Chairman of MCCIA's Animation and Gaming Committee Anand Khandekar

Amit Surve of Firebox Animations told AnimationXpress.com, "The purpose of this seminar is to create awareness about animation, VFX and gaming. Parents need to be aware of the animation industry in India as it has a great future."

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Speaking about the emergence of Pune as an Animation hub, MCCIA Animation and Gaming Committee Chairman Anand Khandekar said, "Pune is ready for Animation. We are looking at an extraordinary opportunity in AVG (animation, VFX and gaming). What we have decided to do in Pune is to use government policy, infrastructure projects like Magarpatta City and Business Development to give a fillip to the Industry."

Games2win.com's Mihir Shah (L) and Firebox's Amit Surve

Khandekar added, "The MCCIA Animation and Gaming Committee is in the final stages of making the draft of policy recommendations to the government. Commercial artists who are losing jobs due to innovations like flex printing, can be trained in animation. The committee is examining the situation from the social as well as economic perspective. Animation can very well become an instrument of bringing the economically backward sections of society into economic prosperity."

Elaborating on Pune's unique positioning, Khandekar said, "We want emotionally believable characters. For this the Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University will train animators in live acting. Pune has a legacy of art and culture and is a centre for the IT industry. Thus Pune is favourably poised to be the Animation hub."

Games2win.com Product Head Mihir Shah talked about the online gaming market with reference to 2D games and production pipelines. He took the audience through the whole spectrum of games including action, cricket, Bollywood, logic, exotic and naughty games. Shah further explained the process of game development by elaborating on responsibilities of game designers, writers, illustrators/ animators, game programmers and testers. Shah said, "Testers are the unsung heroes. They spend many man-hours on testing the games and making them flawless."

Krayon Pictures's Public Relations Head Rashmi Ahad

On opportunities in gaming, Shah added, "There is a large opportunity in the gaming arena. If you have an inclination for games, that is an added advantage. The seminar by Firebox is a good initiative in exposing students to various possibilities in animation and gaming. It is time we look at games as a career."

Krayon Pictures’ Public Relations Head Rashmi Ahad covered the general animation market, its growth and different opportunities available in this area. "The global market size of the animation industry is estimated to be USD 75 billion by 2009, of which India’s share will be USD 950 million. As a result the demand for animators will spike to an estimated 35 lakh globally," Rashmi said. She compared IP to the outsourcing model in animation, remarking that the former provided more scope for creativity.

Krayon Pictures' Technical Director and Head R&D, CFX Anand Bhanushali explained the 3D production pipeline in detail followed by a Q&A session. Commenting on the current status of the industry, Bhanushali said, "Infrastructure in Pune is building up. In a short period of one-and-a-half years, a total of 10 animation studios have started operations. What is now required are degree courses and government backing. India needs to develop a distinct style of animation as Japan has Manga." Answering a volley of queries from students and parents, Bhanushali stressed on the huge potential of programming in animation and VFX and the exciting opportunities animation as a career held.

Krayon Pictures' Technical Director Anand Bhanushali

"Knowledge of art is a necessity if you want to get into animation. The software can be learnt on one's own. But animation is the right mix of art and software. At Firebox Animations we did a gap analysis to determine what the studios want and hence our programs offer a solid background in art and drawing," added Surve.

Firebox Animations was set up in Pune in March 2007 and has short term courses in 2D and 3D animation besides a one year Diploma in Fusion Animation. Fusion is a 12-month course with a six month internship program. This program covers the entire script to screen concepts and students are thought the basic concepts of art along with the software. Firebox also has a special 6 month program for G.D Art and A.T.D students.

mrigank.dhaniwala@animationxpress.com

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