independent animation

{{Short description|Animated media produced outside the major industry}}

The terms independent animation or indie animation refers to animated shorts, web series, and feature films produced outside a major national animation industry.

[[United States]]

In America, working independent

animators included Mary Ellen Bute,[https://books.google.com/books?id=FSdQAAAAMAAJ Enchanted Drawings - Google Books (pgs.286-293)] John Whitney, Harry Everett Smith[https://www.skwigly.co.uk/100-greatest-animated-shorts-film-3-interwoven-harry-smith/ 100 Greatest Animated Shorts/Film #3: Interwoven / Harry Smith - Skwigly Animation Magazine][https://www.artandtrash.ca/episodes/rambler Rambler: Spoofing the Avant-Garde in Jane Conger Belson's Odds & Ends - Art & Trash] and Oskar Fischinger alongside earlier efforts of what would later become UPA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.10/2.10pages/2.10cohen.html|title=The Unnatural History of Independent Animated Films on 16mm.|website=www.awn.com}}[https://calaborfed.org/california-history/animated-cartoon-sponsored-by-union-played-role-in-reelecting-roosevelt/ Animated cartoon sponsored by union played role in reelecting Roosevelt - California Labor Federation]

In 1959, The Academy Awards witnessed the first independent animated film to win an Oscar with John Hubley's Moonbird which was also produced by wife and collaborator Faith Hubley using limited animation to tell their own personal stories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/12/25/an-auteurist-history-of-film-independent-animation-1947-60/|title=MoMA | An Auteurist History of Film: Independent Animation, 1947–60|website=www.moma.org}}[https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/when-indie-animation-won-its-first When Indie Animation Won Its First Oscar|Animation Obsessive]

Jordan Belson, Robert Breer{{Cite web|url=https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/filmnotes/fnf99n1.html|title=Film Notes -Independent Short Films|website=www.albany.edu}} and Stan Vanderbeek made groundbreaking experimental animation during this time.

Avant-garde animator Carmen D'Avino's Oscar-nominated Pianissimo (1963)[https://www.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/4784/releases/MOMA_1972_0013_11.pdf FILMS FOR CHILDREN (1972 program) on MoMA.org][https://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/the-films-of-carmen-davino-1698.html The Films of Carmen D'Avino - Cartoon Brew][https://www.animationforadults.com/2017/11/the-academy-presents-restored-animated.html THE ACADEMY PRESENTS 'RESTORED ANIMATED RARITIES'|AFA: Animation for Adults] was distributed by none other than Amos Vogel's legendary Cinema 16.{{cite web|url=http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-the-academy-award-1963/|title=Cartoons Considered For the Academy Award – 1963 -|website=cartoonresearch.com}}

Other independent animators during this time included Charles Braverman, Gene Deitch,

Fred Mogubgub,[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/this-is-how-film-fundraising-worked-before-kickstarter-69054.html This Is How Film Fundraising Worked Before Kickstarter|Cartoon Brew] Fred Wolf[https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2022/03/03/50-years-of-harry-nilssons-the-point/ 50 Years Of Harry Nilsson's The Point - Aquarium Drunkard] and Will Vinton.[https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2018/10/will_vinton_oscar_winner_and_p.html Will Vinton, Oscar winner and pioneering Portland animator, dies at 70 - oregonlive.com][https://www.zippyframes.com/shorts/closed-mondays-vinton-gardiner 'Closed Mondays' by Bob Gardiner & Will Vinton (Classic Animation Frames)|Zippy Frames] The latter two would go on to win Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film along with the works of the Hubleys and Ernest Pintoff starting in the late 1950s-early 1960s.[https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/animation-at-its-most-pretentious 'The Critic': Animation at Its Most Pretentious - Animation Obsessive]

File:RalphBakshiJan09.jpg

In the late 1960s, animator Ralph Bakshi and producer Steve Krantz founded Bakshi Productions,{{cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Jon M. |last2=McDonnell |first2=Chris |title=Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi |year=2008 |publisher=Universe Publishing |isbn=978-0-7893-1684-4 |pages=54 |chapter=First Gigs }} establishing the studio as an alternative to mainstream animation by producing animation his own way and accelerating the advancement of female and minority animators. He also paid his employees a higher salary than any other studio at that time.{{cite book |last1=Sito |first1=Tom |title=Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson |url=https://archive.org/details/drawinglineuntol00sito |url-access=limited |year=2006 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-2407-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/drawinglineuntol00sito/page/n64 50] |chapter=Suits }} In 1969, Ralph's Spot was founded as a division of Bakshi Productions to produce commercials for Coca-Cola and Max, the 2000-Year-Old Mouse, a series of educational shorts paid for by Encyclopædia Britannica.{{cite book |title=Television/radio Age |year=1969 |publisher=Television Editorial Corp |page=13 }}{{cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Jon M. |last2=McDonnell |first2=Chris |title=Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi |year=2008 |publisher=Universe Publishing |isbn=978-0-7893-1684-4 |pages=58; 62–63; 80–81 |chapter=Fritz the Cat }} However, Bakshi was uninterested in the kind of animation he was producing, and wanted to produce something personal. Bakshi soon developed Heavy Traffic, a tale of inner-city street life. However, Krantz told Bakshi that studio executives would be unwilling to fund the film because of its content and Bakshi's lack of film experience. While browsing the East Side Book Store on St. Mark's Place, Bakshi came across a copy of R. Crumb's Fritz the Cat. Impressed by Crumb's sharp satire, Bakshi purchased the book and suggested to Krantz that it would work as a film.

Fritz the Cat (1972) was the first animated film to receive an X rating from the MPAA, and the highest grossing independent animated film of all time. Bakshi then simultaneously directed a number of animated films, starting with Heavy Traffic a year later. Ralph Bakshi became the first person in the animation industry since Walt Disney to have two financially successful films released back-to-back.{{cite book |last=Solomon |first=Charles |title=Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation |url=https://archive.org/details/enchanteddrawing0000solo |url-access=limited |date=1989 |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |location=New York City |isbn=0-394-54684-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/enchanteddrawing0000solo/page/275 275] }}

Alongside Bakshi came other independent animated features of the 70s and 80s (some made by former Disney animators) such as John David Wilson's Shinbone Alley (1971), Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH (1982), Vinton's The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985) and Jerry Rees's cult classic The Brave Little Toaster (1987).[https://nerdist.com/article/secret-of-nimh-don-bluth-retrospective-1982/ HOW THE SECRET OF NIMH PROVED DON BLUTH COULD BEAT DISNEY - Nerdist][https://www.zippyframes.com/index.php/news/the-adventures-of-mark-twain 3 Reasons Why: The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)|Zippy Frames][https://www.awn.com/blog/brave-little-toaster-1987 THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER (1987) (***)|Animation World Network][https://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.3/articles/beck1.3.html Don Bluth Goes Independent - AWN.com]

Notable award-winning films also from the 70s and 80s included Dale Case and Bob Mitchell's The Further Adventures of Uncle Sam (1970),{{cite web|url=http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1970/|title=Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award – 1970 -|website=cartoonresearch.com}} Ted Petok's The Crunch Bird (1971),[http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-dog-days-of-summer-detroit-and-the-crunch-bird-1971/ The Dog Days of Summer, Detroit – and “The Crunch Bird” (1971)|Cartoon Research] Frank Mouris's Frank Film (1973)[https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/archives/mouris.html New York State Writers Institute - Frank Film and Frankly Caroline] and Jimmy Picker's Sundae in New York (1983).[https://www.oscars.org/events/real-indies-visions-of-new-york The Real Indies: A Close Look at Orphan Films|Oscars.org (title: "Visions of New York")]

Animation historians John Canemaker[https://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.2/3.2pages/3.2chimovitznyc.html Declaration Of Independents Independent Animation is Alive and Well in New York by Melissa Chimovitz - AWN.com] and Michael Sporn[https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2014-01-20-sns-201401201753reedbusivarietyn1201065674-20140120-story.html Animator Michael Sporn, an Oscar Nominee, Dies at 67 – Chicago Tribune] also made independent animation in New York, both earning Oscar nods for their work (only Canemaker won in 2005).

Other animators like Candy Kugel,[http://www.buzzzco.com/Studio/CKugel-Bio.htm Buzzco - Candy Kugel] Jeff Scher,{{Cite web|url=https://hyperallergic.com/424965/independent-frames-american-animation-quad-cinema/|title=The Creativity of Pre-Digital Animation in the 1970s and '80s|date=February 2, 2018|website=Hyperallergic}} Joanna Priestley, Kathy Rose, Suzan Pitt, Robert Swarthe, Vince Collins, Barrie Nelson, Eli Noyes, Sky David (aka Dennis Pies), Steve Segal, Mike Jittlov,[https://www.artandtrash.ca/episodes/wizards Wizards: Labour, Magic and The Wizard of Speed and Time – Art & Trash]

Paul Fierlinger,[https://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.6/2.6pages/2.6robinsonshorts.html CTW and MTV: Shorts of Influence - Animated World Network] Adam Beckett, Lillian Schwartz, Larry Cuba and George Griffin also made experimental and personal animation during the mid- to late 1970s through the early- to mid-1980s.[https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/independent-frames-american-experimental-animation-1970s-1980s Independent Frames: American Experimental Animation in the 1970s-1980s - Tate]

In the 1970s, independent animator Sally Cruikshank (known for the 1975 cult short Quasi at the Quackadero alongside animated segments for Sesame Street[https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/what-sesame-street-did-for-animation What 'Sesame Street' Did for Animation|Animation Obsessive]) continued to explore independent and D.I.Y. distribution options, but were still largely met with rejection even though her work is now considered ground breaking.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artofthetitle.com/feature/sally-cruikshank-a-career-retrospective-part-one/|title=Sally Cruikshank: A Career Retrospective, Part 1|first1= Lola|last1=Landekic|editor= Will Perkins|date=May 20, 2015|website=www.artofthetitle.com}}

Collections of independent films have been gathered for theatrical viewing, and video release, under such titles as the International Tournee of Animation (which existed between about 1965{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/milestones-animation-industry-20th-century|title=Milestones Of The Animation Industry In The 20th Century|website=Animation World Network}} and ended in the late 1990s), Spike and Mike's Classic Festival of Animation (1977 to 1990) and Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation since 1990. Contemporary independent animators, including Steven Subotnick,[https://lightcone.org/en/filmmaker-314-steven-subotnick Light Cone - Steven SUBOTNICK] Bill Plympton,[https://www.skwigly.co.uk/podcasts/independent-animation-4/ Independent Animation episode 4 - Indie Animated Features][https://www.oscars.org/events/icons-animation-art-illustration ICONS OF ANIMATION - THE ART OF ILLUSTRATION|Oscars.org] Don Hertzfeldt,[https://www.skwigly.co.uk/independent-animation-second-edition/ Second Edition of the Skwigly book ‘Independent Animation’ out now - Skwigly Animation Magazine] Nina Paley and PES have also made work outside of the studio system.

= Later independent animation =

File:Sita Sings the Blues.webm, a notable American independent animated film by Nina Paley]]

The rise of the Internet in the 1990s and 2000s saw an exponential increase in the production of independent animation which included personal independent works by Timothy Hittle,{{Cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/65589/a_rare_treat_bay_area_animation|title=A Rare Treat: Bay Area Animation|date=August 23, 2011|website=KQED}} Janie Geiser,[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/keep-it-motion-classic-animation-revisited-red-book Keep it in Motion - Classic Animation Revisited: 'The Red Book'|Animation World Network] John R. Dilworth, Lewis Klahr{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcat.org/event/re-animation-evening-lewis-klahr|title=Re-Animation: An Evening with Lewis Klahr|date=September 2, 2009|website=Redcat|access-date=November 24, 2018|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124221241/https://www.redcat.org/event/re-animation-evening-lewis-klahr|url-status=dead}}[https://hyperallergic.com/663455/experimental-animation-gems-by-suzan-pitt-walerian-borowczyk/ Experimental Animation Gems by Suzan Pitt, Walerian Borowczyk, and More - Hyperallergic] and John Schnall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/death-laughs-among-us-films-john-schnall|title=Death Laughs Among Us: The Films of John Schnall|website=Animation World Network}}[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/vague-rumor-independence-new-york-animation The Vague Rumor of Independence in New York Animation|Animation World Network] Personal computer power increased to the point where it was possible for a single person to produce an animated cartoon on a home computer, using software such as Flash, and distribute these short films over the World Wide Web. Independently produced Internet cartoons flourished as the popularity of the Web grew, and a number of strange, often hilarious short cartoons were produced for the Web.

In the late 1990s, an independent animated short film called The Spirit of Christmas was produced for under $2,000 by two artists, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. This film was widely distributed on the Internet as a pirated cartoon, and its phenomenal popularity gave rise to the popular television animated series South Park.{{Cite web|title = Popular YouTube Series Annoying Orange Moves to TV|url = http://mashable.com/2011/04/15/annoying-orange-tv/|website = Mashable|access-date = 2016-01-02|first = Brenna|last = Ehrlich|date = April 15, 2011}} Limited 1990s bandwidth made streaming difficult, if not impossible. While some animators like Spümcø's John K. opted to use Flash, it still required a plug-in making it unviewable in many early web browsers. Other early online animators like M. Wartella opted to use the Animated GIF to overcome these limitations and create early web-based animation viewable through all browsers.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/03/cyber/artsatlarge/19artsatlarge.html|title=Animator Pursues a Minimal Approach to His Art|website=archive.nytimes.com}}

Independent animation in the 2000s included animated features such as Paley's Sita Sings the Blues, Christiane Cegavske's Blood Tea and Red String,[https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/blood-tea-and-red-string-2/ BLOOD TEA AND STRING - Film Threat] the CGI-animated features Hoodwinked! and Barnyard[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2006/09/indie-animation-king-bill-plympton/ Indie Animation King Bill Plympton|Animation Magazine] and Indiewood director Wes Anderson's first foray into animation territory: his 2009 stop motion adaptation of Roland Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox.[https://www.themarysue.com/check-out-these-must-see-indie-animated-movies/ Check out These Must-See Indie Animated Movies|The Mary Sue]

By the mid-to-late 2000s YouTube and the Internet and like-minded online video distribution, in addition to independent broadcasting sites that followed, proved to be a dominant form of independently distributed, broadcast, edited, and produced animation TV shows, anime, feature films, music videos, retro animation, commercials, trailers, original online animation content, and web exclusives{{Cite journal|last=Ribes|first=Xavier|date=2020-12-16|title=Is the YouTube Animation Algorithm-Friendly? How YouTube's Algorithm Influences the Evolution of Animation Production on the Internet|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1746847720969990|journal=Animation|volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=229–245 |language=en|doi=10.1177/1746847720969990|s2cid=229305003 |url-access=subscription}} (which would otherwise not stand a chance of seeing airtime on more normal and expensive forms of mainstream broadcasting on most television networks, which still continue to function on a more traditional distribution matrix). Annoying Orange, which started off as a series of viral quasi-CGI animated comedy shorts on YouTube, quickly gained a cult following and an excess of 100 million views online. It is an example of an animated web series to transition between Internet and television distribution successfully, as an animated series on Cartoon Network.

Recent independent animations released on YouTube include the adult animated web series Helluva Boss, and pilots for Hazbin Hotel, Long Gone Gulch, Murder Drones, Lackadaisy, The Amazing Digital Circus and The Gaslight District. [https://thetacomaledger.com/2023/04/24/review-a-purrfect-storm-of-chaos-in-new-indie-animation-lackadaisy/ Review: A purrfect storm of chaos in new indie animation ‘Lackadaisy’ - The Tacoma Ledger] While Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel are made by independent animator Vivienne Medrano,{{cite web | last1=Field |first1=Matthew |url=https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/12/05/hazbin-Hotel-marks-a-turning-point-for-indie-animation/ | title='Hazbin Hotel' a bold step in indie animation | date=December 5, 2019 | website=Go! & Express | access-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512162723/https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/12/05/hazbin-hotel-marks-a-turning-point-for-indie-animation/|archive-date=May 12, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Troup|first1=Margaret|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|title='Hazbin Hotel' creator releases new episode of spinoff series 'Helluva Boss'|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 3, 2020|website=Iowa State Daily|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201103153029/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|archive-date=November 3, 2020|url-status=live}} Long Gone Gulch was written and produced by Tara Billinger and Zach Bellissimo, who had worked on animations for Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Disney+.{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Christ |url=https://www.animationforadults.com/2016/08/kickstart-this-long-gone-gulch.html |title= KickStart This: 'Long Gone Gulch' |date=August 11, 2016 |website=Animation for Adults |access-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926155442/https://www.animationforadults.com/2016/08/kickstart-this-long-gone-gulch.html |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |url-status=live}} At the same time, the all-ages web series, Sherwood, also released all 12 episodes on YouTube Originals, made freely available in April 2020.{{cite web |last=Franks |first=Nico |title=YouTube brings down paywall |url=https://www.c21media.net/youtube-brings-down-paywall/ |website=C21Media |accessdate=October 15, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413043839/https://www.c21media.net/youtube-brings-down-paywall/ |archivedate=April 13, 2020 |date=April 10, 2020 |url-status=live}}

Alternative comics artist turned animator Dash Shaw's Cryptozoo enjoyed critical success at the Sundance Film Festival to the point of winning the NEXT Innovator Award while it was also nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards a year afterwards.[https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/cryptozoo-trailer-dash-shaw-1234650476/ Cryptozoo Trailer: Dash Shaw's Animated Sundance Winner for Adults|IndieWire][https://mubi.com/films/cryptozoo Cryptozoo (2021)|MUBI]{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/indie-spirit-awards-2022-nominations-full-list-1235132931/ |title=Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations |first1=Brent |first2=Jazz |last1=Long |last2=Tangcay |work=Variety |date=December 14, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}

Oscar-nominated animator Andrew Chesworth formerly worked at Disney (being animator on Wreck It Ralph, Frozen, Get a Horse!, Big Hero 6, Feast, Zootopia and Moana)[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/12879735%7C0/Andrew-Chesworth#overview Andrew Chesworth - Turner Classic Movies][http://www.animationinsider.com/2015/05/andrew-chesworth/ Andrew Chesworth - Animation Insider] and Netflix (on the 2019 Annie Award for Best Animated Feature winner Klaus)[https://www.insider.com/netflix-klaus-director-sergio-pablos-interview-2019-11 How it took almost a decade and Netflix to bring 'Klaus' — one of the year's best animated movies — to life - Insider] while working independently on his passion projects including his 2023 Oscar-qualifying[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/oscars-short-film-contenders-the-brave-locomotive-232356.html 2024 Oscars Short Film Contenders: ‘The Brave Locomotive’ Director Andrew Chesworth|Cartoon Brew][https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/10/oscar-watch-2024-your-guide-to-this-years-qualifying-animated-shorts/ Oscar Watch 2024: Your Guide to This Year’s Qualifying Animated Shorts|Animation Magazine] The Brave Locomotive, a love letter to the Andrews Sisters and 1940s animation. First conceived in 2008, he released online in 2015 the opening sequence that was in progress before shelving it after being hired by Disney in 2011.[https://vimeo.com/125219477 The Brave Locomotive - Opening Sequence Work In Progress on Andrew Chesworth's official Vimeo channel]

Other notable animated indie efforts of the 2020s include Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,[https://deadline.com/2022/07/a24-marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-specialty-box-office-2-1235061104/ A24 Has Another Indie Hit, As 'Marcel The Shell' Slides Into Top 10 – Specialty Box Office - Deadline][https://www.thewrap.com/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-dean-fleischer-camp-interview/ 'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On' Director Explains What It Took to Pull Off One of the Year's Most Charming Movies|The Wrap][https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/50th-annie-awards-2023/ Guillermo del Toro's 'Pinocchio' and 'Turning Red' Lead the Nominations for the 50th Annie Awards 2023 - Hollywood Insider][https://www.avclub.com/a-brief-history-of-adult-animation-1850067524 A brief, and somewhat shocking, history of adult animation|The A.V. Club] Ninety-Five Senses,[https://www.slugmag.com/arts/film-arts/you-cant-really-plan-for-getting-an-oscar-a-chat-with-hubbel-palmer/ "You Can't Really Plan for Getting an Oscar": A Chat with Hubbel Palmer - SLUG Magazine] Mad God,[https://www.zippyframes.com/feature-animation/mad-god-phil-tippett-review Mad God by Phil Tippett|Film Review|Zippy Frames] War Is Over![https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/war-is-over-animated-short-lennon-yoko-ono-1234941594/ "War is Over": Animated Short Short Creates Timely Message of Humanity - IndieWire] and My Year of Dicks.[https://www.awn.com/blog/look-my-year-dicks A Look at ‘My Year of Dicks’|Animation World Network]

The analog horror webseries Angel Hare, inspired by Christian animated cartoons, was made independently by twin sisters Hannah and Rachel Mangan under their studio East Patch.[https://buttondown.com/magencubed/archive/let-it-be-unnamed/ Let It Be Unnamed · Buttondown]{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2024 |title="Angel Hare" Isn't What I Expected – The Geekiary |url=https://thegeekiary.com/angel-hare-isnt-what-i-expected/123465 |access-date=March 14, 2025 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=17 Best Analog Horror Series on YouTube |website=Collider |date=October 24, 2022 |url=https://collider.com/best-analog-horror-series-youtube-channels |access-date=December 24, 2024}}

Minority representation

= LGBT representation =

File:RWBY Volume 8 Intro.webm from RWBY, a notable American independent animated web series]]

LGBTQ+ representation in independent animation has increased over the years, as many series have featured LGBTQ+ characters. Lizzy the Lezzy, which premiered on Myspace in 2006, included LGBTQ+ characters like Lizzy, a lesbian.{{Cite web |last1=Ahren |first1=Raphael |title=Lizzy the Lezzy invites you to sing with her |url=http://www.haaretz.com/lizzy-the-lezzy-invites-you-to-sing-with-her-1.252884 |website=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313020449/http://www.haaretz.com/lizzy-the-lezzy-invites-you-to-sing-with-her-1.252884 |archive-date=March 13, 2011 |date=July 29, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Plum, a bisexual character, first appeared in the animated series, Bravest Warriors, a show which aired on Cartoon Hangover's YouTube channel from 2012 to 2018, as confirmed by her crushes and by writer Kate Leth.{{Cite comic|writer=Joey Comeau|story=Shannon Watters, Adam Staffaroni, Kassandra Heller|title=Catbug is Missing| volume= 1|issue=6|date= March 2013|publisher=KaBOOM!|location= 5670 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 450, Los Angeles, CA 90036|page=4|panel=5|id = }}{{cite web|last1=Rude|first1=Mey|title=Top 11 Times This Year Pop Culture Reminded Us Kids Are Queer and Trans Too|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/top-11-instances-of-queer-women-representation-in-all-ages-media-319624/|website=Autostraddle|date=December 14, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410172324/https://www.autostraddle.com/top-11-instances-of-queer-women-representation-in-all-ages-media-319624/|archive-date=April 10, 2020}}{{cite tweet |last=Leth |first=Kate |author-link=Kate Leth |user=kateleth |number=1189586486259175424 |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Plum is bi and it's canon and I'm proud of her |website=Twitter |access-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030170910if_/https://twitter.com/kateleth/status/1189586486259175424 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=dead}} The show was made by Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and featuring Ian Jones-Quartey, who voiced the character, Wallow, while he directed his own show, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes which featured multiple LGBTQ+ characters. Although Plum had a crush on Chris, kissing him multiple times during the show, she is also madly in love with her doppelganger as shown in the comics.

The Rooster Teeth animated web series, RWBY, which began in 2013, features lesbian characters,{{cite web|last1=Luna|first1=Miles|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/comments/7x3w4s/crwby_ama_w_miles_luna_kerry_shawcross_and_paula/ |title=CRWBY AMA w/ Miles Luna, Kerry Shawcross, and Paula Decanini |website=Reddit |access-date=February 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516210625/https://www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/comments/7x3w4s/crwby_ama_w_miles_luna_kerry_shawcross_and_paula/|archive-date=May 16, 2019}} See her comment "Ilia is a lesbian!" in response to the question "What does Ilia identify as? Is she a lesbian? Bisexual? Something else?"{{cite tweet |last=Jones |first=Lindsey |user=IAmLindsayJones |number=1092454608008556546 |date=February 4, 2019 |title=My friend, I said "certain parts" of the fan base, addressing a vocal minority. And that's my point: Saphron and her wife played such a small part in the show as a whole, so why would these people take their inclusion as the end all of RWBY's writing? |access-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814021534/https://twitter.com/IAmLindsayJones/status/1092454608008556546 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |last=Jones |first=Lindsey |user=IAmLindsayJones |number=1092303371678171136 |date=February 3, 2019 |title=After seasons of hereto love triangles, Jaune and Pyrrha share an on-screen kiss: *crickets* Saphron and her wife are in a few episodes: HOLY SHIT, RWBY HAS SOLD OUT COMPLETELY TO THE "GAY AGENDA", THEY DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT PLOT OR A GOID STORY ANYMORE, IT'S ALL JUST PANDERING |access-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814022004/https://twitter.com/IAmLindsayJones/status/1092303371678171136 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |url-status=live}} and a trans woman named May Marigold, voiced by Kdin Jenzen.{{Cite tweet |last=Jenzen |first=Kdin |user=KdinJenzen |number=1206990507584262144 |date=December 17, 2019 |title=As the voice of May Marigold I'm honored to present to you her concepts done by the talented @ErinMWinn! I'm also here to confirm: YES, May IS Henry Marigold's cousin! But more importantly, May Marigold is the very first onscreen trans character for RWBY! #RWBY7 #RWBY7Spoilers |language=en |access-date=September 13, 2021 |link=http://twitter.com/KdinJenzen/status/1206990507584262144 |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509051146/https://twitter.com/KdinJenzen/status/1206990507584262144|archive-date=May 9, 2021 |ref=}}{{Cite news|last=Dominguez|first=Noah|date=January 3, 2021|title=RWBY's Kdin Jenzen Talks Voicing the Show's First Transgender Character|work=CBR|url=https://www.cbr.com/rwby-kdin-jenzen-talks-may-marigold-first-transgender-character/|url-status=live|access-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210108031433/https://www.cbr.com/rwby-kdin-jenzen-talks-may-marigold-first-transgender-character/|archive-date=January 8, 2021}} Nomad of Nowhere, another RoosterTeeth show, released in 2018, featured a lesbian protagonist named Skout, who had a crush on Captain Toth, her superior.{{cite web |last1=Luna |first1=Miles |title=Yup <3 [in response to a question titled "Is Skout a new LGBT character?"] |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/86lj67/is_skout_a_new_lgbt_character/dw63gy2/ |website=Reddit |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212034421/https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/86lj67/is_skout_a_new_lgbt_character/dw63gy2/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |date=2019}}{{cite web |last1=War |first1=Hounds of |title=Skout is officially confirmed to have a crush on Toth |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NomadOfNowhere/comments/87gpzb/skout_is_officially_confirmed_to_have_a_crush_on/ |website=Reddit |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212033855/https://www.reddit.com/r/NomadOfNowhere/comments/87gpzb/skout_is_officially_confirmed_to_have_a_crush_on/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |date=2019}} In addition, SpindleHorse Toons's Hazbin Hotel, by Vivienne Medrano, centers around a bisexual princess of Hell named Charlie, with a girlfriend named Vaggie,{{Cite web |last1=Millgan |first1=Mercedes |title=News Bytes: 'Sarah & Duck' Quacks Back in US, Check in to 'Hazbin Hotel,' Tellys Get Immersive & More |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/news-bytes-sarah-duck-quacks-back-in-us-check-in-to-hazbin-hotel-tellys-get-immersive-more/ |website=Animation Magazine |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108020837/https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/news-bytes-sarah-duck-quacks-back-in-us-check-in-to-hazbin-hotel-tellys-get-immersive-more/ |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}} with the series also featuring an asexual character named Alastor,{{cite tweet|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|user=vivziepop|number=1050498176019353601|date=October 11, 2018|title=Angel and Alastor are old men who don't understand anything anymore 👍 I hope everyone on this #NationalComingOutDay2018 stays safe and stays proud 🥰|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127093437/http://twitter.com/vivziepop/status/1050498176019353601|archive-date=January 27, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Rupnarine|first1=Nerissa|url=https://www.cbr.com/dr-stone-senku-asexual-anime-representation/|title=Dr. Stone's Senku Could Be Groundbreaking for Asexual Anime Representation|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=CBR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916212025/https://www.cbr.com/dr-stone-senku-asexual-anime-representation/|archive-date=September 16, 2020|url-status=live}} and a gay pornstar named Angel Dust.{{cite web | url=https://www.hazbinhotel.com/about | title=The Story | website=Official Hazbin Hotel site | date=2019 | access-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409005648/https://www.hazbinhotel.com/about |archive-date=April 9, 2020 }}{{Cite tweet |last=Medrano |first=Vivienne |user=VivziePop |number=1189654966287253504 |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Openly sexual characters of ANY sexuality should be allowed just as they are in real life. But i guess I just kinda like portraying trashy unapologetically sexually open characters. Nobody has to like characters like that, not everyone is openly sexual. Its fine. |language=en |access-date=September 13, 2021 |link=https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1189654966287253504 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030214821/https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1189654966287253504 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |ref=}} Medrano's other series, Helluva Boss, featured various bisexual characters, such as a demon named Moxxie,{{Cite tweet |last=Medrano |first=Vivienne |user=VivziePop |number=1308964753570754562 |date=September 23, 2020 |title=Today has been nonstop so decided to make my break doodle somethin' tiny for Bi-day 💕 |language=en |access-date=September 13, 2021 |link=https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1308964753570754562 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924104914/https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1308964753570754562 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |ref=}} and a pansexual demon named Blitzo.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CDH_S5YAKNp/|title=Haha! Guess what my sexuality is~|author=Blitzo|date=July 26, 2020|via=Blitzo's official Instagram|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200928233203/https://www.instagram.com/p/CDH_S5YAKNp/|archive-date=September 28, 2020|url-status=live}}

My Pride: The Series, which premiered in February 2020 on YouTube, follows a "queer, disabled lioness" named Nothing who is trying to heal the world.{{cite web |url=https://www.mypridetheseries.com/ |title=About |date=November 24, 2020 |website=Official My Pride The Series |access-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129154812/https://www.mypridetheseries.com/ |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.animationxpress.com/animation/lgbtq-web-series-my-pride-surpasses-two-million-views-on-youtube/ |title=LGBTQ+ web series, 'My Pride' surpasses two million views on YouTube |author=AnimationXpress Team |date=November 24, 2020 |website=AnimationXpress |access-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124172258/https://www.animationxpress.com/animation/lgbtq-web-series-my-pride-surpasses-two-million-views-on-youtube/ |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |url-status=live}} Yssa Badiola of Recorded by Arizal hosted a RTX panel, on September 21, 2020, and stated that there would be LGBTQ characters if a full season was ordered.{{cite web |last1=Badiola |first1=Yssa |title=Hey gang, I'm Yssa 👋🏽 Creator & showrunner of Recorded By Arizal. And we have a panel for RTX!!! That's wild! |url=https://roosterteeth.com/g/post/1868d6c1-60b4-4b93-8e7b-0b7efea92c0d |publisher=Rooster Teeth |access-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200831181801/https://roosterteeth.com/g/post/1868d6c1-60b4-4b93-8e7b-0b7efea92c0d |archive-date=August 31, 2020 |date=August 29, 2020 |url-status=live}}.{{cite web |last1=Badiola |first1=Yssa |last2=Cabanos |first2=Christine Marie |last3=Kazemi |first3=Joshua |last4=Jenzen |first4=Kdin |title=RTX - Recorded by Arizal |url=https://roosterteeth.com/watch/rtx-2020-arizal-panel |publisher=Rooster Teeth |access-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200928013458/https://roosterteeth.com/watch/rtx-2020-arizal-panel |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |date=September 21, 2020 |url-status=live }} See 44:58-47:11 for the question and Badiola's response. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yEgMkQ09fg Alt URL]. Nico Colaleo's animated web series, Too Loud, the first season which ran from July to August 2017, and the second season which aired from September to November 2019, includes an LGBTQ+ character. In the episode "Slumber Party Sneak-In," Desiree plots with her sister, Sara, to dress up as a girl in order to go to a slumber party. The rest of the girls find this out, then console her, accepting, and deciding they like her no matter whether she is a trans girl named Desiree or as a closeted boy.{{cite web|last1=Fisher|first1=Owl|last2=Fisher|first2=Fox|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/30/it-takes-away-the-stigma-five-of-the-best-cartoons-with-transgender-characters|title='It takes away the stigma': five of the best cartoons with transgender characters|website=The Guardian|date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104182314/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/30/it-takes-away-the-stigma-five-of-the-best-cartoons-with-transgender-characters|archive-date=January 4, 2021|url-status=live}} In September 2019, Colaleo later described the episode as important, described it as his favorite episode of the show's second season, and a "pro-transgender episode."{{Cite tweet |last=Colaleo |first=Nico |user=NicoColaleo |number=1176935564861267969 |date=September 25, 2019 |title=TOO LOUD SEASON 2 continues with "SLUMBER PARTY"! This is my favorite episode of Season 2 - And a very important one. Our pro-transgender episode. ❤️ Tune in to this thread for production art and BTS! And please RT/Share! #TooLoudCartoon #TooLoudSeason2 |language=en |access-date=September 13, 2021 |link=https://twitter.com/NicoColaleo/status/1176935564861267969 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925192350/https://twitter.com/NicoColaleo/status/1176935564861267969 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=}}

The 2017 Student Academy Award-winning short film In a Heartbeat also features two gay characters as well.[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/04/in-a-heartbeat-short-film-youtube In a Heartbeat: the story behind the animated gay love short that's gone viral|Animation in film|The Guardian]

= Racial diversity =

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice (2020), featuring Canadian Inuit characters, won Best Independent Short Film at the Festival Stop Montreal.David Venn, [https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/zacharias-kunuk-explores-inuit-shamanism-in-short-animated-film/ "Zacharias Kunuk explores Inuit shamanism in short animated film"]. Nunatsiaq News, August 26, 2021.[https://deadline.com/2021/12/oscars-shortlists-2022-94th-academy-awards-1234900247/ Oscar Shortlists 2022: Documentary, International, Shorts... - Deadline][https://www.stopmodept.com/the-shamans-apprentice The Shaman's Apprentice — Stop Motion Department]

African American animator/filmmaker Ayoka Chenzira is known for the 1984 satirical animated short Hair Piece: A Film for Nappyhead People, which was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2018.[https://www.bam.org/film/2022/almas-rainbow-hair-piece BAM|Alma's Rainbow + Hair Piece: A Film for Nappyheaded People][https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/6428 Hair Piece: A Film for Nappyheaded People. 1984. Directed by Ayoka Chenzira On Becoming a Woman: Mothers and Daughters Talking Together. 1987. Directed by Cheryl Chisolm|MoMA][https://www.awn.com/news/cinderella-jurassic-park-hair-piece-added-national-film-registry ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Hair Piece’ Added to National Film Registry|Animation World Network] Another example of independent African-American animation is Bruce W. Smith's 2019 Academy Award-winning short film Hair Love.[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/hair-love-short-will-get-north-american-release-in-front-of-angry-birds-2-177853.html 'Hair Love' Short Will Get North American Release In Front of 'Angry Birds 2'|Cartoon Brew]

The 2016 autobiographical stop-motion short Deer Flower, made by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Kangmin Kim, mines his childhood in South Korea for themes.[https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sight-sound-magazine/best-animation-2016 The best animation of 2016|Sight & Sound|BFI]

Independent animation outside the United States

= Italy =

Independent Italian animators include Ursula Ferrara (who used techniques similar to animation pioneers like Emile Cohl on her 1986 film Lucidi Folli), Alberto D'Amico, Saul Saguatti (known for his 1995 series Short Splatter Collection)[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/italian-independent-animators Italian Independent Animators|Animation World Network] and Bruno Bozzetto, known for the 1976 feature Allegro Non Troppo and the 1990 Academy Award-nominated Grasshoppers.[https://www.waltdisney.org/exhibitions/bruno-bozzetto-animation-maestro Bruno Bozzetto: Animation Maestro!|The Walt Disney Family Museum]

= Germany =

One of the earliest feature-length animated films was The Adventures of Prince Achmed, made in 1926 by Lotte Reiniger, a German artist who made silhouette animation using intricate cut-out figures and back-lighting.[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/528134/ BFI Screenonline: Reiniger, Lotte (1899-1981) Biography]

= The United Kingdom =

The BFI funded around thirty pieces of experimental animation between the mid-fifties to mid-nineties (notable examples: The Quay Brothers).{{cite web|title=The BFI and Animation - Screenonline |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1342540/index.html |access-date=2011-04-30}} Another major contributor to independent animation in Britain was Channel 4, which gained an international reputation as one of the most adventurous broadcasters of animation featuring works from Joanna Quinn (Girls' Night Out),[https://books.google.com/books?id=oozKz8Hu4xIC Animators Unearthed - Google Books] Alison de Vere (Mr. Pascal)[https://www.zippyframes.com/shorts/mr-pascal-alison-de-vere Mr. Pascal by Ailson de Vere (Classic Animation Frames)|Zippy Frames] Paul Barry (The Sandman), Mark Baker (The Village), Barry Purves (Next) and former National Film Board of Canada animator Paul Driessen (3 Misses).{{cite web|title=Channel 4 and Animation - Screenonline |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1282041/index.html |access-date=2011-04-30}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0103528|title=With Channel 4 Television Corporation (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)|website=IMDb}}

Another British animated milestone, the 1978 adaptation of Watership Down by American filmmaker Martin Rosen, was also made independently as well.[https://archive.nerdist.com/schlock-awe-watership-down/ Schlock & Awe: WATERSHIP DOWN —— Nerdist]

= France =

Examples of French independent efforts include René Laloux's Cannes-winning Fantastic Planet (1973) and Marjane Satrapi's own 2007 adaptation of her graphic novel Persepolis.

= Japan =

Kōji Yamamura,[https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/an-independent-masterwork 'Mt. Head': An Independent Masterwork|Animation Obsessive] Masaaki Yuasa,[https://books.google.com/books?id=xOFeEAAAQBAJ Mad Eyed Misfits - Google Books][https://www.awn.com/animationworld/annie-awards-indie-feature-noms-offer-diversity-themes-and-styles Annie Awards Indie Feature Noms Offer a Diversity of Themes and Styles|Animation World Network] Yoji Kuri and Kihachiro Kawamoto have been prominently acclaimed Japanese independent animators known for their artistic qualities.[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/independence-japan Independence in Japan|Animation World Network]{{Cite web |url=https://blogs.iu.edu/aplaceforfilm/2017/03/30/other-independent-japanese-animation/ |title=Other Independent Japanese Animation – Indiana University Cinema |access-date=2022-04-28 |archive-date=2021-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420163346/https://blogs.iu.edu/aplaceforfilm/2017/03/30/other-independent-japanese-animation/ |url-status=dead }}[https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/obituaries/kawamoto-kihachiro-1925-2010 Kawamoto Kihachiro, 1925-2010|Obituary|Sight & Sound|BFI][https://books.google.com/books?id=dyBdDwAAQBAJ&dq=Kawamoto+Kihachiro+arthouse&pg=PA86 Anime - Google Books (pg.87)][https://books.google.com/books?id=E03KBgAAQBAJ&dq=yoji+kuri+arthouse&pg=PT1689 The Anime Encyclopedia, 3rd Revised Edition - Google Books]

= China =

Animation director Liu Jian is known for his independently-produced features Piercing I (2010)[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/is-piercing-1-the-first-indie-animated-feature-from-china-31460.html Is ‘Piercing 1’ the First Indie Animated Feature from China?|Cartoon Brew] and Art College 1994 (2023).[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/04/chinese-animated-indie-art-college-1994-to-screen-stream-thru-metrograph/ Chinese Animated Indie ‘Art College 1994’ to Screen & Stream thru Metrograph|Animation Magazine][https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/chinese-indie-feature-art-college-1994-to-debut-in-u-s-on-friday-239684.html Chinese Indie Feature 'Art College 1994' To Debut In U.S. On Friday|Cartoon Brew]

= South Korea =

Independent cel animation made in South Korea during the 1980s-90s included Lee Yong-bae's award-winning tale of Sleeping Buddha Wa-Bull (1994) and powerfully political efforts from Choe Jeong-hyeon.[https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20231203000157 49th Seoul Independent Film Festival to screen indie Korean animations - The Korea Herald]

= Brazil =

In 2016, Alê Abreu's Boy and the World (released in 2013) won the first Annie Award for Best Animated Feature – Independent at the 43rd Annie Awards.{{Cite web|title = ASIFA-Hollywood {{!}} Pixar's 'Inside Out' and 'Boy and the World' Win Top Prizes at Annie Awards|url = http://www.asifa-hollywood.org/pixars-inside-out-and-boy-and-the-world-win-top-prizes-at-annie-awards/|website = www.asifa-hollywood.org|date = 7 February 2016|access-date = 2016-02-08}} Two years later, Tito and the Birds would be nominated in the same category.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-annie-award-nominations-complete-list-1258296/|title=Annie Awards: 'Frozen 2,' 'Missing Link' Lead Year of Surprises and Snubs|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Carolyn|last=Giardina|date=December 2, 2019|accessdate=September 11, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/01/annie-awards-2020-netflix-klaus-i-lost-my-body-top-animation-honors-1202205685/|title=Netflix's 'Klaus' and 'I Lost My Body' Win Big|website=IndieWire|first=Bill|last=Desowitz|date=January 26, 2020|accessdate=September 11, 2021}}

= Philippines =

Independent animation in the Philippines provides as a medium at large by aspiring animators and experimental artists starting at the 1960s; from Rodolfo Paras-Perez's Conversation in Space, Roxlee's The Great Smoke and ABCD, Demetrio E. Celestino III's Tahanan, and Frederick C.G. Borromeo's Distortion.

The non-profit organization Tuldok Animation Studios Inc. is known for Flipino-related projects like Libingan and Pasintabi.[https://axapac.com/news/philippine/philippines-govt-encouraging-independent-content-development/ Philippines Govt. encouraging independent content development - ANIMATION XPRESS ASIA PACIFIC]

= Chile =

Pato Escala's 2014 debut short film, Bear Story, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/watch-trailer-premiere-heres-plan-sweet-film-relationships-147728.html Watch The Trailer Premiere of 'Here's the Plan,' A Sweet Film About Relationships|Cartoon Brew] As a result, many animators such as Fernanda Frick (Here's the Plan), who worked on Bear Story, and Hugo Covarrubias (the Oscar-nominated Bestia)[https://www.elmostrador.cl/cultura/2021/12/27/bestia-el-premiado-corto-chileno-se-instala-en-la-carrera-de-los-oscar/ ""Bestia", el premiado corto chileno, se instala en la carrera de los Oscar"] made their own animated shorts in Chile.[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cb-fest/heres-the-plan-154171.html CB Fest Premiere: Here's The Plan by Fernanda Frick|Cartoon Brew]

= Czechia =

Michaela Pavlátová is known for making independent efforts[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/animators-unearthed-michaela-pavl-tov Animators Unearthed - Michaela Pavlátová|Animation World Network][https://www.cartoonbrew.com/know-your-indie-filmmaker/know-your-indie-filmmaker-michaela-pavlatova-222225.html Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Michaela Pavlátová|Cartoon Brew] such as the 2021 feature My Sunny Maad,[https://deadline.com/2023/02/cesar-awards-winners-2023-live-updates-1235270270/ César Awards: Dominik Moll’s ‘The Night Of The 12th’ Sweeps Board Winning Best Film & Director – Full List - Deadline][https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cesar-awards-2023-film-paris-1235333378/ César Awards: ‘The Night of the 12th’ Named Best Picture - The Hollywood Reporter] which was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/golden-globe-nominations-2022-see-full-list-1234685129/|title=2022 Golden Globe Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza,' 'Squid Game,' 'West Side Story,' and More|first1=Ryan|last1=Lattanzio|date=December 13, 2021}}

Other legendary Czech independent animators include Jiri Trnka and Jan Svankmajer.

=== Estonia ===

Estonian animator Priit Pärn is known for his crude drawings, dark humor and satirical absurdist tone on such films as Breakfast on the Grass (1988) and 1895 (1995; the latter spoofing cinema's impact on perceptions of history, identity and nationality filled with cinematic references, cultural stereotypes and inside jokes).[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/know-your-indie-filmmaker/know-your-indie-filmmaker-priit-parn-223355.html Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Priit Pärn (Exclusive Video)|Cartoon Brew]

= Latvia =

Gints Zilbalodis won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature (the first Latvian to win such accolades) for his 2024 dialogue-free effort Flow, about a dark grey cat alongside a dog, lemur and other creatures surviving a post-apocalyptic flood.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/double-oscar-nominee-flow-joins-criterion-collection-floats-past-box-office-milestone/ |title=Double Oscar Nominee Flow Joins Criterion Collection, Floats Past Box Office Milestone |magazine=Animation Magazine |date=13 February 2025 |access-date=14 February 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/flow-heads-to-criterion-collection/ |title=Critical Darling Animated Film Flow to Join the Criterion Collection |first=Drew |last=Taylor |website=TheWrap |date=13 February 2025 |access-date=14 February 2025}}[https://www.cbr.com/bill-hader-animated-indie-hit-flow-2024s-best-movie/ Bill Hader Names Animated Indie Hit With 97% Rotten Tomatoes Score as 2024's Best Movie - CBR][https://www.awn.com/news/trailer-drops-gints-zilbalodis-indie-hit-feature-flow Trailer Drops for Gints Zilbalodis' Indie Hit Feature|Animation World Network][https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/flow-golden-globe-win-independent-animation-1236266805/ ‘Flow’s’ Shock Golden Globe Win Is a Long Overdue Triumph for Indie Animation - Variety][https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3304711/how-independent-animated-films-oscar-winner-flow-are-taking-pixar-and-dreamworks How independent animated films like Oscar winner Flow are taking on Pixar and DreamWorks|South China Morning Post] The former victory marked the first time that an independent animated feature won in said category.[https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025 2025|Oscars.org]

The film's win for the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film marked the first time an animated feature to win an Independent Spirit Award for any category.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/spirit-awards-2025-winners-list-1236297955/ |title=Spirit Awards: 'Anora' Takes Best Feature, Director & Lead Performance; Three Wins for 'Baby Reindeer' & Two Each for 'A Real Pain' & 'Didi' – Full List |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |last2=Topel |first2=Fred |last3=D'Alessandro |first3=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 22, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/24.02.2025-latvian-flow-picks-up-another-award.a588982/ |title=Latvian 'Flow' picks up another award |author=LSM+ English |publisher=Latvian Public Media |date=February 24, 2025 |access-date=February 25, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/latvia-news/item/126642-flow-wins-independent-spirit-award-2025-for-best-international-film |title='Flow' Wins Independent Spirit Award 2025 for Best International Film |author=FNE Staff |publisher=Film New Europe |date=February 25, 2025 |access-date=February 25, 2025}}

= Denmark =

Jonas Poher Rasmussen's 2021 animated documentary Flee[https://www.indiewire.com/2022/06/bill-plympton-slide-new-movie-1234730884/ Animation Legend Bill Plympton on How Pixar Has Fostered a Current 'Second Golden Age of Animation'|IndieWire][https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/6-indie-and-foreign-animated-features-building-buzz-for-oscars-2022-207603.html 6 Indie And Foreign Animated Features Building Buzz For Oscars 2022|Cartoon Brew] was nominated for three Oscars: Best Documentary Feature, Best International Feature Film (the second Non-English-language animated film after Ari Folman's 2008 Israeli war documentary Waltz with Bashir) and Best Animated Feature (becoming the first animated film ever to be nominated in all three of those categories).

= Australia =

Bill Kroyer's 1992 feature debut Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, featuring the voice of comedian Robin Williams as Batty, was also made independently (under his own studio Kroyer Films, which also made the 1988 Academy Award-nominated Technological Threat) as an Australian-American co-production later to be distributed by 20th Century Fox.[https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/07/16/robin-williamss-best-role/ The Paris Review - Robin Williams's Best Role]

Independent animation entirely from down under includes the works of Felix Colgrave[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/know-your-indie-filmmaker/know-your-indie-filmmaker-felix-colgrave-232429.html Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Felix Colgrave|Cartoon Brew] and acclaimed stop motion animator Adam Elliot, known for the Oscar winner Harvie Krumpet (2003) and his feature films Mary and Max (2009) and Memoir of a Snail (2024).[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/annecy-2024-feature-films-official-competition-roundup Annecy 2024 Feature Films in Official Competition Roundup|Animation World Network]

Another Australian indie animation studio is Glitch Productions{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.glitchprod.com/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Glitch Productions |language=en}} founded in 2017 by brothers Kevin and Luke Lerdwichagul. They have created shows such as SMG4 (2011),{{Cite web |title=SMG4 |url=https://www.youtube.com/@SMG4 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=YouTube |language=en}} Murder Drones (2021){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mImFz8mkaHo |title=MURDER DRONES - Episode 1: PILOT |date=2021-10-29 |last=GLITCH |access-date=2025-02-14 |via=YouTube}} and The Amazing Digital Circus (2023).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAPLk_sQ3w |title=THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS: PILOT |date=2023-10-13 |last=GLITCH |access-date=2025-02-14 |via=YouTube}}[https://www.thegamer.com/knights-of-guinevere-dana-terrace-the-owl-house-glitch-productions/ The Owl House Creator's New Show Can Succeed Without Disney - TheGamer]

= Canada =

Outside of NFB, independent animation entirely from Canada also includes Marv Newland, who is best known for his 1969 cult animated short Bambi Meets Godzilla, Danny Antonucci, known for his 1987 short Lupo the Butcher, and the collage works of Winston Hacking.[https://canadianart.ca/features/krazy/ KRAZY!: Going Ga-Ga for Comics and Animation - Canadian Art][https://www.cartoonbrew.com/know-your-indie-filmmaker/know-your-indie-filmmaker-winston-hacking-225677.html Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Winston Hacking|Cartoon Brew][https://www.awn.com/animationworld/binocular-briefs-spotlight-collage Binocular Briefs - Spotlight on Collage|Animation World Network]

= Israel =

Independent animated efforts from Israel include the aforementioned Waltz with Bashir[https://raindance.org/must-see-independent-animation-features/ Must See Independent Animated Features|Raindance Film Festival] and Tal Kantor's 2023 Oscar-nominated short Letter to a Pig.[https://www.awn.com/news/watch-oscar-shortlisted-letter-pig Watch: Oscar Shortlisted 'Letter to a Pig'|Animation World Network]

= Iran =

Recent Iranian independent efforts include The Last Fiction[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2018/06/irans-hooraksh-studio-launches-feature-at-annecy/ Iran’s Hoorakhsh Studio Brings New Feature to Annecy|Animation Magazine] and the Oscar-winning In the Shadow of the Cypress.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=In the Shadow of the Cypress: Determined to Survive Harsh Conditions - Total Apex Entertainment |url=https://totalapexentertainment.com/shadow-of-the-cypress/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |language=en-US}}

= Notable animated independent films from other countries =

Alephia 2053 (Lebanon)[https://www.awn.com/news/lebanese-animated-thriller-alephia-2053-imagines-world-without-tyranny Lebanese Animated Thriller ‘Alephia 2053’ Imagines A World Without Tyranny|Animation World Network]
Metegol (Argentina)[https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/can-an-argentine-animated-film-rival-hollywood-blockbusters Can an Argentine Animated Film Rival Hollywood Blockbusters?|The New Yorker]
Mavka: The Forest Song (Ukraine)[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/11/mavka-one-of-the-years-top-indie-toons-worldwide-shares-success-whats-next-at-cartoon-business/ ‘Mavka,’ One of the Year’s Top Indie Toons Worldwide, Shares Success Story at Cartoon Business|Animation Magazine]
The Secret of Kells (Ireland)
Robot Dreams (Spain)[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/pablo-berger-talks-his-oscar-nominated-robot-dreams Pablo Berger Talks His Oscar-Nominated 'Robot Dreams'|Animation World Network]
We Can't Live Without Cosmos (Russia)[https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sight-sound-magazine/best-animation-2015 The best indie animation of 2015|Sight & Sound|BFI]
Surogat (Yugoslovia)[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/help-i-love-watching-animated-shorts Help! I Love Watching Animated Shorts|Animation World Network]
The Peasants (Poland)[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/dk-and-hugh-welchman-talk-peasants DK and Hugh Welchman Talk ‘The Peasants’|Animation World Network]
Harpya (Belgium)[https://www.zippyframes.com/shorts/harpya-raoul-servais Harpya by Raoul Servais:An Appreciation (Classic Frames)|Zippy Frames]
Anna & Bella (The Netherlands)[https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/ring_borge.htm Børge Ring – Lambiek Comiclopedia]

References

External links

[https://www.indiewire.com/2015/11/9-essential-animated-indie-movies-52084/ 9 Essential Animated Indie Movies|IndieWire]
[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122279607987790977 Article on Indie Animation at Wall Street Journal]
[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/know-your-indie-filmmaker Know Your Indie Filmmaker Archives on Cartoon Brew]

Category:History of animation