ABSTRACT
Attempting to define what an animation producer does has been our biggest challenge in writing this book. We discovered that for every rule we created, there were several exceptions. As a result, we decided to use the Producer’s Guild of America’s definition of the producer as a starting place. It is as follows:
While much of the above definition is applicable, the animation producer’s scope of responsibility varies based on his or her area of expertise and place of employment. At the major studios, most producers are ”employee producers.” Under this production structure, the studio’s core executive group usually sets up and oversees all projects. They may, for example, hire a producer after a project has been developed and budgeted and is ready to go into production. Often times, an employee producer may not be responsible for all aspects of the production as outlined by the Producer’s Guild of America’s definition. A producer may not necessarily
need to create a budget; but they should have the skill required to manage it. In contrast to employee producers, smaller independent studios tend to be headed by the “entrepreneur producers.” Due to lack of financial resources, these producers have to wear many hats. As a result, they often have to put together a budget themselves as well as oversee it.
