Editing Independent animation (section)

=== Later independent animation ===
[[File:Sita Sings the Blues.webm|thumb|''[[Sita Sings the Blues]]'', a notable American independent animated film by [[Nina Paley]]]]
The rise of the [[Internet]] in the 1990s and 2000s saw an exponential increase in the production of independent animation which included personal independent works by Timothy Hittle,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/65589/a_rare_treat_bay_area_animation|title=A Rare Treat: Bay Area Animation|date=August 23, 2011|website=KQED}}</ref> [[Janie Geiser]],<ref>[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/keep-it-motion-classic-animation-revisited-red-book Keep it in Motion - Classic Animation Revisited: 'The Red Book'|Animation World Network]</ref> [[John R. Dilworth]], [[Lewis Klahr]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcat.org/event/re-animation-evening-lewis-klahr|title=Re-Animation: An Evening with Lewis Klahr|date=September 2, 2009|website=Redcat|access-date=November 24, 2018|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124221241/https://www.redcat.org/event/re-animation-evening-lewis-klahr|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://hyperallergic.com/663455/experimental-animation-gems-by-suzan-pitt-walerian-borowczyk/ Experimental Animation Gems by Suzan Pitt, Walerian Borowczyk, and More - Hyperallergic]</ref> and John Schnall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/death-laughs-among-us-films-john-schnall|title=Death Laughs Among Us: The Films of John Schnall|website=Animation World Network}}</ref><ref>[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/vague-rumor-independence-new-york-animation The Vague Rumor of Independence in New York Animation|Animation World Network]</ref> [[Personal computer]] power increased to the point where it was possible for a single person to produce an animated cartoon on a home computer, using software such as [[Adobe Flash|Flash]], and distribute these short films over the [[World Wide Web]]. Independently produced Internet cartoons flourished as the popularity of the Web grew, and a number of strange, often hilarious short cartoons were produced for the Web.

In the late 1990s, an independent animated short film called ''[[The Spirit of Christmas (short film)|The Spirit of Christmas]]'' was produced for under $2,000 by two artists, [[Matt Stone]] and [[Trey Parker]].  This film was widely distributed on the Internet as a pirated cartoon, and its phenomenal popularity gave rise to the popular television [[animated series]] ''[[South Park]].''<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title = Popular YouTube Series Annoying Orange Moves to TV|url = http://mashable.com/2011/04/15/annoying-orange-tv/|website = Mashable|access-date = 2016-01-02|first = Brenna|last = Ehrlich|date = April 15, 2011}}</ref> Limited 1990s bandwidth made streaming difficult, if not impossible. While some animators like [[Spümcø]]'s [[John Kricfalusi|John K]]. opted to use [[Adobe Flash|Flash]], it still required a plug-in making it unviewable in many early [[web browsers]]. Other early online animators like [[Wartella|M. Wartella]] opted to use the [[GIF|Animated GIF]] to overcome these limitations and create early web-based animation viewable through all browsers.<ref name="nytimes">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/03/cyber/artsatlarge/19artsatlarge.html|title=Animator Pursues a Minimal Approach to His Art|website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref>

Independent animation in the 2000s included animated features such as Paley's ''[[Sita Sings the Blues]]'', [[Christiane Cegavske]]'s ''[[Blood Tea and Red String]]'',<ref>[https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/blood-tea-and-red-string-2/ BLOOD TEA AND STRING - Film Threat]</ref> the CGI-animated features ''[[Hoodwinked!]]'' and ''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]''<ref name="indieanimationking">[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2006/09/indie-animation-king-bill-plympton/ Indie Animation King Bill Plympton|Animation Magazine]</ref> and [[List of American independent films|Indiewood]] director [[Wes Anderson]]'s first foray into animation territory: his 2009 stop motion adaptation of [[Roland Dahl]]'s ''[[Fantastic Mr. Fox (film)|Fantastic Mr. Fox]]''.<ref name="checkouttheseanimatedindies">[https://www.themarysue.com/check-out-these-must-see-indie-animated-movies/ Check out These Must-See Indie Animated Movies|The Mary Sue]</ref>

By the mid-to-late 2000s [[YouTube]] and the [[Internet]] and like-minded online video distribution, in addition to independent broadcasting sites that followed, proved to be a dominant form of independently distributed, broadcast, edited, and produced animation TV shows, anime, feature films, music videos, retro animation, commercials, trailers, original online animation content, and web exclusives<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ribes|first=Xavier|date=2020-12-16|title=Is the YouTube Animation Algorithm-Friendly? How YouTube's Algorithm Influences the Evolution of Animation Production on the Internet|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1746847720969990|journal=Animation|volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=229–245 |language=en|doi=10.1177/1746847720969990|s2cid=229305003 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> (which would otherwise not stand a chance of seeing airtime on more normal and expensive forms of mainstream broadcasting on most television networks, which still continue to function on a more traditional distribution matrix). ''[[Annoying Orange]]'', which started off as a series of viral quasi-CGI animated comedy shorts on [[YouTube]], quickly gained a cult following and an excess of 100 million views online. It is an example of an animated web series to transition between Internet and television distribution successfully, as an animated series on [[Cartoon Network]].<ref name="auto"/>

Recent independent animations released on YouTube include the [[adult animated]] [[web series]] ''[[Helluva Boss]]'', and [[Television pilots|pilots]] for ''[[Hazbin Hotel]]'', ''[[Long Gone Gulch]]'', ''[[Murder Drones]]'', ''[[Lackadaisy (film)|Lackadaisy]]'', ''[[The Amazing Digital Circus]]'' and ''[[The Gaslight District]]''. <ref>[https://thetacomaledger.com/2023/04/24/review-a-purrfect-storm-of-chaos-in-new-indie-animation-lackadaisy/ Review: A purrfect storm of chaos in new indie animation ‘Lackadaisy’ - The Tacoma Ledger]</ref> While ''Helluva Boss'' and ''Hazbin Hotel'' are made by independent animator [[Vivienne Medrano]],<ref name="go">{{cite web | last1=Field |first1=Matthew |url=https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/12/05/hazbin-Hotel-marks-a-turning-point-for-indie-animation/ | title='Hazbin Hotel' a bold step in indie animation | date=December 5, 2019 | website=Go! & Express | access-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512162723/https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/12/05/hazbin-hotel-marks-a-turning-point-for-indie-animation/|archive-date=May 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Troup">{{cite web|last1=Troup|first1=Margaret|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|title='Hazbin Hotel' creator releases new episode of spinoff series 'Helluva Boss'|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 3, 2020|website=[[Iowa State Daily]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201103153029/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|archive-date=November 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Long Gone Gulch'' was written and produced by Tara Billinger and Zach Bellissimo, who had worked on animations for [[Cartoon Network]], [[Adult Swim]], and [[Disney+]].<ref name="Perkins">{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Christ |url=https://www.animationforadults.com/2016/08/kickstart-this-long-gone-gulch.html |title= KickStart This: 'Long Gone Gulch' |date=August 11, 2016 |website=Animation for Adults |access-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926155442/https://www.animationforadults.com/2016/08/kickstart-this-long-gone-gulch.html |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, the all-ages web series, ''[[Sherwood (Web series)|Sherwood]]'', also released all 12 episodes on [[YouTube Premium|YouTube Originals]], made freely available in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Franks |first=Nico |title=YouTube brings down paywall |url=https://www.c21media.net/youtube-brings-down-paywall/ |website=C21Media |accessdate=October 15, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413043839/https://www.c21media.net/youtube-brings-down-paywall/ |archivedate=April 13, 2020 |date=April 10, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[Alternative comics]] artist turned animator [[Dash Shaw]]'s ''[[Cryptozoo]]'' enjoyed critical success at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] to the point of winning the NEXT Innovator Award while it was also nominated for the [[John Cassavetes Award]] at the [[Independent Spirit Awards]] a year afterwards.<ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/cryptozoo-trailer-dash-shaw-1234650476/ Cryptozoo Trailer: Dash Shaw's Animated Sundance Winner for Adults|IndieWire]</ref><ref>[https://mubi.com/films/cryptozoo  Cryptozoo (2021)|MUBI]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/indie-spirit-awards-2022-nominations-full-list-1235132931/ |title=Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations |first1=Brent |first2=Jazz |last1=Long |last2=Tangcay |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 14, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref>

[[One Small Step (film)|Oscar-nominated animator]] [[Andrew Chesworth]]  formerly worked at [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]] (being animator on ''[[Wreck It Ralph]]'', ''[[Frozen (2013 film)|Frozen]]'', ''[[Get a Horse!]]'', ''[[Big Hero 6 (film)|Big Hero 6]]'', ''[[Feast (2014 film)|Feast]]'', ''[[Zootopia]]'' and ''[[Moana (2016 film)|Moana]]'')<ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/12879735%7C0/Andrew-Chesworth#overview Andrew Chesworth - Turner Classic Movies]</ref><ref>[http://www.animationinsider.com/2015/05/andrew-chesworth/ Andrew Chesworth - Animation Insider]</ref> and [[Netflix Animation|Netflix]] (on the 2019 [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature]] winner ''[[Klaus (film)|Klaus]]'')<ref>[https://www.insider.com/netflix-klaus-director-sergio-pablos-interview-2019-11 How it took almost a decade and Netflix to bring 'Klaus' — one of the year's best animated movies — to life - Insider]</ref> while working independently on his passion projects including his 2023 Oscar-qualifying<ref>[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/oscars-short-film-contenders-the-brave-locomotive-232356.html 2024 Oscars Short Film Contenders: ‘The Brave Locomotive’ Director Andrew Chesworth|Cartoon Brew]</ref><ref>[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/10/oscar-watch-2024-your-guide-to-this-years-qualifying-animated-shorts/ Oscar Watch 2024: Your Guide to This Year’s Qualifying Animated Shorts|Animation Magazine]</ref> ''[[The Brave Locomotive]]'', a love letter to the [[Andrews Sisters]] and [[Golden Age of American animation|1940s animation]]. First conceived in 2008, he released online in 2015 the opening sequence that was in progress before shelving it after being hired by Disney in 2011.<ref name="openingsequence">[https://vimeo.com/125219477 The Brave Locomotive - Opening Sequence Work In Progress on Andrew Chesworth's official Vimeo channel]</ref> 

Other notable animated indie efforts of the 2020s include ''[[Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021 film)|Marcel the Shell with Shoes On]]'',<ref>[https://deadline.com/2022/07/a24-marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-specialty-box-office-2-1235061104/ A24 Has Another Indie Hit, As 'Marcel The Shell' Slides Into Top 10 – Specialty Box Office - Deadline]</ref><ref>[https://www.thewrap.com/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-dean-fleischer-camp-interview/ 'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On' Director Explains What It Took to Pull Off One of the Year's Most Charming Movies|The Wrap]</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/50th-annie-awards-2023/ Guillermo del Toro's 'Pinocchio' and 'Turning Red' Lead the Nominations for the 50th Annie Awards 2023 - Hollywood Insider]</ref><ref>[https://www.avclub.com/a-brief-history-of-adult-animation-1850067524 A brief, and somewhat shocking, history of adult animation|The A.V. Club]</ref> ''[[Ninety-Five Senses]]'',<ref>[https://www.slugmag.com/arts/film-arts/you-cant-really-plan-for-getting-an-oscar-a-chat-with-hubbel-palmer/ "You Can't Really Plan for Getting an Oscar": A Chat with Hubbel Palmer - SLUG Magazine]</ref> ''[[Mad God]]'',<ref>[https://www.zippyframes.com/feature-animation/mad-god-phil-tippett-review Mad God by Phil Tippett|Film Review|Zippy Frames]</ref> ''[[War Is Over!]]''<ref name="timelymessage">[https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/war-is-over-animated-short-lennon-yoko-ono-1234941594/ "War is Over": Animated Short Short Creates Timely Message of Humanity - IndieWire]</ref> and ''[[My Year of Dicks]]''.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/blog/look-my-year-dicks A Look at ‘My Year of Dicks’|Animation World Network]</ref>

The [[analog horror]] webseries ''Angel Hare'', inspired by [[List of Christian animations|Christian animated cartoons]], was made independently by twin sisters Hannah and Rachel Mangan under their studio East Patch.<ref>[https://buttondown.com/magencubed/archive/let-it-be-unnamed/ Let It Be Unnamed · Buttondown]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2024 |title="Angel Hare" Isn't What I Expected – The Geekiary |url=https://thegeekiary.com/angel-hare-isnt-what-i-expected/123465 |access-date=March 14, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=17 Best Analog Horror Series on YouTube |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=October 24, 2022 |url=https://collider.com/best-analog-horror-series-youtube-channels |access-date=December 24, 2024}}</ref>