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thebatdadnomad · 22 days ago

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ℕ𝕖𝕨𝕥𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕃𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪

Pairing: Jason Todd x GN! Reader Summary: You register a hunk more nervous than a teenage boy and somehow become the reason he returns. Tags: Meet-Cute, Books, Kissing A/N: I can be quite the homebody, but I recently went my local library so I could finally read Pride & Prejudice (I think you know why ehehehe) and I think you should go too! Unfortunately, I can't promise Jay'll be there, but I promise this fic will help you imagine what it would be like if he was ;D

It was a slow spring day when a tall guy built like a fridge walked into the library you worked at.

You lounged behind the reception desk doing your usual duties of watching the door as the man in a leather jacket, dark jeans and a grey shirt looked around. He had his hands in his pockets, surveying the area not unlike a cop would during a stakeout. That comparison wasn't unfounded too, you had a cop in here last week. This was Gotham, after all. And though this man was significantly less alert and visibly armed, it was similarly intriguing to watch.

You briefly wondered if the Cheetos some kids left behind that your co-worker was currently cleaning up had caught his eye as he slowly approached the desk. Whether this guy was worried a terrible aunt was hiding behind a shelf or a drug dealer. What else could explain why someone your age was looking around a library so suspiciously? You hoped he wasn't in trouble, or hell, that he wasn’t the trouble.

Fortunately, the closer he got, the better you could read his body language. His skittish teal eyes, him brushing back trimmed curly hair with white highlights in the front, his bulking arm and thigh muscles tensing up, his flushed face...It soon became clear that he wasn't dubious, just nervous. Which wasn't entirely uncommon either. And, you belatedly realised, unnecessarily attractive. To the point that you had to swallow a sudden warmth that bloomed in the pit of your tummy for the sake of professionalism.

Once he was in acceptable talking range, you beamed. "Welcome to Newtown Library, how may I help you?"

The man startled at the sound of your voice and you had to bite your lip to reign in a laugh when his anxious gaze landed on you and widened almost unperceivably. It was only perceivable because you grew up in Newtown, Crime Alley's neighbour area, and made a habit of noticing things like that.

He swallowed and then asked in a low voice. "I...I wanna get a library card?"

"Sure," you smoothly replied and grabbed a sheet of paper you kept nearby. "First, I need ID and proof of address."

"Oh shi— shoot," his gaze snapped back to you; he coughed then dug around for his wallet. As if censoring himself for your sake. "That necessary?" He sounded surprised by the request but didn't protest when you nodded and he gave you a student ID card and a medical card. "Do...Do these work?"

"Yup!" You grinned and handed them back a moment later. Herbert Jason Johnson. What a name. "Now, you just need to sign this form physically or digitally via our website."

"Digital is fine," he muttered, scanning the QR code you had ready and filling it out online for a bit. You took that opportunity to study him. His light warm toned skin, his slightly red cheeks and defined chest. Woah... "I'm done."

You perked up. "Nice. If you just wait here, I'll go get the library card options for you to choose from..."

But before you could move, he did. Leather jacket crinkling as he stared you dead on for the first time since he came in. "It's a'ight...I'll be happy to take whichever you choose for me."

"Really?" He grunted; your smile broadened. "Alright. Then, yeah. I'll choose one for you."

So, you walked further back into the desk area and brought them out. An octopus, some bubbles, a sunset, a cool motorcycle— oh, he might like the last one. It seemed like he might even own one himself.

"Hm," you hummed, giving it to him. "Here, it's got wheels with spikes on it."

Then something unexpected happened. He laughed. It was a strange little thing that only lasted a couple of seconds. His mouth was snarky in a way like it wasn't used to curving up and hadn't done so in a while. But his eyes weren’t. His shiny teal eyes practically glowed with honest, unsullied amusement. This, more than anything, made the warmth in the pit of your tummy grow.

"I can see that. I like it, thanks," he huffed, turning it over in his hand.

You knew you'd be thinking of him all day now. "You're welcome. Feel free to browse the library and borrow anything you want with that card. It should work right away, otherwise, let me know and I can help."

You hoped he would take the offer, but it seemed like meeting him had absorbed all of your luck. He shook his head. "Thanks, but I'll probably head out...bye."

You watched him make an exit with a sense of longing, then called after him. "Herbert, right?"

But the guy just paused in his footsteps, sent you a small, nervous smile and corrected you. "Call me Jason."

"OK!" You replied still smiling and soon the cute, extremely hot guy called Jason was no more. You hoped he wasn't like those one-hit patrons and would visit again when it was your shift.

Well, would you look at that? You did have some luck left.

Just like you had hoped, Jason came back six more times which was more than you expected. Better yet, three of those times were on the days you worked.

According to your nosy colleagues – who were more than happy to gossip about this with you – he usually browsed the library shelves as if at an exhibition of his favourite artist, dressed in clothing best suited for a street racing film. Never picking anything up or taking anything out no matter how many times your co-workers and even the patrons asked him if he needed help.

Jason kept to himself too. Stared at various book spines with a wistful gaze and made a point to avoid your eyes any time he noticed you peering over. Or, at least, that was the impression you had until one day, you caught him glancing over at you and you couldn't help but approach him to try asking yourself if he needed that help.

Jason looked like a deer in headlights when he saw you were making your way over with a wide smile which made the warmth in your tummy reappear.

"Hey!"

"Hey," he slowly replied, shoving whatever he was looking at back on the shelves and shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Are you okay?"

Jason coughed, trying to straighten himself out. "Yeah, yeah...fine."

"Hm," but it didn't seem like it. Should you not have come?

"So...what’s up?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just coming over here to ask you if you needed any help," you put a hand in front before he could deny you, hoping to convince him with a joking tone. "I know you usually just browse, but I mean, this is a library. So, we kind of assume that people are eventually gonna pick something up, not just look at them from the shelves, you know?"

But Jason seemed to take it seriously. "Oh, sorry. Am I doin’ somethin' I'm not supposed to?"

"No, no, you're fine," you quickly backtracked. "I'm just joking, you can browse all you want. But...usually, the people who always browse are either too indecisive to choose a book on their own and would perhaps benefit from some recommendations or—"

“What would ya recommend then?" He cut you off, but you could tell that instead of being impatient, he was asking out of eagerness. An eagerness that couldn't help but find endearing. Man, how could he be so cute and overwhelmingly hot at the same time?

"I…I'd have to know what kind of books you're interested in first."

"...What kinda books d’ya think I'd be into?"

You put a hand on your chin and hummed. "That's a hard question. That's like me asking you how old I look or something. But, OK. I'm always up for a challenge. Let's see..." you used this opportunity to check him out and oh my thighs—! "M-Maybe romance books or crime and mystery, no, action books?" You tried and waited for a moment on bated breath as Jason tilted his head in thought before nodding.

"Yeah...you're right."

You laughed and while he didn't laugh as well, his furrowed brows and small nervous smile were just as heart-warming.

"Are you serious? I got it right?"

"Yeah..."

"But half of those were jokes!"

"Maybe I'm a joke," Jason dryly replied.

"No!" You grinned. "I feel like you've read all the books here. Or, at least, you seem like you're familiar with them. So, maybe you should try something new? Something outside of those genres."

"Hm, well..." He looked down the row of books and sent a hesitant glance your way. "What do you like?"

That was the question, wasn't it? "Well, I guess really like hero and fantasy stories. So, I have lots of fantasy recommendations...is that alright?"

Jason shrugged. "Sure. What d’ya recommend?"

"Well, that, my friend, is gonna take me a while to answer," you joked again, acting all dramatic-like. "You sure you have the patience?"

And that finally got one of his odd chuckles out of him. "Go for it."

So, the pair of you browsed the relevant sections while you talked and talked about the different books you enjoyed. All of which he politely declined. Trying to find a fantasy book with action or romance or crime in it was a daunting task, one you didn’t have much hope for.

But then, just before you gave up hope and Jason lost his patience, you stumbled upon one of your favourites of all time. A book series full of all four subgenres that you thought would be perfect for him.

You pulled it out, beaming with a huge sigh of relief. "This is it. Take this."

"Er..." Jason flipped it around, contemplative, but you wouldn't let him turn this down too. So, you grabbed his hands and ignored how red both he and you suddenly got at the contact for the sake of him reading it.

"Trust me, don't even think. Just take this and read it. I promise you'll love it."

His eyes were slightly wider again as he stared at you, his hands, the book, and you again. Only replying when you let go. "OK...I...I trust you."

And you were happy he did because once he started that series, he couldn't put it down.

Ever since you recommended him one of your favourite books, whenever Jason visited the library, he came straight to you. To tell you what he thought before returning that novel and getting the next one.

You knew this was a temporary thing, most people didn't stay regulars for long, it was normal. So, you would appreciate this as long as you could.

The first book was brighter and energetic and it put him in a similar mood. It made him hyper – well, hyper for him – when he explained how much he enjoyed it and how ingeniously it was written.

"I just— loved the addition of a poem within a novel," Jason ranted, eyes shining with interest a few weeks after you initially checked it out for him. "It was amazing."

"I'm glad," you smiled as you locked eyes.

"...Me too," your tummy fluttered, his building familiarity and confidence around you only served to make you that much more attracted to him. Too bad he would likely stop coming at some point.

The next edition was a bit more mellow and so you had to go find him when he was putting it back two weeks later.

"Hey, you didn't come see me?"

“Oh...yeah, sorry."

Silence.

You watched him with wary eyes as he just stayed kneeling on the floor. You slowly lowered yourself too when he didn't move and only when he met your eyes with a blank gaze did you ask. Smiling as much as you could.

"How did you find it?"

Neither of you breathed until he answered.

"I...I kinda had a bad week and this book didn't help much."

"Oh," shit. "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have—"

But he vigorously shook his head, bringing the pair of you back up to a stand when he noticed you down on the floor with him. "No. I still really liked it. It just kinda emphasised how fuc— friggin’ terrible my week was."

"Oh," you deflated a bit. That hadn't been your intention. "If you want to talk about it, I'm always here."

"…Really?"

"Yeah, of course. Contrary to what you look like, you're super sweet and I want to help you if I can."

He paused. "What do I look like?"

You had to pause, carefully considering how to put this. "Honestly...you look like someone who wouldn't come here to rant to me about some fantasy book series I recommended. Someone who spends more time drinking and partying than reading. Someone who wouldn't stop himself from swearing in front of me," you timidly touched your hair. "Like I said, you're super sweet and...I like hearing you talk."

Jason said nothing for a moment, poring over you as if trying to determine how truthful that statement was. But once he decided to believe you, you never would've expected that this shy, literary enthusiast hunk would actually tell you what was on his mind. Would even talk about a dangerous job, a complicated relationship with his family and a cooking habit.

Sure, he was very vague about it all but still. You couldn’t believe he was letting you peer into his life more than you had before. Or that you weren't the only one combusting inside when his hand accidentally brushed your waist before he left. But that day was full of surprises that almost made you forget that he would stop coming at some point. Most people did. He was no exception.

The saddest and lowest point in the series was the third book.

In contrast to the first few, Jason's reaction was starkly different from the tone of the book. In fact, he seemed relieved that it took a dive for the worst and read it through within a week this time.

"I really enjoyed the way the author used tragic flaws to tell amazing character arcs ‘n plots in a way that a lot of other stories don't. And it does it all in a cohesive fantasy setting..."

"I'm happy to hear that," you smiled.

He talked more about how the main character's struggles with identity and survival related to him, prompting you to share how they related to you too. Bonding over the book like you did last week, but differently this time. Because you were also sharing. It was mutual.

So mutual that, after you scanned the third book he brought in, Jason stole it from your hands telling you he was happy to put it back and go get the next one this time. You felt compelled to go with him to the right shelves. Intending to take it back from him at the last moment, shelve it and find him the next one in one swoop. It was your job, after all, and you wanted to spend as much time with him as you could even if he was trying to make work easier for you.

But, when the time came, Jason was reluctant to let go of the book. Too deep into his own mind and ranting to separate from it. So, with cheeks as hot as a stove, you replaced the novel with your hand and swapped them out. Handing him the book he needed a beat later.

And if you thought he blushed before...that had nothing on his face now.

Not that you were much better though.

"Are you excited to read the last one then?" You asked after a moment of quiet passed between you, your hands still loosely linked together.

"Y-Yeah," Jason quickly nodded, gaping at you with what could only be described as wonder. "I just don't know how this is gonna end exactly...but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll like it. I'll tell you."

"Mhm! And just think, after I hear the full review, you won't have to come here and talk to me anymore, will you?"

You bet he would be happy about that. Just because you had gotten closer, didn't mean that he had become any more comfortable in the library. Your colleagues still said that outside of your conversations, he acted just as on edge as he had from the start, so you wouldn’t try to pressure him into coming back after finishing this one obligation of sorts.

Maybe libraries just weren’t for him and that was OK. Because while you'd miss him, you doubted there was anything to say to stop him from never returning. This is the digital age, people stopped visiting libraries for less. Way less.

It was best to be positive about the whole thing.

"Oh," Jason frowned, suddenly disentangling your hands and turning away so you couldn't see his face. "Yeah, you're right," he muttered before despondently leaving you by the shelf, borrowing the book on his own and literally dashing out of the library.

What the...?

No, no, there wasn't a point in pondering that. The last book...you could ask what that was when he returned with the last book. You could still leave this, whatever this was, on a good note once he was done with the last book.

You were relabelling some older editions of iconic titles when you felt a finger poking your back two days later.

"Oh!" You flinched as you finished the one you were on, then jumped once more when you recognised him as the culprit. "Jason! Hey! When did you come in?"

He seemed more anxious than usual as he bit his lip with furrowed brows. He was back far sooner than you expected, had he quit the finale midway? "Just now...since it's raining and everything, I thought I'd pop in and say hey."

It stopped raining an hour ago. "Ohhh kaaay...well, hey. What's up?" And why did he run off last time?

"Well, I just finished reading the last book of the series."

You blinked in surprise. That wasn't what you expected him to say. No, not at all. But it was a great series, you had binged it just as speedily when you first came across it. "Woah. That was quick, it usually takes you at least a week to read one."

Jason tried to shrug, but his shoulders were too rigid for it to come across flippantly. "Yeah, well, I guess I was just so into the story, I lost myself in it…it was real good."

After some light prodding, Jason started telling you his usual review, but it was detached for some reason. He was speaking more about the character he liked the most than how he resonated with the story and plots as he used to.

"I can already guess that most people probably preferred his brother, but I don't know. I just got him more. I wanted to root for ‘im. Especially after his lil redemption arc where he got all close and personal with the protagonist."

Jason kept going and you watched him with the books you had been in the process of reorganising in your hands, too distracted by the fact that this guy who you still didn't really know loved something you did to say anything else.

"I'm really glad that you enjoyed it!" You blurted out when he was done.

"Yeah, me too," he took a deep breath before turning to look at you directly. "That epilogue kinda...reminded me of us in a way, y’know?"

"Oh, yeah?" You began putting the books back, desperately ignoring the fluttering feeling in your stomach at his words. "How?"

"I mean, throughout the book, he kept explicitly and implicitly asking for help. Time and time again the MC he was in love with ended up being the one to help him until the end of the journey when they separated. And it's like what you do for me..."

"Mhm. I guess."

"But, of course…there's one difference. We've not...never…y’know?"

You choked and froze in place. Where was this going?

"But I've been thinking about what you said last time,” your eyes met his shiny teal ones. “Now that I'm done with the series and doing reviews or whatever...Unless you can recommend something else this good, I don't have any other reason to be here right now. Except," Jason studied you for a long moment as your eyebrows rose higher and higher and your face grew warmer. "You. My protagonist."

You didn't know what to say to that, except breathe. "We're in a public space."

That seemed to snap him out of it and he practically curled in on himself. Crossing his bulging arms, moving to face away from you as if browsing the shelves like before. "Y-Yeah, yeah, 'course! Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so f-fuck— friggin’ sleazy. It just came to mind—"

Suddenly, desperate to salvage this, you stopped what you were doing, took a step towards him and pressed a soft peck on his cheek before leaning away. Jason’s neck practically snapped back in your direction as he stared at you with an incredulous look on his face.

You...hadn't meant to do that, but now that you had. "It’s fine, I was just shocked…I wouldn't mind a little roleplay..." You whispered, not intending for it to sound so dirty but uncaring that it did. Was this why he left? Was he really thinking the same thing as you? Gah! You hoped so.

Jason was so cute and hot, you wanted to kiss him again. Properly this time. You wanted to be the reason he returned.

You wanted him.

Jason audibly swallowed and slowly uncrossed his arms. Asking, "You sure?" To clarify things. "Because I mean, like I said...you don' hafta."

You fully intended to reply with words, but something jolted through you again at the sight of his open arms. Prompting you to step forward to peck him on the lips this time. A shiver ran down your spine at the contact.

"No, I don't," you replied.

And that was what shut Jason up. That was what made him lean close to kiss you his way now.

It began as a series of pecks, simple pressings of lips together that made you go warm with delight. His lips were softer than you expected and he was way too gentle. But then things slowly developed into smooches that lasted longer and longer until you were melting in his arms.

Arms? Since when did he put his arms around you? They were secure as they kept you close and you pressed your chests together. As he touched your jaw and you gripped his shoulder. As your wet tongue slipped out and met his without a word, as if in sync. Hesitantly tasting each other in a way that put you out of breath because of the intimacy instead of the speed.

Jason was sweet, tasted sweet and looked sweet when you pulled back, quietly gasping with a string of saliva momentarily tying your tongues together. As if he had been holding himself back until this very moment and was only now letting you know what he thought of you.

It was as staggering as it was relatable.

His voice was unexpectedly fond as he mumbled. "I've wanted to do that for a while, but I didn’t have the balls. I...I wasn’t sure if you were interested."

That made you shake your head in amusement. How had he not noticed? "Jason, I was always interested in you. Why do you think I stop everything I'm doing to talk to you whenever you come in?"

He snorted despite how visibly embarrassed he seemed. "Because you're a good worker?"

"Please," you joked, revelling in the feeling of him tightening his big arms around you. "Even I can be selfish sometimes."

He smiled at you and you smiled back, basking in the unfamiliar but welcome lack of distance between you two. All until somebody somewhere coughed and you sprung apart. Right. You needed to get back to work.

Jason was the first to comment, rubbing the back of his neck as he sent you a weak smile. "Well...I'll let you get back to it."

"OK, but if you want to come back when we’re done that's OK too. We could go for burgers...?" You asked, grin widening at how awkward he was, even now.

"…Fuc— I mean…aw yeah."

You laughed out loud.

Fuck yeah, indeed. Because just like he was glad to know you’d always liked him, you were ecstatic to know that all that time you spent worrying about him never returning left you oblivious to the fact that you became the reason he did.

MASTERLIST

#tbdnm fic #jason todd #jason todd x reader #jason todd imagine #red hood #red hood x reader #red hood x you #jason todd x you #red hood imagine #gender neutral reader #x y/n #enchanthings

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kowai-kabuki-tanuki · 17 days ago

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Annecy: A Lake of Broken Promises

Fantastic article by Matt Jones from Medium:

How Annecy 2025 exposed the widening chasm between graduate hopes and industry reality – and what must change before an entire generation of creative talent is lost forever

The picturesque lakeside town of Annecy should have been the place where dreams came true. Instead, it became the scene of a devastating awakening. As thousands of animation students clutched their sketchbooks and business cards with QR codes linking to online portfolios at the 2025 festival, the world’s premier animation celebration, they encountered a sobering truth: just 3 recruitment booths operated alongside 23 educational providers – a stark 3:23 ratio that perfectly encapsulated the industry’s fundamental supply-and-demand crisis.

The recruitment reality was brutal. Cartoon Saloon from Northern Ireland told hopeful graduates they weren’t currently hiring. Doghead from Italy maintained a booth that remained largely unstaffed throughout the festival. Dwarf offered opportunities, but only for those willing to work in France. A small recruitment room on Mifa Campus ran sessions for merely 2 days, yet was oversubscribed, leaving countless students without access.

This disconnect between aspiration and opportunity represents far more than a scheduling mishap or economic blip. It reveals a fundamental crisis brewing at the heart of the animation industry – one that threatens to squander a generation of creative talent whilst simultaneously undermining the very foundations upon which animated storytelling is built.

Key takeaways

Only a fraction of animation graduates – as few as 3 to 5 out of every 100 – secure employment in their chosen field, despite an industry valued at $400 billion globally

Major studios including Pixar have reduced their workforces by 14% whilst simultaneously increasing their reliance on artificial intelligence and sequel-based content

Animation festivals like Annecy, which should serve as crucial bridges between education and employment, are failing to provide meaningful recruitment opportunities despite charging premium attendance fees

Universities continue expanding animation programmes whilst knowing full well that industry absorption rates cannot support graduate numbers

A new model of industry collaboration, educational transparency, and creative risk-taking is urgently needed to prevent the collapse of animation’s talent pipeline

Where are the Jobs When Animation is Booming?

The question that haunts every animation graduate clutching their sketchbooks and business cards with QR codes to online portfolios seems almost absurd when set against the industry’s financial success. These students, many shy and anxious, scribble copious notes and desperately seek opportunities to showcase their work, lacking the confidence of seasoned professionals yet carrying the same creative passion. The global animation market reached $400 billion by 2024, with North America alone anticipated to grow from $23.2 billion in 2023 to $36.7 billion by 2031. Yet this prosperity hasn’t translated into opportunity for the very people who dream of creating these blockbuster films and series.

Behind the impressive box-office numbers, however, the animation industry has been experiencing seriously choppy waters. Major animation players have implemented cutbacks over the past year, with Pixar’s recent cuts affecting 14% of its workforce. The studio justified these layoffs as part of a move away from creating streaming content for Disney+ to refocus on features, but industry insiders recognise this as symptomatic of broader cost-cutting measures across the sector.

The cruel irony becomes apparent when examining what’s actually being produced. Studios are making unprecedented profits from animated content whilst simultaneously reducing the workforce needed to create it. 3 animated releases in 2024, all sequels, dominated the worldwide box-office: Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 topped with nearly $1.7 billion, followed by Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me 4 and Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4.

The Academic Industrial Complex

Universities have become unwitting accomplices in this crisis, continuing to expand animation programmes despite knowing that industry absorption cannot support graduate numbers. The business model is too attractive to resist: animation courses command premium fees – often reaching $50,000 annually in prestigious institutions – whilst requiring relatively modest infrastructure compared to other disciplines.

Gobelins’ 3D Character Animator certificate boasts that graduates have a 100% employment rate within 6 months of completing the program, but this represents an elite programme admitting perhaps 20 students annually. Meanwhile, hundreds of other institutions worldwide graduate thousands more students into a market that simply cannot accommodate them.

The disconnect between educational marketing and employment reality has created what industry observers describe as an “academic industrial complex.” Universities promote animation programmes using imagery of Pixar campuses and DreamWorks success stories, whilst carefully avoiding discussions of actual employment statistics. Students accumulate debt pursuing dreams that statistical analysis suggests are increasingly unlikely to materialise.

Michelle Connolly of Educational Voice observed that “Schools must stop selling 1990s-era career dreams. Our 2024 survey shows 68% of graduates need hybrid tech/art roles to survive”, yet this message hasn’t reached prospective students who continue enrolling in traditional animation programmes expecting traditional career paths.

The Festival Paradox

Annecy 2025 perfectly embodied the industry’s contradictions. The festival featured phenomenal lineups with major studios like Disney Animation, DreamWorks, and Pixar presenting new work, drawing a record 18,000 accredited guests. Yet for the students who travelled from across the globe, often spending their last savings on accommodation and festival passes, meaningful employment opportunities were virtually non-existent.

Beyond the supply-demand imbalance lay deeper structural problems. The exhibition hall for students was even reduced in size this year, with 1/3 blocked off for Mifa (aimed at buyers), along with the traditional ground floor. This physical reduction of student space in favour of commercial activities perfectly symbolised the festival’s shifting priorities.

Even established schools like MoPA admitted the exhibition costs were incredibly expensive, yet they gambled on the opportunity to promote that year’s graduates – with very few actually getting the chance to meet with recruiters. This expensive gamble proves indicative of how educational institutions are forced to compete in an increasingly desperate marketplace, whilst being particularly unfair to students from institutions that couldn’t afford booth space.

This represents the festival’s core contradiction: it markets itself as an industry gateway whilst the economics tell a different story. Students invest hundreds of pounds in passes, travel, and accommodation, often funded by family savings or student loans, based on promotional materials suggesting attendance will improve career prospects. Meanwhile, the festival charges educational institutions premium rates to compete for attention from virtually non-existent recruiters.

The Artificial Intelligence Acceleration

Perhaps no factor threatens animation employment prospects more dramatically than the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. 75% of survey respondents indicated GenAI tools, software and/or models had supported the elimination, reduction or consolidation of jobs in their business division, according to a comprehensive study of entertainment industry executives.

The impact extends beyond simple job displacement. About 33% of industry executives predicted that AI would displace 3D modellers by as early as 2026, with 25% expecting graphic designers to be affected as well. These entry-level positions traditionally served as stepping stones for animation graduates, providing essential industry experience whilst developing professional portfolios.

About 21.4% of Film, Television, and Animation jobs (or approximately 118,500 jobs) are likely to have sufficient tasks affected to be either consolidated, replaced, or eliminated by GenAI in the U.S. by 2026. California, home to major animation studios, will be impacted the most, affecting 39,500 jobs.

The technology’s advancement was evident at Annecy itself, where AI companies maintained booths that were all but empty, targeting studios rather than students. Chat3D, offering text-to-3D model generation, charged between $500–1,000 per user per month – pricing that made clear their focus on corporate clients rather than emerging artists. The sparse attendance at these AI booths suggested either industry wariness or that deals were being struck behind closed doors, away from the festival’s public spaces.

The Sequel Trap

Studios’ increasing reliance on sequels and franchise content represents another threat to emerging talent. The 2025/26 slate demonstrates an unprecedented commitment to reboots and spinoffs: Stranger Things is being animated, whilst beloved series including Gumball, Regular Show, Adventure Time, Foster’s Home, and Steven Universe are all receiving reboots or spinoffs. Even these familiar properties face production delays, further restricting opportunities for new talent.

Original content traditionally provided opportunities for newcomers to prove themselves on smaller projects before advancing to major productions. However, this shift reflects risk-averse corporate strategies prioritising proven intellectual property over creative innovation. Tom Sito, a Hollywood animation veteran now teaching at USC, suggests that the widespread cutting of jobs “bespeaks the lack of vision in a lot of the corporate strategy”.

The sequel dominance creates a vicious cycle: fewer original productions mean fewer opportunities for new talent, which reduces the industry’s creative diversity, ultimately leading to even greater reliance on proven properties. Young animators find themselves competing for positions on projects led by established teams with decades of experience, making entry-level opportunities even scarcer.

What Must Change: A 3-Pillar Solution

Festival Reform: Creating Real Opportunity

Annecy and other major festivals must evolve beyond their current model of celebration without substance. Festival organisers should implement tiered exhibition fees, charging premium rates to companies without active recruitment whilst subsidising booths for studios offering genuine employment opportunities. This would incentivise meaningful job creation whilst reducing the financial burden on organisations actually hiring.

Festivals should establish year-round digital portfolio platforms rather than relying on brief, expensive physical events. These platforms could operate continuously, providing far better return on investment for both students and employers than current festival models. Having Annecy support the thousands of students who pay dearly to attend each year feels just, and recruiters should be incentivised to use such platforms or disincentivised to ignore them.

Most importantly, festivals must abandon romanticised career presentations in favour of honest industry discussions. Panel sessions should include employment statistics, salary realities, and alternative career paths rather than perpetuating unrealistic expectations about traditional animation careers.

Educational Transparency: Truth in Advertising

Universities must implement mandatory employment outcome reporting, similar to medical schools’ residency placement rates. Prospective students deserve accurate information about career prospects before committing to expensive programmes. Accreditation bodies should require institutions to demonstrate minimum employment rates – perhaps 25% within 6 months of graduation – to maintain programme approval.

Curricula need fundamental restructuring to prepare students for hybrid careers combining animation skills with business, technology, and entrepreneurship. Rather than training students exclusively for studio employment that may not materialise, programmes should develop versatile creative professionals capable of adapting to changing industry conditions.

Industry Innovation: Breaking the Sequel Cycle

Studios should establish “original content quotas,” dedicating specific percentages of budgets to new intellectual property development. This could follow models already implemented in some territories, ensuring continued creative innovation whilst maintaining profitable franchise production.

Governments that offer tax incentives and provide funding for large employers in the creative industry to operate in their countries should mandate original content quotas and student hiring/development programmes as conditions for receiving these benefits. Public investment in studios should yield public benefit through job creation and creative diversity.

Companies should develop apprenticeship programmes providing paid training rather than relying solely on traditional hiring from oversaturated graduate pools. These programmes could identify promising talent early whilst providing practical industry experience currently lacking in 3–4 year degree programmes.

Emerging Opportunities: Beyond Traditional Animation

Despite the challenges, new opportunities are emerging for creative professionals willing to adapt. The animation industry employs more than 220,000 professionals in the United States and is expected to grow by 5% annually, though these roles increasingly require hybrid skills combining animation with technology, business, or education.

Gaming represents a significant growth area, with the gaming and animation industry reaching a massive $268.8 billion by 2025. These positions often offer more creative freedom and better employment prospects than traditional film animation, whilst still utilising core animation skills.

Virtual and augmented reality applications continue expanding, creating demand for animators in educational technology, healthcare simulation, and interactive media. These emerging sectors often welcome candidates with animation backgrounds, even if they lack specific industry experience.

Independent production has become increasingly viable through crowdfunding and digital distribution platforms. Software publishers lead the animation industry’s pay scale with a $110,000 average annual salary, whilst tools like Blender and affordable rendering services enable small teams to produce professional-quality content.

An Industry’s Reckoning

The numbers from Annecy 2025 tell a story that the animation industry can no longer ignore. With 23 educational providers competing for the attention of just 3 recruitment booths, the festival became an inadvertent expose of systemic dysfunction. Thousands of students, armed with portfolios and dreams, encountered a marketplace that had no genuine intention of hiring them.

This revelation demands urgent examination of how the animation industry markets itself versus how it actually operates. The disconnect between promotional promises and employment reality threatens not just individual careers but the creative future of animation itself. If the industry continues excluding new voices whilst relying on artificial intelligence and franchise content, it risks cultural stagnation that could undermine the very creativity that built studios like Pixar and DreamWorks.

The current trajectory requires acknowledgement from all stakeholders – festivals, universities, and studios – that existing practices are unsustainable. Students deserve honest information about career prospects, meaningful opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, and alternative pathways when traditional employment proves elusive.

The animation industry stands at a crossroads. It can continue celebrating past achievements whilst failing future creators, or it can restructure itself to nurture the talent pipeline essential for continued innovation. The stark reality exposed at Annecy 2025 – 3 recruitment opportunities amid 23 educational providers – demands immediate action.

The next Annecy festival could feature genuine employment opportunities rather than empty promises, honest career discussions rather than promotional presentations, and sustainable pathways for emerging talent rather than exclusive access for established professionals. Whether this transformation occurs depends on industry leaders’ willingness to prioritise long-term creative health over short-term financial convenience.

The alternative – continued exclusion of new talent whilst relying on artificial intelligence and franchise content – threatens the very creativity that made animation beloved worldwide. For an industry built on imagination and wonder, such an outcome would represent the ultimate broken promise beside the pristine waters of Lake Annecy.

Students hoping to be noticed – by Matt Jones

#animation industry #entertainment industry #film industry #filmmaking #annecy #art school #animation #portfolio #film festival

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paramountstarsau · 8 months ago

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Welcome to Paramount Studios

This is a collaboration blog between:

@your-compadre-infinity

@creativepot4to

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1. Be kind and respectful towards all individuals. EG: Do not make threats, respect people's boundaries. 2. This is a Safe-Space for all, please treat it as so. On this blog, we accept everyone and all communities. Any intolerance to anyone will not be treated lightly. 3. Do not spam the ask-box. This blog is run by REAL PEOPLE, who have LIVES OUTSIDE OF TUMBLR. We will answer asks when avalible. 4. Please refrain from venting or sharing personal information and issues on this blog, or through the ask-box. If you need help, please seek professional advice. 5. THIS BLOG IS PURELY FICTIONAL. THIS BLOG IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH PARAMOUNT PICTURES, SEGA OR ANY OFFICIAL SONIC MEDIA. ANY NAMES MENTIONED ARE ALSO NOT RELATED TO THIS BLOG.

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Signing In...

Please scan the QR Codes on your card to continue.

P.S THE QR CODES ACTUALLY WORK!!

Our actors are currently off-duty and interviews are OPEN. You may send them questions and await their answer.

- You can send questions directed to individual characters (eg, to Shadow...) or to pairs (eg, to Sonic and Tails...) or to the whole group (eg, to everyone...) - You may ask questions about almost everything, but extremely hateful or controversial questions will be ignored and deleted. - Refrain from inappropriate questions. They are still children. - Please be patient once your question has been submitted. Recording an answer takes time, so please wait for your response. - THIS BLOG IS PURELY FICTIONAL. THIS BLOG IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH PARAMOUNT PICTURES, SEGA OR ANY OFFICIAL SONIC MEDIA. ANY NAMES MENTIONED ARE ALSO NOT RELATED TO THIS BLOG.

Please make your way through the studio and we shall see you all soon.

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yourlostlenore-blog · 4 months ago

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They let your grandma die alone but threw a massive funeral for the Queen.

They threatened you with jail for visiting your family.

They told us hospitals were overflowing, yet nurses had time for TikTok dances.

They closed churches but left liquor stores, strip clubs, and casinos open.

They locked you in your home for months.

They arrested people for walking alone on the beach.

They shut down small businesses while Walmart and Amazon thrived.

They forced children to eat outside in the cold, masked and distanced.

They fired doctors and nurses who refused the jab while calling it a healthcare crisis.

They forced toddlers to mask but let celebrities go mask-free at award shows.

They told people to wear two masks, because one just wasn’t enough.

They called you selfish for wanting to make your own medical choices.

They refused organ transplants to people who didn’t get injected.

They told people to have s3x with masks on or to use “glory holes” to “stop the spread.”

They put arrows on supermarket floors to control “safe” walking directions.

They censored and banned medical professionals for saying what’s now considered basic fact.

They banned unvaccinated people from getting haircuts but let convicted felons get them in prison.

They claimed the unvaccinated were the problem, but then said the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission.

They silenced scientists while pushing Pfizer propaganda.

They banned people from using cash because the virus “lives on surfaces”, but let them use the same credit card machine as everyone else.

They demanded a QR code just to buy food.

They said you deserved to die if you didn’t comply.

They locked playgrounds with police tape, while letting massive Hollywood film productions continue.

They told you your body, your choice, unless it was about an experimental shot.

They called for camps for the unvaccinated.

They told you the vaccine works, but only if everyone else takes it too.

They bribed people with free donuts, burgers, and fries to get injected, while claiming to care about public health.

They made you sit down in a restaurant to “stop the virus”, but standing up was apparently dangerous.

They put curfews in place as if COVID only spread after 8 PM.

They threatened jail time for walking in the park, but rioters and protesters were immune to the virus.

They rewrote history and pretended none of this happened.

And now, they’re telling me to move on and forget about the TYRANNY…

NO AMNESTY. NO FORGIVENESS. ONLY JUSTICE.

#us politics #politics #america #free luigi #news #usa #american #americans #current events #take the power back #fuck you i wont do what you tell me #rage against the machine #Spotify

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akshayaquapri · 4 months ago

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#Visiting Cards #Business Cards #Luxury Cards #Premium Cards #Specialty Cards #Standard Cards #Professional Cards #Custom Cards #Personalized Cards #Networking Cards #Branding Cards #QR Code Cards #Textured Cards #Matte Cards #Glossy Cards #business card printing online #business card printing bangalore #affordable business card printing near me #quapri

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cannabiscomrade · 2 years ago

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What do I put on a medical ID?

I made a post 10mo ago about getting a medical ID and what to put on it. I've since made 3 other medical bracelets and I've learned a lot.

What should you put on it?

This is highly individualized to your specific conditions and needs, but you should prioritize the information that emergency services need to be aware of.

Allergies: are there any allergies that EMS needs to know that could have contributed to a medical emergency.

Medication: Do you have any meds that have serious interactions with common meds? Are you on blood thinners? Do you have rescue medications? Example: I am on Metformin and it can send you into lactic acidosis under anesthesia, so I have to stop it days before any scheduled surgeries. This isn't possible for emergency surgery so they need to know this.

Conditions/Past Medical History: if you're like me, it's possible not all of your medical conditions will fit onto one ID. Choose the ones that are most likely to cause a medical emergency or be relevant in one.

Implants/Medical devices: certain medical devices can interact with medical imaging. And it's important for EMS to just know it's there. I've had medical professionals almost tug on my GJ tube because they thought it was an IV tube or EKG lead.

Identification: up to you- but would be helpful to get access to your records at the hospital. If you carry your ID/license on you, you can probably get away with not listing your name and birthday. Be careful putting identity information if you think you could lose an ID bracelet easily.

Emergency contact

Other relevant information: blood type, diet considerations, where to find your rescue meds

Here are my medical bracelets! I have a general one, a medication ID, and a bracelet with my port details.

If you can't wear bracelets, they make other medical ID necklaces. they also make IDs that can go over your watch band. I prefer bracelets because there's more room.

I generally don't recommend the ones that require you to use a USB or scan a QR code, because I find it highly unlikely that EMS would waste time to do this. A lot of companies will send blank ID wallet cards that you can fill out with more extensive information.

Make it yours! Add as little or as much information as you want, but make sure it's medically relevant. Paramedics don't need to know you have seasonal allergies.

#disability tag

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egvcard · 2 months ago

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#EGVCard #DigitalBusinessCard #MiniWebsite #OnlinePresence #SmartBusiness #ChhattisgarhBusiness #DurgBusiness #PaperlessCards #BusinessTools #GoDigital #LucknowBusiness #GlobalInfotech #EcoFriendlyNetworking #OnlineBranding

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greenhorn-art · 2 years ago

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Keep Your Head Up to the Sky (As Your Day Unfolds) by alphera [Twitter]

Illustrated by Shirou_UOHS @shirou-oh-sakura

Fandom: 全职高手 | The King's Avatar

Rating: General Audiences

Category: M/M

Words: 9 270

Time is rarely kind, and impossible to escape. At the ripe old age of 30, Han Wenqing retires from the Glory Professional Alliance and moves forward the only way he knows how: fearlessly and without hesitation.

About the Book

FONTS: Coelacanth, Segoe UI Emoji

IMAGES: Illustrations by Shirou; pastel sky ID: 7007221 from Rawpixel; dark blue sky ID: 7044483 from Rawpixel; Han Wenqing & Desert Dust image from The King's Avatar Wikia; Ye Xiu & Lord Grim image also from TKA Wikia; Glory card png also made by Shirou via Discord

MATERIALS: regular ol' printer paper (8.5"x11", 20lb, 96 bright); ~1.5mm chipboard; Neenah cardstock (8.5"x11", 65lb, bright white); Iris bookcloth (Madeira colour); paper from Gilded Ink paper pad by Recollections; waxed linen thread (30/3 size, white); wheat paste (1:4 flour:water)

PROGRAMS USED: typeset in Affinity Publisher 2; endpapers designed with Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Photo 2; imposed with Renegade's Community Imposer (settings: Quarto, snug against binding edge, signatures of 2 sheets).

Text & QR codes printed with colour laser printer (duplex, flip long edge), images printed with inkjet printer (HP Envy 5055; one sheet at a time, single sided, place facedown in tray)

BINDING: quarto (quarter-letter) size, sewn board binding with french link stitch and breakaway spine.

Absolutely LOVED this story! I've reread this one a number of times, and keep going back for more. Alphera's writing is so good! Ye Xiu is the series protagonist so things usually follow him, which makes it refreshing to see a story through Han Wenqing's eyes. And the author does it SO WELL! AHHH!

It's been a while since my first read-through, but I'm pretty sure this was the first TKA fic that I actually downloaded and started typesetting. Absolutely chuffed to have it finished! (Love me some growth-- the typeset looks a LOT better than my earlier attempts!)

RAMBLES

Another sewn board binding and breakaway spine! Since this isn't my first go at it, the construction of the book was considerably faster and smoother than my last one. It's just as well, because I ran into a speed bump that stretched out how long it took to typeset and print.

The culprit: (very pretty) illustrations. My laser's colour printing capabilities are shot to hell, so I used my inkjet for the artwork. This involved creating 3 copies of my typeset: 1) the completed typeset; 2) just the text, images hidden; 3) just the images, text hidden/white. Then I ran them through the imposer and printed the text version. The real issue was figuring out how to feed the sheets through my inkjet printer to print the images where I want them. Had to go one page at a time, single-sided. (Just need to place sheet facedown in the tray. So flip along vertical axis.) It took a while, but I got there in the end. And the results were SO worth it! 😊

For the scene breaks I left them as written. I had tried inserting images of the Glory Logo and account card, or using crossed swords emojis ⚔️, but nothing I tried worked as well as what the author did. (It's really neat! Different characters were used to indicate the direction of the timeskip: >>>> for a jump forward in time; <<<< for a flash into the past; and ==== for regular scene breaks, a 'next' rather than 'before' or 'later/after'.)

The cover and endpapers were based off of Shirou's fantastic cover illustration of HQW and YX walking hand-in-hand down a beach at sunset. The art itself is phenomenal so I had it stand alone as a frontispiece and didn't do anything fancy with the title page. For the covers, I looked through my decorative paper stash for something red or black to represent HWQ or Team Tyranny. What I found was paper with pinks, oranges, and purples similar to that illustration -- and that was that. I liked how the colours matched the art, and the gold splashed across it. (Gold for victory, gold for wedding rings and a happy golden future together.)

(Sidenote: I love how the beginning of the end of HWQ's career as an e-sports player "starts with a tingle in his ring finger", leading him and YX to taking the next steps in their relationship and eventually getting married 💍🖐)

I went with a red bookcloth for the spine because it's a common team colour for Tyranny, Excellent Era, and Happy. It also represents good fortune, courage, passion, and love -- things that come to mind when I think about YX, HWQ, and HanYe. The particular shade of red I used is Madeira. It's darker than Ruby Red and leans a little cooler, which suits the decorative paper more.

The endpapers use two background images (overlayed, adjusted, using multiple blending modes) and some images of HWQ and YX from The King's Avatar Wikia.

The background images are from Rawpixel -- I was just minding my own business looking for images of clouds and maybe some mountains to represent overcoming challenges/glory/looking up to the sky, when I found some clouds with the same sunset colours of Shirou's art. Figured it was too perfect, and if I'm going to lean into that design-wise, I might as well go whole hog and full-ass it. Then I found a starry night sky to add some darker blues and stars to it to match. After that it was a matter of overlapping them and positioning them to fit. I also grabbed some images of HWQ and YX from the King's Avatar Wikia and added them to it because HanYe. (After removing the backgrounds).

#Keep Your Head Up to the Sky (As Your Day Unfolds)#alphera #fanfiction #bookbinding #the king's avatar #qzgs #tka #sewn board binding

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