Cartoonists’ Union Gets New Name

After 50 years as the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists, Local 839 IATSE has changed its name to the Animation Guild. The union represents animators, designers, technical crafts people, writers and story artists.

“When Local 839 was formed in 1952, animators were often called ‘cartoonists’ and all their work was shown theatrically,” guild President Kevin Koch explained.

“Today, many animators chafe at the term ‘cartoonist,’ and our members create animation for television, the Internet and DVDs, as well as the motion picture screen.”

For the record: The group’s official name is the Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts.