Our very own WIA President, Marge Dean was recently interviewed in Variety on how animation opens doors for women and supports the telling of their stories.

\”I see a different approach and way of thinking and sense of self among the younger women who are coming up. I can see that there’s a stronger confidence and commitment to their own careers, which is I think critical.\”

— Marge Dean, WIA President

Animation Opens More Screen Doors for Women and Their Stories

While more women definitely appear in executive, showrunner and mentor roles, the percentage overall still lags behind the 50/50 gender parity goal set by Women in Animation, an advocacy organization that champions women and diversity in the ranks of animation. WIA originally aimed to achieve the goal by 2025. It remains to be seen if the numbers will reflect that aim in the next three years, but there are still reasons to celebrate the data even if more work needs to be done.

“I know the numbers [of women in animation] have been changing,” says Marge Dean, CEO of WIA, noting that in 2013, the number of women in the field was about 20%. “A couple of years ago, we checked in with the animation guild, and we had hit 30%.”

Dean points out that animation may have not lost women in large numbers during the pandemic because the industry quickly shifted to a work-at-home model. This would make it a doable shift for women who suddenly had children or family quarantined at home.

With numbers holding strong and increasing numbers of women in animation programs increasing, Dean is optimistic about what’s ahead.

“I see a different approach and way of thinking and sense of self among the younger women who are coming up,” says Dean. “I can see that there’s a stronger confidence and commitment to their own careers, which is I think critical.”

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