AnimationNation is 13 Years Old Today
On February 25, 1999, AnimationNation.com went online, leading a movement in the animation industry that still goes on to this day. It was a thrilling, fantastic time as suddenly, tabs of paper with an enigmatic 4.1 (code for April 1st) appeared at studios throughout the Burbank, Hollywood and Los Angeles area, with a call to animation artists to face the corporate abuse that was rampant in animation, and for artists to unify in force through an industry walk out at lunch time on April Fools Day, culminating in an event that changed the course of animation. From our humble beginnings, we went on to profoundly influence the community in Los Angeles and beyond. The mission continues!
So much history is within this site. Our forums are literally an archive of the artists of the industry talking to themselves, interacting, organizing, taking action, and playing out the history of our community for thirteen incredible years of highs and lows. Never before had animation artists from all over the world come to one destination and get to know each other. It was an amazing time and it still is. Even in our current age of blogs, Facebook and social networks, of which AN was the first in our industry, the site continues to challenge and inspire artists of LA and the international animation community to greater heights, creatively, professionally, and in many varied ways.
AN was the first animation community that delved into and explored the nature of who we are, how we think, our political perspectives, philosophy, current events, our pro-activity, and independence. We drove the issue of Unity among artists, challenged long standing, stagnant institutions such as the union, challenged corrupt executive management, challenged dysfunctional historians and critics, and continues the good fight to this day, while empowering artists as best as we can with what we do and who we are.
Please feel free to trek into a different time in the biz by perusing the Original Articles that were the driving force behind our movement in 1999. You're also welcome to follow this Forum topic as we'll be having some fun getting into the History of AnimationNation in more detail, describing what we've been through and experienced these many years as events unfolded, animation changed, and a new era emerged from the foundation of the old.
Thank you for your continued interest in AN, to our members for their participation, to the many people both in the present and the past who've helped make the site and this community we enjoy what it is today, and for being the Voice of the Animation Industry.
Keep the Faith and Keep Creating!
