Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/915639
www.postmagazine.com 35 POST DECEMBER 2017 OUTLOOK O ANIMATION R enegade Animation is a Glendale, CA-based studio that produces cross platform digital animation, with a focus on smart, funny, original and occasionally remunerative animated content for all media, including film, television, advertising, direct to video, online and mobile. The studio develops and produces humorous and personality-based character animation, combined with a strong use of design, achieving a traditional look with non-traditional tools. STRENGTHS: Renegade's core strength is our foundation in traditional animation. We push technology on the back of strong, traditional training in innovative and pro- ductive ways. Another strength is the calm and measured approach we bring to every project, both those we create ourselves, and those we do for others. That is the secret to our success in consistently deliv- ering exceptional results. It also makes us a place where gifted artists want to work. WEAKNESSES: Independent animation studios like ours are often challenged to find the bandwidth, both financially and in terms of brain power, to develop and create original content. When you are busy with service work, original projects often take a back seat. We've recently addressed that weakness by tasking an individual to focus exclusively on devel- oping our own intellectual property. That is already generating momentum. We ex- pect it to pay dividends and to turn what has been a weakness into a strength. Another weakness is the project nature of our business. It's awesome when you have enough projects to keep things humming, but a single project can go away and tip the calculus. The solution is to manage financial resources wisely so that you can weather a change and to de- velop your own IP that generates its own revenue stream on a consistent basis. OPPORTUNITIES: There are many op- portunities for animation studios that do quality work. The industry has never been more robust in terms of service work and, with the arrival of Amazon, Netflix, Hulu and other new outlets, demand for content is at an all-time high. There has never been a better time for independent creators to have their ideas heard and brought to fruition. The appetite is there. THREATS: Cyber security is a concern for everyone and one that we are very mindful of. We have a staff systems ad- ministrator who ensures that our security protocols are effective and up to date. OUTLOOK: The animation industry is busier than ever. Demand for new content and new ideas will continue to grow in 2018. That's good news for animation companies, because it means more work, but it will also pose a challenge, as it will bring more compe- tition for talent. For independent companies like Renegade, the solution will be to continue to push technology so that we can be as efficient as possible while delivering creative, high-quality animation. THE DEMAND FOR CONTENT IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH BY ASHLEY POSTLEWAITE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RENEGADE ANIMATION GLENDALE, CA RENEGADEANIMATION.COM O ur industry is changing, but the change is actually good. Audiences have begun looking to on-demand content, versus tradi- tional forms of broadcast. This new trend has put a strain on larger net- works, as they scramble to keep up with the changes. But it has also given way to smaller, more independent productions so that they can thrive. These productions don't have to abide by the same rules, and they are more free to be expressive, and different, without the usual corporate constraints. The budgets are not the same, we may no longer be able to score those big TV production projects from a few years ago, but we can take on small- er jobs that scratch our creative itch in more meaningful ways. As artists, what we're looking for is growth in our work. Because of the changes in the industry, we are now able to develop new techniques, and dabble into other forms of expression, which in turn in- forms our traditional broadcast design techniques. For example, we've taken on some amazing new projects that require both 3D and traditional anima- tion, and total freedom to just have fun. We have since begun to inject the same sense of freedom and fun into our more corporate work. We believe that our new, connected economy makes it possible to live and work from anywhere in the world. With today's cloud computing — and power- ful desktop machines — studio equip- ment and operational costs are much more manageable. With connectivity, we're able to tap into talent around the world, to share projects, and collaborate seamlessly. We are taking advantage of the changes in our industry to explore exciting new types of creative output. Installations, large format displays and stage graphics were projects that were not as accessible in the past as they are today, because the technology just wasn't there. Currently, various types of large displays have become ubiqui- tous, giving us many new and exciting creative opportunities. We chose to open a new studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, because of the robust creative community that thrives here. The state of New Mexico offers great production incentives, which has led to dozens of television shows and films being produced locally. We saw a need for post production in New Mexico's television and film industry, and naturally thought we could fit the niche. We relocated to Santa Fe because we were looking for a new perspective, to find different influences, to gain new inputs, and to break from the sometimes-repetitive trends that are so prevalent in our industry. A CHANGING INDUSTRY BY CYNTHIA BEAUCLAIR CO-FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR LITTLE BIG BANG STUDIOS SANTA FE, NM & MIAMI, FL LITTLEBIGBANGSTUDIOS.COM BUSINESS