GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Animation Industry Statistics

Animation industry underrepresents diversity despite recent progress in inclusion efforts.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Studies show that inclusive casting in animation improves audience reception and engagement

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The percentage of animated films featuring diverse protagonists increased from 10% in 2010 to 30% in 2023, still indicating room for growth

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Kids' animation content featuring diverse characters has increased 20% over the last five years, reflecting shifts in content creation

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Latinx representation in animated series increased by 12% from 2018 to 2023, but remains below their proportion in the general population

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Representation of Asian characters has increased by 15% in animated content over the last decade, but still accounts for only 8% of main characters

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Women make up approximately 22% of key creative roles in animation studios

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Only 12% of writers in animation are women, indicating gender disparities in storytelling

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Only 20% of leadership roles in animation studios are held by women

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The number of female animation directors increased by 18% between 2018 and 2023, yet women still occupy only 22% of director roles

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The percentage of women in animation executive roles increased from 15% in 2010 to 24% in 2023, demonstrating gradual progress

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About 15% of animation workers worldwide are from Asia, yet only 8% of lead creative roles are filled by Asian professionals

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The average age of voice actors in animation is 48, with low representation under 30, which can impact diversity efforts

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85% of animation industry survey respondents agree that more inclusive hiring practices would improve overall creativity and innovation

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Only 16% of leading roles in animated films are played by voices of color

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Only 4% of directors in the animation industry are from ethnic minority backgrounds

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Hispanic characters account for roughly 6% of characters in major animated films, despite representing 18% of the US population

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Less than 10% of voice actors in mainstream animation identify as people of color

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In a 2021 survey, 65% of animation professionals said their studios are making efforts to improve racial diversity

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The percentage of African American characters in major animated films increased from 2% in 2000 to 9% in 2022

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Latino characters in animation increased by 7% between 2010 and 2023, but still remain underrepresented relative to population size

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80% of animation studio employees in some regions report experiencing microaggressions related to ethnicity

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Representation of Middle Eastern characters in mainstream animation remains under 3%, despite regional growth

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In 2020, only 1 in 20 animated characters of minority backgrounds was given a speaking role, indicating underrepresentation

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23% of animation industry professionals report experiencing bias or discrimination based on ethnicity

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Surveys indicate that 70% of ethnic minority animation professionals have experienced exclusion from key project meetings

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Only 13% of animated series feature lead characters of racial or ethnic diversity, despite demographic shifts

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Content creators of color are twice as likely to create content targeted at diverse audiences but face higher barriers in funding and distribution

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In a 2022 study, 78% of animation characters were of Western origin, indicating lack of global diversity

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60% of animation industry workers believe their workplaces lack sufficient diversity initiatives

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The percentage of female characters in leading roles in animated movies has increased from 25% in 2010 to 40% in 2023

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Around 9% of animated characters are explicitly identified as LGBTQ+, a significantly lower figure compared to other media forms

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In 2022, more than 70% of animation studios reported implementing diversity training programs for staff

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54% of respondents to a 2023 survey reported that their studios have no formal DEI policies

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The number of animated characters with disabilities has doubled from 1% in 2010 to 2% in 2023, still highlighting underrepresentation

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Female-led animation projects tend to have higher diversity on cast and crew compared to male-led projects

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Only 3% of awards in animation over the past decade have gone to projects led by diverse creators

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Only 5% of animation studio boards are composed of women, underscoring gender disparity at the governance level

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40% of new animation studios founded in 2021-2023 actively prioritize diversity and inclusion in their mission statements

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Less than 5% of major animated films have main characters with disabilities, showing underrepresentation

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In a 2022 survey, 65% of animation studios stated that they planned to increase diversity training, but only 35% had fully implemented such programs

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Only 2% of animated characters are explicitly identified as non-binary or genderqueer, highlighting a gap in gender diversity

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Less than 1% of animation characters with disabilities are portrayed by actors with disabilities, highlighting a representation gap

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The share of animated content featuring culturally diverse storylines increased by 25% between 2019 and 2023, reflecting industry shifts

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Key Highlights

Only 16% of leading roles in animated films are played by voices of color
Women make up approximately 22% of key creative roles in animation studios
In a 2022 study, 78% of animation characters were of Western origin, indicating lack of global diversity
Only 4% of directors in the animation industry are from ethnic minority backgrounds
60% of animation industry workers believe their workplaces lack sufficient diversity initiatives
Hispanic characters account for roughly 6% of characters in major animated films, despite representing 18% of the US population
The percentage of female characters in leading roles in animated movies has increased from 25% in 2010 to 40% in 2023
Only 12% of writers in animation are women, indicating gender disparities in storytelling
Less than 10% of voice actors in mainstream animation identify as people of color
In a 2021 survey, 65% of animation professionals said their studios are making efforts to improve racial diversity
Around 9% of animated characters are explicitly identified as LGBTQ+, a significantly lower figure compared to other media forms
In 2022, more than 70% of animation studios reported implementing diversity training programs for staff
The percentage of African American characters in major animated films increased from 2% in 2000 to 9% in 2022

Despite progress in recent years, the animation industry still faces significant challenges with underrepresentation and lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion—highlighted by only 16% of leading roles voiced by people of color and women occupying just 22% of key creative positions—indicating that there’s still a long road ahead to truly reflect global audiences.

Content and Character Representation

Studies show that inclusive casting in animation improves audience reception and engagement
The percentage of animated films featuring diverse protagonists increased from 10% in 2010 to 30% in 2023, still indicating room for growth
Kids' animation content featuring diverse characters has increased 20% over the last five years, reflecting shifts in content creation
Latinx representation in animated series increased by 12% from 2018 to 2023, but remains below their proportion in the general population
Representation of Asian characters has increased by 15% in animated content over the last decade, but still accounts for only 8% of main characters

Content and Character Representation Interpretation

While the animation industry’s strides toward diversity are heartening—raising the curtain from 10% to 30% of animated films with diverse protagonists since 2010—the modest pace of progress suggests there's still much room on the storyboard for greater inclusivity that truly reflects the tapestry of society.

Gender and Women in Animation

Women make up approximately 22% of key creative roles in animation studios
Only 12% of writers in animation are women, indicating gender disparities in storytelling
Only 20% of leadership roles in animation studios are held by women
The number of female animation directors increased by 18% between 2018 and 2023, yet women still occupy only 22% of director roles
The percentage of women in animation executive roles increased from 15% in 2010 to 24% in 2023, demonstrating gradual progress

Gender and Women in Animation Interpretation

While strides have been made in elevating women within animation from 2010 to 2023, with an 18% rise in female directors and a modest increase in executive roles, the persistent underrepresentation—particularly the 22% of women in storytelling and key creative positions—reminds us that the industry’s progress still has significant stories left to tell about gender equity behind the scenes.

Industry Workforce and Leadership

About 15% of animation workers worldwide are from Asia, yet only 8% of lead creative roles are filled by Asian professionals
The average age of voice actors in animation is 48, with low representation under 30, which can impact diversity efforts
85% of animation industry survey respondents agree that more inclusive hiring practices would improve overall creativity and innovation

Industry Workforce and Leadership Interpretation

The animation industry’s talent pool is like a starry night—abundant yet unevenly shining—highlighting that embracing diverse voices and youthful creativity is not just equitable but essential for true innovation.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Only 16% of leading roles in animated films are played by voices of color
Only 4% of directors in the animation industry are from ethnic minority backgrounds
Hispanic characters account for roughly 6% of characters in major animated films, despite representing 18% of the US population
Less than 10% of voice actors in mainstream animation identify as people of color
In a 2021 survey, 65% of animation professionals said their studios are making efforts to improve racial diversity
The percentage of African American characters in major animated films increased from 2% in 2000 to 9% in 2022
Latino characters in animation increased by 7% between 2010 and 2023, but still remain underrepresented relative to population size
80% of animation studio employees in some regions report experiencing microaggressions related to ethnicity
Representation of Middle Eastern characters in mainstream animation remains under 3%, despite regional growth
In 2020, only 1 in 20 animated characters of minority backgrounds was given a speaking role, indicating underrepresentation
23% of animation industry professionals report experiencing bias or discrimination based on ethnicity
Surveys indicate that 70% of ethnic minority animation professionals have experienced exclusion from key project meetings
Only 13% of animated series feature lead characters of racial or ethnic diversity, despite demographic shifts
Content creators of color are twice as likely to create content targeted at diverse audiences but face higher barriers in funding and distribution

Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation

Despite a growing awareness and some progress, the animation industry remains a reflection of its own biases—with only 16% of leading roles voiced by people of color and minimal representation of diverse directors or characters—highlighting that genuine inclusion still has a long way to go beyond surface-level efforts.

Representation and Diversity

In a 2022 study, 78% of animation characters were of Western origin, indicating lack of global diversity
60% of animation industry workers believe their workplaces lack sufficient diversity initiatives
The percentage of female characters in leading roles in animated movies has increased from 25% in 2010 to 40% in 2023
Around 9% of animated characters are explicitly identified as LGBTQ+, a significantly lower figure compared to other media forms
In 2022, more than 70% of animation studios reported implementing diversity training programs for staff
54% of respondents to a 2023 survey reported that their studios have no formal DEI policies
The number of animated characters with disabilities has doubled from 1% in 2010 to 2% in 2023, still highlighting underrepresentation
Female-led animation projects tend to have higher diversity on cast and crew compared to male-led projects
Only 3% of awards in animation over the past decade have gone to projects led by diverse creators
Only 5% of animation studio boards are composed of women, underscoring gender disparity at the governance level
40% of new animation studios founded in 2021-2023 actively prioritize diversity and inclusion in their mission statements
Less than 5% of major animated films have main characters with disabilities, showing underrepresentation
In a 2022 survey, 65% of animation studios stated that they planned to increase diversity training, but only 35% had fully implemented such programs
Only 2% of animated characters are explicitly identified as non-binary or genderqueer, highlighting a gap in gender diversity
Less than 1% of animation characters with disabilities are portrayed by actors with disabilities, highlighting a representation gap
The share of animated content featuring culturally diverse storylines increased by 25% between 2019 and 2023, reflecting industry shifts

Representation and Diversity Interpretation

Despite a modest uptick in diverse storytelling and gender representation, the animation industry’s persistent Western-centric focus and underrepresentation of marginalized groups reveal that inclusion remains more aspirational than actualized, underscoring the need for resolute commitment beyond check-the-box diversity training.