Thread: Animation In India

The quality of the finished product has improved so dramatically during the last few years that you have probably seen some CGI in a movie and did not realise that it was computer generated. As a result, the demand for 3D modelling and animation around the world has boomed. It is not just for the likes of dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and new applica¬tions are cropping up all the time: games and other computer simulations, titles and intros for TV programs and films, advertisements, educational animations - even some airline safety videos are animated rather than using real actors. Particularly with Bollywood, there is a significant local demand for modelling and animation, but with this worldwide boom, thanks to the lower cost structures in India, a large amount of work is flowing into this country.

The total animation industry here is thought this year to be worth close to Rs 1,600 crore, and to be growing at 15 to 20 per cent per year - some parts of the market are thought to be growing at around 30 per cent. The problem is that we have a major skills shortage. One estimate suggests that this year the demand for animation professionals in India is around 300,000 - a huge increase over previous years, and the various training centres can hardly keep up.



So, there are great career opportunities here, and clearly the large number of training courses available are trying to meet the huge demand. However, although attending a course is important, itis not enough, and you simply need to get a great deal of practice in both modelling and animation. If you do end up working for an animation company, you will most likely need to use 3ds MAX or Maya. So, to get some practice, you should nip down to the local market and pick up a copy. Well, maybe not -' this software is very expensive, but there are alternatives available at no cost at all, and these can be quite suitable for developing experience and skills in model¬ling. Going for a job interview with a satisfac¬tory pass in some course is all very well, but how much better to present an impressive animation or model that you have developed yourself in your spare time.