"ANIMATION has evolved as one of the fastest growing and most in-demand industries in the world today, and has become a popular feature in movies and advertising commercials that make heavy use of special effects," says a brochure from Aptech.
Animation is big business today, with thousands of jobs available for the asking to those who have done a course in animation. It has become a concrete career option with the advancement of cinema and television. It is a fantastic tool that can be of use in both education and entertainment. K. Ramakrishnan, assistant general manager, business development, Arena Multimedia, Aptech Private Limited, Tamil Nadu, explains: "Supposing you have to teach a child how a heart functions, can you open a heart to do this? But the functioning of the heart can be animated, showing the circulation of blood, working of the valves and so on. We can then copy this on to a CD and show it on a computer. The child will immediately understand."
Ramakrishnan defines animation as the art of breathing life into your imagination. He calls multimedia "an art that merges text, images, graphics, animation, audio and video to create virtual magic out of something that is bland... "
A person does not need any academic qualification to become an animator. But he or she should have basic skills in sketching and have a sound understanding of anatomy - of humans, animals or birds, and body movements and lighting effects. "We teach anyone who has creativity, basic sketching skills and a passion for animation," Ramakrishnan says.
The animation industry is growing so fast that the demand for animators has outstripped the supply. The industry is expected to grow by 8 per cent between 2005 and 2009, and the global market for animation is estimated at $75 billion by 2009.
According to Ramakrishnan, the Arena Animation Academy's Diploma in Animation Engineering is a comprehensive five-semester course designed for the market's needs. A student develops skills in drawing, acting, direction, camera movements for animation and digital animation, all of which are essential to learn 2D and 3D animation. Arena also offers three-month to two-and-a-half-year courses in animation for people of different ages and segments.
CADD Centre, a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) training institution, has opened Dream Zone, a school of animation, which offers industry-specific programmes in 3D modelling and animation for students aspiring for a career in modelling and animation.
According to S. Karaiadiselvan, Director, CADD Centre Training Services, India's animation sector is booming, with overseas entertainment giants outsourcing more and more cartoon characters and special effects to India.
He estimated that by 2007 the Indian animation industry would need three lakh animators.
At Dream Zone, the students' power of observation was honed and their ability to think and express themselves visually strengthened. The students first learnt both traditional arts and computer animation fundamentals and later on moved to their line of interest, he said.
The curriculum kept in mind the practical skills demanded by employers today. "We mainly focus on 3D modelling and animation education and provide a satisfying educational experience for a flourishing career in animation," said Karaiadiselvan.
While 2D modelling is used in pre-production of films, 3D animation is used in post-production. Animators can find jobs in film studios, advertising agencies, print media and publishing firms.
T.S. SubramanianCOMMents
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