Well, some people just aren't that well informed about what is involved with all the work that needs to be done? I dunno. But I don't expect someone to do animation for free, if they are fine with being fed as payment, that'd be good if on an indie budget. Though I highly doubt that would work expect maybe on the actual cast and film crew, cause that's a general rule for indie filmmaking. When you can't pay them feed them. A fed crew is a happy crew.
But for animation... yeah, they'll more then likely want to be paid, but on an indie project I think if they set their price too high that's pushing it. Unless you got some top of the line producer backing them up. *shrugs*