British Animation Women Breaking The Mold

Abstract

I often have more women than men studying animation, yet the conversion of these women into animators, directors or writers making animated series doesn’t reflect this. The total number of animation series commissioned or co-produced in the UK between 1990 – 2018 is 213 shows 93.5% were created by men and 6.5% by women (En.wikipedia.org. 2018). 8.5% of these shows are directed by women and 91.5% by men (En.wikipedia.org. 2018). In 1996 there were 2 UK adult shows aired on mainstream TV created by women, Crapston Villas (Sarah Ann Kennedy , 1995 - 1997) and Pond Life (Candy Guard, 1996 - 2000) (Kitson, 2008 pgs 157 – 162, 166 – 169). There have been no adult animated series created in USA by women to date and the female workforce in the states in key roles is less than a fifth (Honess Roe, 2017). A survey I conducted of British animated series reveals that there have been no black women directors or writers so far (En.wikipedia.org. 2018). This documentary for a Sky Channel examines the kinds of roles women have in the British Animation Industry and asks questions about meritocracy, and transparency.
This has been screened in America at the Popular Culture Conference in Washington on 17th April.
This will be broadcast in UK on 13th October (Sky: 192/Freesat: 161 at 6pm) and 11th November (Manchester Animation Festival Conference. Key note speaker and screening)