Animation Guild Celebrates Significant Successes with Netflix, DreamWorks, and ‘Ted’ Voting Results
As Hollywood anticipates a series of potentially transformative labor agreements in the coming months, the Animation Guild has concluded 2025 with significant unionization victories.
In recent weeks, feature teams from Netflix Animation Studios, remote workers at DreamWorks Animation, and staff from NBCU’s Ted series have all participated in a series of votes to join the Guild, officially known as IATSE Local 839.
The National Labor Relations Board facilitated these elections, which will see the Animation Guild’s membership increase by over 100 members from its current approximately 6,000. This expansion aims to enhance fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for animation professionals. Longtime Business Representative Steve Kaplan commented, “We are continuing to expand our jurisdiction both inside and outside the scope of our Master Agreement as we continue to look forward to protecting the rights of all animation workers regardless of zip code.”
In celebration of this achievement, the Guild shared artwork online to commemorate the recent votes.
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“Big Wins for Animation Workers! DWA Remote Workers, Netflix Feature, and Ted Show Production workers all won their NLRB elections to unionize with TAG. Let’s celebrate and wish them success as they begin to bargain!” pic.twitter.com/R4MVYMcy6k
— The Animation Guild #WeAre839 (@animationguild) January 7, 2026
Following the holiday season, employees from the Ted series and Netflix Animation voted on December 23 and December 30, respectively, to join TAG. The vote among the Ted team was unanimous, and the Netflix team resulted in a 44-13 outcome.
At DreamWorks Animation, eligible remote workers recently decided to join the Guild with a vote of 52-10 on December 23rd, following a previous overwhelming ratification of their first union contract in September.
These developments, while not entirely unexpected, align with the proactive stance of newly elected TAG President Danny Lin. Elected unopposed in early November, Lin emphasized the Guild’s commitment to organizing and advocating for its members, reinforcing their mantra of “we will continue to organize, to fight, and to win.”
