YouTube animation

Illustration of Chinese families and community members gathered to celebrate Chinese New Year

October 20, 2026

Can One Animator Build the Next Great Animation Studio?

David Derks Feature, Industry adult animation, animation business, Creator Economy, crowdfunding, Fable Siegel, Glitch Productions, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Independent Animation, Lackadaisy, Murder Drones, Prime Video, SpindleHorse, The Amazing Digital Circus, Tracy Butler, Vivienne Medrano, VivziePop, YouTube animation

Hazbin Hotel started as a YouTube pilot, and Lackadaisy raised $2 million from its fans. For independent animators, building an audience has become the easy part. Turning a hit cartoon into a company that lasts is the real test.

Animated character with blue hair and glowing pink eyes in a sunlit forest, from GLITCH Productions' independent animation series Knights of Guinevere

September 29, 2026

How Big Is Independent Animation, Really?

David Derks Animation Alien Stage, animation crowdfunding, Bigtop Burger, Creator Economy, DillonGoo Studios, Far-Fetched, Glitch Productions, Godspeed, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Independent Animation, indie animation, Kickstarter, Lackadaisy, Monkey Wrench, Olan Rogers, Ramshackle, SpindleHorse, The Amazing Digital Circus, Vivienne Medrano, Worthikids, YouTube animation

For decades, an animated series needed a studio executive’s blessing before it ever reached an audience. Ten independent studios and creators, from GLITCH Productions to the team behind Lackadaisy, have flipped that order by building their audiences first and letting Hollywood come to them.