Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Malatinszky.
Hi Anna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I’m an animator and studio owner with a pretty colorful background. My parents immigrated with me to the US from Hungary in the 90s. Growing up, we traveled back and forth between the two countries frequently, often spending months at a time away from the States. In the absence of classmates to absorb my attention on these trips, I fell in love with storytelling and art as a way to entertain myself and my siblings. When I graduated high school in Virginia, it felt only natural to continue to develop as a visual artist, so I moved to Georgia to study animation. College was a wild experience- I’d never been surrounded by so many creative spirits, and the sense of community we forged was unforgettable. For the first time in my life, I felt I had to work hard to stand out as an artist, so I doubled up on classes, learned as much as I could, graduated early, and started applying to jobs.
I’m one of the lucky few who secured a job quickly, and I’ve been doubly lucky to have pretty consistent work throughout the years. Over the last decade, I’ve worked with some awesome studios and incredible artists. However, the nature of such a competitive and physically demanding field is one where burnout is frequent, resources are often scarce, and work is rarely steady enough to offer an artist a stable lifestyle. I launched Linefolk Animation Studios in an effort to spark change in that nature, born of a desire to see better working conditions in Atlanta’s animation industry. Between the rampant abuse of artists in the industry, the 2023 strikes slowing entertainment to a standstill, and the volatile environment that exists for streaming content, it’s easy to lose faith that change is possible, but it only takes one person working towards a better future to make the future a little better. Through Linefolk, it’s my hope that artists can collectively take back the better future that this culture of exploitation has attempted to rob them of. Linefolk has had spectacular success and support so far, and we’re looking forward to where we can take it!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve often said I’ve sailed a very smooth course over a very bumpy road. I’m fortunate enough to have a loving family and partner who support my ambitions, to have had the opportunity to go to school and be educated, to have seen as much of the world as I have, and to lead a relatively happy and healthy life. The real struggles came from much more private places: the 24+ year struggle to become an American citizen, the struggle to find my place in an ever-changing employment landscape, and to learn to value my own needs for creative freedom, mental health resources, and rest. The joy comes easily, but the bumps in the road can turn into mountains when faced alone. Luckily, I rarely have to. I’m surrounded by the world’s greatest family, friends, and peers, and I will never take that for granted.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My first job in the industry was at Cartoon Network, where I worked as a creative producer for online content- a mouthful, I know, but basically it meant I got paid to animate memes! It was a fantastically rewarding first work experience, but the nature of corporate art is that it’s more design and branding-focused than about telling a long-form story, something I desperately wanted to do. After about a year, my contract was running out, and I was fortunate enough to secure a position at Bento Box Ent. as a full-time animator. From there, I worked my way around a handful of other Atlanta-based studios, a few based in Los Angeles and New York, and even an international studio or two. With each project, I was getting to see my work on Netflix, Hulu, even the silver screen, but I couldn’t help but notice that in spite of my success, I was feeling the weight of the treatment of artists in my field.
I got together with my friends and coworkers, and everywhere I asked, the experience was the same; long hours, unfulfilling projects, low pay, and a general lack of respect for the artists working on a show. Friends would often commiserate over these experiences, all the while watching the CEOs of these major studios profit through our hard work. While the occasional studio offered a higher standard, we largely felt bought off with empty gestures like pizza parties and work culture events. It felt like very little attention and care was paid to the welfare of artists’ physical and mental well-being, and when it was, it was at larger corporations who offered benefits at the cost of creative freedom.
Over and over, I heard the same stories, followed by the same sentiment: it can’t be that hard to do better! Out of curiosity, I started taking some online business courses to see if I could make sense of the choices some of these studio leads were making. The more I learned, the more my indignation grew. For too long, artists like myself have been taken advantage of by a system that promotes competition and turnover instead of unified action. Well, I thought, if no one else was going to do it, it had better be me.
Thus, Linefolk Animation Studios was born! At Linefolk, we believe that art is not just a passion but a profession worthy of respect. As a small independent studio, we’re able to have complete creative control over our work and how we treat our artists. Our cornerstones of transparency, equality, and genuine human connection lead how we behave towards clients and employees alike, and we’re able to prioritize workers’ needs over company profit. By treating our artists as real people, by paying them fair wages voluntarily, by respecting the separation of work and personal life, by being transparent about the inner workings of the studio, by prioritizing the very human needs for fulfillment, safety, and security over excess profit, and by sticking to our belief that every person is deserving of respect and kindness, we can create a better industry for our folks… one line at a time.
How do you think about happiness?
To me, happiness means celebrating life with people I care about. I love working on something bigger than myself. Animation is such a team sport; you have to learn to rely on others. It never ceases to amaze me when a project comes together, and it’s so infinitely cool to get to play a part in something so big. This feeling extends to my personal life and my love for Atlanta. Whether it’s the Grant Park Farmers’ Market, the latest show at Variety Playhouse, an event at the Fernbank Museum, or a dance party in a midtown penthouse, Atlanta’s communities know how to come together and live life to the fullest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.linefolk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linefolkstudios/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/linefolk/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LinefolkStudios
Image Credits
Anna Malatinszky, Linefolk
