The Animation Guild is currently undergoing contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to discuss more beneficial terms and agreements as part of a new deal that will do right by workers in the medium. It’s a hard fought battle that has been going on for several weeks at the time of writing, and with no signs of a resolution.

But in a current climate where productions are being shut down with zero notice, work is way harder to come by, and corporations are slowly incorporating artificial intelligence rather than paying real human beings to craft their stories, animation workers need widespread support that shows the big wigs they aren’t messing around. Luckily for them, fans, creatives, and a neverending stream of industry members turned up to lend a hand.

Union Yaoi Is Helping People Understand Why Animation Needs Help Right Now

This is largely thanks to the power of yaoi, as two unofficial mascots of the movement have been turned into incidental boyfriends who fall in love because there is nothing hotter than standing up for workers’ rights. It’s resulted in an avalanche of great fanart, theories, and for #StandWithAnimation to hit trending all over again. But how exactly did this phenomenon start? Let’s dive into it, and explore why you should care about workers in animation and what they are fighting for right now.

Animation Workers Ignited is a Twitter account that isn’t officially affiliated with the Animation Guild in any capacity, existing purely to share information with workers and fans while trying to foster a sense of community that makes talking about important issues that much easier.

this is what I do with my time when I wait for shots to render at like 9 at night

it's for the cause. pic.twitter.com/tEIVSi47u9

— jess a.m. artposting (@jam_etc_art) August 21, 2024

In recent weeks, it has also been releasing unique animated PSA clips from Jellybox Studios, a little indie production company that is breathing viral life into this crucial labour movement.

They star a generic man wearing a green shirt who loves animation, but is blissfully ignorant of the current state of the industry and how a lack of reliable work, AI, and several other grim factors are paving the way for an uncertain future. So in comes a smart looking dude rizzed up in a purple suit who is ready to explain why animation needs help and what exactly needs to change. They are fun, compelling and, to the point, becoming a major viral factor as union negotiations begin. If you’re a fan or just a random person scrolling through social media, it’s a short that is both informative and entertaining.

But why are these two random characters kissing all of a sudden? Well, it all started when a conversation took place between Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch and a few other industry friends. Fast-forward a few hours, and Union Yaoi was born. It revolves around the brilliant concept that these two men are in love, but the only way they can truly make it work is the support of animation workers far and wide. It essentially uses shipping, a powerful tool in fandom culture, as a viral means to gather support and encourage discussion. It worked instantly, and the past few days have seen figures from across the industry draw their own takes on union yaoi all while showing support for ongoing contract negotiations.

If You Enjoy Union Yaoi, Make Sure You’re Standing Up For Animation

"love is in the air-" CORRECT!!! UNION YAOI BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!! #StandWithAnimation pic.twitter.com/EVBNdofxSw

— Whom (@KidWhomHasAHat) August 22, 2024

Passive yet passionate animation fans could potentially go about their days not aware of how the industry is fighting tooth and nail for working rights, but this peels away the big words and intimidating jargon to present the movement as two doodles being in love with each other. My timeline is ripe with different interpretations on union yaoi, whether they are raising a child together, going on a honeymoon, or flirting with terms of negotiation that link directly to what The Animation Guild is fighting for. It was an accident, but also pure genius.

As expected, thousands of people are engaged with this newfound yaoi trend, not only because it’s utterly hilarious and surprisingly adorable, but also because it speaks to a greater good. It frames the harsh truth that many people working in animation can’t pay rent or afford basic groceries through lovey-dovey art and viral memes, but that enjoyment can’t be for nothing. Animation workers are already speaking out about this fact, and how people should put their money where their mouth is and put a few pennies towards the Yaoi Tax.

Credit: The Animation Guild

This refers to a fund set up specifically to financially support union members currently in the trenches fighting for contract negotiations. Even if a thousand people threw in a few dollars, collectively that is nothing to be sniffed up when spread across several different people. It’s great to see a couple of fruity doodles drum up this level of interest, and I pray it translates not just to viral support, but financial contributions that keep workers afloat as they struggle to find work in one of the most precarious creative fields on the planet.

Modern animated shows and films are frequently made possible by the whims of just a few corporations funding them, who employ workers and hold their livelihoods' hostage with so many unfair working conditions and awkward clauses that need to be uprooted if anyone in the medium wants to have a future. But no matter where these originate, it is workers and fans that give them life, purpose, and longevity.

Union yaoi is a beautiful yet unorthodox example of that creativity in action, and how we are capable of achieving anything so long as we band together and keep on pushing. Progress can be made even if the first steps are made by complete accident when somebody throws tongue-in-cheek homosexual doodles on Twitter and kickstarts a phenomenon. If you have been put under a spell by union yaoi, make it known that you stand for animation no matter what, because I promise you that support is more valuable than you could ever imagine.

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