Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours to contemplate all the ways you reflexively hurt those closest to you. After months of negotiations, the animators of BoJack Horseman have voted to unionize with The Animation Guild (TAG). According to Cartoon Brew, a divide has always existed on the show between the animators who went without union protection and the unionized writers and voice actors. BoJack was one of the few Netflix animated series that did not have a contract with Animation Guild Local 839 IATSE. By signing with the Guild, animators ensure wage minimums, as well as health and retirement benefits. BoJack Horseman is produced by Shadowmachine as a for-hire crew for Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company. Shadowmachine told Cartoon Brew earlier this year that one reason unionizing was slow on BoJack was because of this for-hire relationship with Tornante. It was difficult to negotiate with the animators and Eisner’s company.
