The rain-soaked march in New York City on Tuesday afternoon was a sight to behold. Despite the downpour, the hand-drawn picket signs, wrapped in waterproof plastic, proudly displayed beloved cartoon and animation characters like Bender from Futurama, BoJack from BoJack Horseman, and Courage from Courage the Cowardly Dog. Even Mickey Mouse made an appearance, taking us back to the original days of animation.
The Writers Guild of America’s march celebrating animation writers continued undeterred outside the Manhattan offices of Warner Bros. Discovery. The sky opened up, but the toon-themed demonstration persisted. DJ Subway, also known as Naveh Halperin, provided weather-themed tunes, and Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, served free ice cream from under a tent.
Colbert, in an interview with FilmmakerFocus, expressed his support for striking writers, actors, and animators. He reminisced about his childhood watching The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. Despite the challenging weather, the determination of the marchers on the 85th day of the writers strike and the 12th day of the SAG-AFTRA strike was inspiring. Greg Iwinski, a WGA East council member and writer for The Late Show, marveled at the dedication of the participants, saying, “It’s Week 13 of the strike, and people are out here in a thunderstorm.”
For animation writer David Steven Cohen, the occasion and the strike itself were a mix of unfortunate circumstances and fun. He praised the camaraderie among the marchers and their commitment to showcasing their work and making their case to the world. Cohen, a head writer for Courage from 1999-2002, highlighted the freelance nature of script work in animation, with writers often earning a few thousand dollars per episode. He emphasized the importance of union membership, whether through the Writers Guild or The Animation Guild, to ensure the protection and fair treatment of all animation writers.
In the end, Cohen wants all animation writers to have the same opportunities and benefits that he has enjoyed. He believes they deserve the support and protections that the Guild can provide. As the march continued, Scott Shilstone and Natalie Sitek contributed to this report, capturing the spirit and determination of the animation writers fighting for their rights.
