Animated sector

K. Ramakrishnan of APTECH watching an animation picture on screen.-S. THANTHONI

Chennai is all set to take advantage of the animation industrys growth potential to reach a market size of $1 billion by 2010.

The animation industry in India will reach a market size of $1 billion by 2010, with an estimated 30 per cent growth every year, according to ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India). In 2006, the market size in India was around $360 million. The industry at present employs 10,000 animators, but animation parks can generate employment for about two lakh animators in the next three years. ASSOCHAM president Venugopal Dhoot said in New Delhi on July 2, More animation parks and animation studios should be established to make India a hub for 3-D animated movies and to prevent animation companies from spending their funds in countries such as the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, China, [South] Korea and Malaysia.

Aptech Limited was quick to realise the potential of the animation industry. It offers two specialised courses in animation: Arena Animation Academy Specialist Programme (AAASP) and diploma in animation engineering. Arena, a wing of Aptech, is 11 years old in animation education. India is emerging as a new destination for international animation and special effects industry. The Americans, Canadians and Europeans are beginning to outsource their work to Indian animation companies, said K. Ramakrishnan, assistant general manager, Business Development (Tamil Nadu), Aptech. Aptech also offers a three-year course in information technology.

Dream Zone, a division of CADD Centre and a leader in computer-aided design (CAD) education in India, offers industry-relevant courses in animation, interior designing and garment designing. At Dream School of Animation, according to S. Karaiadiselvan, director, CADD Centre Training Services, students receive instruction in both traditional and computer-based concepts and techniques. The School of Animation also offers a postgraduate diploma in computer-aided Viscom Grafx.

At Dream School of Interior Design, students are equipped to work as interior designers. The one-year master diploma programme in interior architecture and design begins with basic design concepts and moves on to advanced services, estimation, CAD, 3-D modelling, project management and landscaping. Dream Zone also offers a diploma in garment design.

STC ThirdEye Technology, a software testing company, wants to capture a portion of the worlds outsourced testing market, which is worth $6 billion. According to company officials, its product testing group and resource management group have ensured a lot of saving for their customers in quality assurance methods. It has dedicated test laboratory facilities in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pune. It has 360 employees and, by 2008, plans to employ about 300 more.

Dallas Technologies, headquartered in Chennai, provides quality, cost-effective training for professionals who want to upgrade their knowledge and for those who want to explore new career horizons. The company provides placement assistance to students who complete the course. ELMAQ.edu, a Chennai-based IT education company, recently opened its 34th training centre at Triplicane. It provides technology training in niche areas of IT such as J2EE, Struts, Red Hat Linux, NET, Softskills, software testing, database administration and a Java foundation programme called JAVATEEN for schoolchildren. The company has presence in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

ELMAQ.edu owns an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software tool called Steerprise with about 30 clients in India and the Asia-Pacific. Steerprise ERP is the first indigenously developed ERP product from small-to-mid-size businesses in tannery, leather and carpet industry. The company has launched a long-term career programme called EC-CAREER for college students. ELAMQ.edu is an authorised education provider for software companies Red Hat and Sun, and is also a Thomson Prometric Testing Centre.

Infospace Technologies (India) Private Limited has established career development centres to help candidates learn competencies and gain experience required by IT companies. These centres have also introduced live project training programmes to teach candidates soft skills.