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It's great to see animation twitter people talking about how the pandemic is making them rethink their relationship with the industry. It's a series of short-term day jobs, not your whole life or identity! Expecting it to fill that role will usually leads to disappointment.
I've said before that even calling it a 'day job' seems frowned upon, as if you're expected to treasure a job that maybe lasts 6 months over your health, relationships etc. The job doesn't love you back! After the season's done, the show won't phone to see how you're doing.
My dad's death a couple of years ago really soured me on careerism & made me think about why I'm doing this. Nobody thinks on their deathbed "I'm sure glad I did all that work," they go "I wish I'd spent more time w/ friends & family, made more time to do stuff I really enjoy."
My main priority in animation has always ultimately been to make my own stuff, however I can. Industry work is mainly a way to fund that & sustain it. I'm happy with many of the jobs I've worked on but they don't define my life.
Acknowledging that there's ANY separation between the art and the business of animation often seems to ruffle feathers. It's a concept people have a hard time grappling with (inside and outside the industry).
There's this narrative sold to people breaking into the industry, that when you land your dream job, you join some beautiful club & are fulfilled forever, which is nonsense-- but people buy it all the time & have a hard time gradually realizing it's a fantasy.
You see this with pretty much every 'name' studio. A studio is literally nothing but a collection of workers and equipment. It's not your home or your family, don't drink the kool-aid! Take care of yourself & remember what actually drives your creative pursuits.
