made public their intentions to unionize in September.

Said Eddy Pedreira, secretary of CAG, IATSE Local 938:

We are honored to welcome workers from Wildbrain into our local. Along with these new members, animation workers across Canada are strengthened as we all continue to work together to make the industry better.

IATSE international vp and director of Canadian affairs John Lewis added:

Representing workers is what we do best. We look forward to a fulsome bargaining process that will bring real change to the lives of workers at Wildbrain Animation Studio.