Thank you for visiting our page on ways to give back to the global Asian animation community. One of the biggest parts of our community's mission is to create accessible educational opportunities for audiences all over the world.

We are currently not in a position to accept monetary donations, but we do accept donations of time and commitments to inclusive actions!

In addition, we are happy to provide support to your studio in creating inclusive work environments and sourcing diverse, global talent.

Please see below for some ideas on how to give back to the greater animation community and ways we can work towards a more inclusive industry together.

But first, get to know our member base!
Out of 1800+ members in December 2021...

Asians in Animation would love your help with...

For Industry Professionals

Talking to Our Members
We know you're busy - and we totally get it! We would love to have you join us for one hour (even 30 minutes!) to talk to our members about what you do in a casual, virtual setting.

While we do provide educational events for larger topics, we are MORE than happy to have you "visit" us during your lunch break or after work for a quick coffee chat with a small group to talk about your day-to-day and your animation story to help our members get closer to their next step.

We host office hours once a month (afternoon and evening on the second Thursday of each month) to talk about different disciplines and their applications. We also have an animation writer's group - and they'd love you to stop by!

Alternatively, you can join our Discord server to field industry questions and provide support as your schedule allows.

​Telling Us What You Do!
We have a lot of events, but if you prefer to write rather than talk, let's start a conversation on posting something on our blog or on social media! 

For example, we did a short 8-question Q&A with Sony Animation Production Designer Arthur Fong, who worked on community-favorite WISH DRAGON, and let us into his creative mind.

​Other examples include a mini studio tour with Skydance Animation's Current Series Coordinator Olivia Stark or discussing difficult topics in the Asian animation community with Pixar Visual Development Artist Sabine Belofsky.

​Hosting a Workshop or Class
We would love for an industry professional to give a class or series of classes on a topic that they're passionate about. Specialized talks, such as our SPICE UP YOUR PORTFOLIO...WITH STORY! event (click for an event recap), helps give our members tangible action items to further their careers. Plus, your passion inspires empowerment!

For Recruiters and Outreach & Engagement Teams

Hiring Asian Talent
In our commitment to help more Asian storytellers be able to tell their own narratives, we would love your help to make sure that these opportunities are available to them. 

While we have a free-to-access directory where you can directly pull up talent lists of all disciplines (please contact us with your studio email for the password), you can always email us job postings (or post them directly in our Discord server).

If you are sourcing for an Asian story, tag us in! We are always happy to put out a specific call for candidates or creating an Asians in Animation community-specific "first look" job posting to make sure these voices get their foot in the door. 

Meeting...and Eating!
Well, we don't have to eat. But it's a great excuse to come together! We're a community that is separated by timezones but brought together by food, hence our version of a Meet and Greet, which we call a Meet and Eat, since we’re usually dining virtually at the same time across the globe.

An example is our first Job Search Support Space with Mike Yamada (Production Designer, Netflix), Henry Yu (Writer-Director, Netflix), and Derick Tsai (Sr. Video Producer, Riot Games) where members could talk through different careers and fears in a safe space - to ultimately remind ourselves that everything's going to be okay. It’s like a campfire chat and party, all in one and online! We'd love to do these group "campfires" again in the future.

Screenings
If you have an amazing new project that features an Asian story or Asian show leadership, we would love to hold a screening and Q&A.

​One of our favorites was our screening of Joe Mateo's short film BLUSH from Skydance Animation and Apple TV+. We had a packed house with an audience across the world - from United States, to India, to Singapore, to France. Together, we experienced the magic of animation, cried together over Zoom, and celebrated this film with the crew, their families, and our families, which became one of our most memorable events of 2021.

Small Studio Tour
We know this is a long shot, but if you're willing to open your doors, we would love to host a small group to say hello, know what it's like to walk down the hallways of their dream studios, explore new career paths, and learn from you by doing a group informational at your HQ.

​While we try to avoid region-specific opportunities to not exclude our global members, we would love the opportunity to learn about your studio, its projects, and its people.

For Studio Changemakers

​Commitment to All-Level Leadership Development and Training
Help our community take the next step in leaving an inclusive legacy on the animation industry.
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Incentivizing Mentorship
Create an incentive at your studio for your employees to help the next generation in the animation industry. Whether it be compensation or making it a factor in leadership considerations, change can start at home! We can provide thoughts and feedback on engaging with international Asian communities.

Have something in mind? ​Reach out to us!

Our External Relations team are more than happy to discuss event ideas and our community's needs.
​Let us know how we can help!

More Ways to Give Back to the BIPOC Animation Community

​Though we are a community for Asians in Animation, we would like to share our opportunities with more global BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and PGM (People of Global Majority) communities, so we can thrive ​together.

Community Morale
Create exciting spaces for more PGM communities to come together! Provide compensation for food, a venue, training, or a guest speaker. Give additional funding and support to your PGM employee resource groups, who are working overtime to do DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work.
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​Visa Sponsorship
Moving to another country requires funds. In order to support these international applicants, ensure them that your studio can alleviate the stress of securing a visa.

Mentor Sponsorship
Provide compensation for your employees' time and encourage PGM mentorship.

​Equipment Sponsorship
Provide equipment for aspiring animators. A small tablet can do wonders!​

Project Funding
Help independent creators and students create their projects. Greenlight some pitches and help them reach the finish line! A great example is LatinX in Animation's SPARK Grant in collaboration with Netflix.
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College Application Grant
Help prospective students apply for colleges and animation programs by covering their application fees.

Professional Development Grant
Sponsor students and recent graduates by funding subsidized or full organizational dues, such as Women in Animation's yearly membership fee. Make education more accessible and friendly to marginalized and underprivileged communities.

​Festival Application Funding
While creators can finish their film, finding distribution and a pipeline to talent seekers is a large hurdle. By paying for festival submission fees, you can help more BIPOC creators and their work shine.