In the UK a script fee of at least £300 per minute (£3,000-plus for a 10-minute script) should be negotiated. This is the conclusion of WGGB officers, writers and agents following a recent project with WGGB animation writers to rewrite the WGGB guidelines on animation.

Part of the research included surveying UK animation writers about the fees they earned for writing both in the UK and internationally.

Below is a snapshot of the fees paid to animation writers for a 10/11-minute script.

Countries Range (£s)

Australia: 1,500-2,500
Benelux: 1,500-3,501+
France: 1,250-3,000
Germany: 2,000-2,250
Ireland: 2,000-2,500
Scandinavia: 1,500-2,500
SE Asia: 800-2,250
UK: 800-3,501+
US: 2,000-3,501+

The survey results above indicate that there is a huge variation in the fees paid to writers nationally and internationally. This can be attributed in part to the lack of collective agreements that set out minimum terms. In the absence of minima, aim for the maxima!

In the UK if a writer is contracted to write an episode, this will generally be on a buyout contract. This means the writer sells all their rights to their work with no rights to royalty or residuals payments, so the script fee is the only money the writer will earn and should be negotiated at £300+ per minute.

Unlike other sectors in the UK, there are no collective agreements in place to protect and improve terms under which animation writers are contracted. To open dialogue with animation producers, the Guild, in conjunction with the Personal Managers’ Association (agents), will be sending out a joint best practice briefing to animation producers/broadcasters in the UK. The guidelines and the joint briefing are available for download in the Rates and Agreements section of our website. Or if you would like a hard copy of our Animation Guidelines booklet, please email: admin@writersguild.org.uk