Meet Anna Malatinszky | Owner & Executive Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Malatinszky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
There’s that saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Whoever said that never worked in animation. It’s hard work, no matter how much you love it! The hours are long, the process is grueling, the work is punishing on your body. There’s a sense in which animators are made to feel that they should be grateful to have a job they’re passionate about, and therefore should accept low or no pay and poor work conditions. In fact, in some parts of our industry, that’s become the norm; as a result, a huge portion of the workforce is burned out, working second or even third jobs, and struggling to support themselves. It’s a stark contrast to what outsiders picture when you tell them, “I work in cartoons!”

This is why I opened Linefolk Animation Studios. Not only do we pay our artists well and treat them with the respect they deserve, but we’re doing so in an attempt to spark change in the animation scene in Atlanta and beyond. Artists work hard, and loving that work shouldn’t condemn them to low standards of living. As animators come together and collectively work towards a brighter future, Linefolk will work to exemplify how a studio can exist for the betterment of artists and their work.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Linefolk Animation Studios was founded with the purpose of creating a healthy, happy, creative work environment for artists and animators in Atlanta. Like any studio, we want to continue to carry the torch of animated storytelling into the future, but we intend to do so by putting our folks first 100% of the time. Linefolk is working to spark change in our industry, and hopes to blaze a trail to more equal and ethical treatment of artists.

Starting a business is easy; it’s mostly paperwork. Actually running a business is much harder, and I often feel like a duck, peddling like mad underwater while trying to look composed above the surface. We launched during a tumultuous time for animation studios, and learning how to sail new waters while keeping our figurative vessel afloat has been a challenge! I’m very fortunate to have a supportive partner who encouraged me to take time away from the animation industry while studying business, as I rely hugely on the knowledge gleaned from that period of time. He also reminds me to stay humble in moments where my excitement threatens to outrun my reality- no, we probably don’t need to pre-order 10,000 pearlescent branded skateboards for the studio, no matter how cool I think they look. By keeping our current small size in mind, we’re able to build a solid foundation for our bigger future, rather than building skyward only to collapse in on ourselves in a few months. As a result, our overhead is low, our projects are rolling in, and we’re able to prioritize the welfare of our team.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about Linefolk, it’s that our studio is special, but doesn’t have to be. Studios all throughout the country could commit to improving their working conditions, to being transparent about their wages and decisions, and to putting their employees before excess profit. In an ideal world, Linefolk wouldn’t exist, because there would be no need for it to exemplify these beliefs. Yet our world is not ideal, so I saw a need, and I’m working to fill that need, and I couldn’t be doing it with a better team.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a funny question, because my best friend DID visit the area, and she enjoyed it so much that she moved to ATL herself! Atlanta’s greatest gift is its diversity, and that’s what I love to show off whenever I have friends in town. My ideal tour starts with a breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird in Grant Park, then a quick walk around the nearby neighborhood, cemetery, and park. I love that there’s such a big city in the middle of a forest, and I’ll always take a second to mention Trees Atlanta and their efforts to conserve and improve our urban green spaces. For lunch, we’re either heading to East Atlanta Village for some Moroccan at Marrakesh Express, or to West Midtown for Mexican at Cantina Nuevo Laredo, then to Ponce City Market to grab pop-tails at King of Pops, which we’ll enjoy responsibly before walking up the beltline. If we have the time, we’ll take the afternoon to enjoy one of the many fantastic museums, exhibits, markets, or music shows ATL has going on, then head up to Buford Highway for dinner at Lanzhou Ramen. We’ll usually be rolling out of dinner by this point, but if we have the room for a nightcap, we’ll swing by one of the million amazing bars and breweries the city has to offer. Atlanta has something for everyone, and I couldn’t wish for a better city to open a studio in!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Every victory I celebrate is made possible by the enormous support of my community of colleagues, family, and friends. I am eternally grateful to my dear friends Troy Gustafson, John Webber, Emily Satterfield, and my loving partner Eli Orth, all of whom have helped to shape the person and artist I am today. I am blessed by my parents and siblings, who push me, but always forward. I am indebted to the poet Kahlil Gibran, who wrote, “Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.” My work is more joyous, more loving, more visible for having these people in my life.

Website: www.linefolk.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/linefolkstudios

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/linefolk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/linefolkstudios