Animation studio benefits from sales outsourcing

The Indian animation industry is set to boom in the next few years, causing one website to recommend firms to consider sales outsourcing there.

Proactive Investors UK wrote that the growing sophistication of televisions and film will open up the niche entertainment sector to double turnover by 2013, which will be helped by sales outsourcing.

It cited DQ Entertainment, which has used the Indian workforce in Hyderabad to help get its work noted by top global institutions such as the BBC, Discovery Kids and France 2.

"As a result of the transformation of the business model, DQ (currently capitalised at £39.6m) has been able to double its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation margin from 21 per cent to 43 per cent," the website said.

India recently topped a Global Services and Tholons poll to find the best destination for sales outsourcing firms looking to boost their productivity by using a foreign workforce.

Artic;le Source: http://www.pareto.co.uk

Indian animation charts new course on route to recovery

NEW DELHI: Economic slowdown has meant different things to different industries and though the economy has recovered, corporations have taken their lessons. The global phenomenon has left none untouched and industries have had to reshape the way they go about their business. The Rs 17.4 billion Indian animation industry has also found an alternate revenue stream in what was hitherto dubbed as ‘allied’ applications of animation.

From auto designing, and surgical models to fashion designing, engineering, animation has, over the years, found myriad uses and has been growing rather quietly while its use in media and entertainment has hogged all the limelight. But even as the media industry is faces a slowdown, studios working in specialized animation are growing fast, albeit on a small base. Industry estimates put media and entertainment as still providing over 70% of the industry’s revenue. But it is specialized animation that is growing faster, at about 40% (compared to media and entertainment’s 25% annual growth rate), and is powering the industry.

Twenty-one year-old Himanshu Gupta is a happy man. In his two years as a specialized animator, he has been able to steer ahead of his batch-mates at the animation school who, he says, are earning less than him. Himanshu is part of a 15-member team at Scientific Animation, a specialized animation and graphics company based out of Gurgaon.

Although small in size, the company counts multinationals like Johnson & Johnson and Genentech Pharmaceuticals as clients, providing them animated visual representations for training, and marketing purposes. The company makes animated videos teaching how to perform surgeries, using latest medical implements et al. Theses come in handy for doctors and surgeons. It claims to be growing at 30% per annum.

Similar is the case of Mint Infotech- a company that deals in architectural animation- making 3-D architectural walkthroughs. The company provides life-like virtual representations of prospective buildings. These help builders/architects market their version of buildings to their customers. Started in 2004, Mint Infotech is also growing at over 30% and has worked for organizations like the United Nations Organisation (UNO), Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) (a government of India enterprise) and National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC), India’s largest public sector construction company.

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Animation, Gaming Jobs Set to Double by 2012: Nasscom

KOLKATA: The animation industry is likely to have the going good in respect of jobs. Nasscom’s projections suggest that employment in this sector will double from 14,700 now to 29,500 by 2012. Similarly, the gaming industry too will create a huge number of jobs in the next three years, with the projections being 10,700 jobs by 2012 from a meagre 2,300 people now.

Responding to a ET questionnaire over phone from Delhi, Sangeeta Gupta, vice-president of Nasscom said: “The animation and gaming industry in India has immense scope to grow. Given the financial meltdown, many western countries are actively looking at destinations like India to develop animation content within moderate budgets. The increased interest of Bollywood and the regional cinema industry for animation, has boosted growth also. The Indian animation industry has moved from a pure offshore model to co-production model. While the domestic sector contributed with manpower and infrastructure, international producers helped with marketing and distribution.”

Ms Gupta said that according to Nasscom therefore, animation and gaming companies will witness a significant growth by 2012. “At present, there are some 250 animation companies in the country. By 2012, we expect the number of such companies to swell to around 400. The number of gaming companies will also double from around 50 now to 100 by 2012.”

The Nasscom vice-president estimated that the turnover in the animation sector could cross $1 billion by 2012 from $492 million in 2008. Similarly, turnover in the gaming industry stood at $167 million in 2008, but is likely to go up to $830 million by 2012.

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Nasscom Lowers Forecast for Animation Industry

Mumbai, Aug. 26 The apex body of IT software and services, Nasscom, has lowered its 2012 forecast for the animation industry by 27.7 per cent and gaming industry by 16.3 per cent.

It now expects revenues from the animation industry to touch $830 million, against the earlier estimate of $1060 million, and revenues from the gaming industry to touch $1000 million against $1163 million.

This downward revision is largely on account of slackened demand due to the global economic downturn. “…the domestic box office for animation movies has not picked up as estimated, end-to-end skill sets not being developed in the animation services industry and proof of concept/IP creation not up to expectations,” Nasscom said in a press statement.

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RPT- India's Animation Ind Seen At $1 Bln by 2012-Report

MUMBAI, Aug 26 (Reuters) - India's animation industry is expected to hit $1 billion by 2012 and the gaming industry would touch $830 million then, aided by increased outsourcing and a growing domestic market, a report released on Wednesday said.

The Indian animation market, estimated at $494 million in 2008, is seen growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 22 percent till 2012, a report by National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and Ernst & Young said.

"The industry will witness a dip in growth rates for two years before becoming a billion dollar industry by 2012," Farokh Balsara, Partner & National Leader-Media & Entertainment Practice with Ernst & Young, said at a media briefing, referring to the animation industry.

The gaming industry was estimated at $167 million in 2008 and is seen growing at a compounded rate of 49 percent yearly to hit $830 million by 2012, the report added.

The expectation that the entertainment industry would be relatively isolated from the economic downturn has been disproved as the spending patterns were hit by the financial crunch hurting the growth rates, Som Mittal, Nasscom's president, said.

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Animation should be included in formal education: Expert

PUNE: Animation should be included in formal education system considering its widespread applications, Ram Mohan, an animation expert opined here recently.

Animation industry has the scope of transcending itself beyond the entertainment sector, he said, adding that animation has vast applications in the fields of education, health and construction and students could derive great benefits if included in formal mainstream education. He was talking to Sakal Times after attending the third anniversary celebration of MAAC Animation Institute.

Talking about the present status of field of animation in India, Mohan said, “Animation industry, which has numerous job opportunities on the lines of IT industry, is yet to receive recognition in India. Economy of this industry depends mainly on outsourcing work of foreign countries only. However, if cultivated properly it can cater to the domestic needs and thereby could gain proper ground within India.”

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Magnolia TV Forum looks at China's animation industry

China produces hundreds of cartoons each year. But only a handful of them ever make a profit. Industry professionals gathered at the Magnolia TV Forum on Wednesday to discuss ways to boost the country's animation industry.

The popular animation "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" was the big winner in the Chinese animation market last year.

Yang Wenyan, director of Haha TV, said, "One successful approach is the government's ban of imported cartoons during evening prime time."

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Animation BPO set for growth

Animation and gaming are seen as the next wave in Indias successful outsourcing story. However, there is a major change, this is a sector which has moved up from outsourcing to co production, a move up the value chain from low end, less creative work to higher creativity and advanced technologies, says Krayon Pictures director Namrata Sharma. She said that for India to catch the animation bus, it needed to quickly provide the required manpower since Nasscom had projected that both animation and gaming were multi billion dollar opportunities for India. The usual block, however, is the lack of trained manpower.

And those who do go to training schools offering such courses are not studio ready, industry veterans claim Industry is now trying to bridge the gap through an industry training institute co operation. MCCIAs Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture, animation and gaming committee, comprising a three member group of industry professionals, has devised a curriculum for a six month foundation course, which will provide the industry with studio ready professionals.

Additionally, the committee has proposed the formation of a loose alliance of all training institutes so that some facilities might be shared. This association will ensure that basic standards are maintained in the quality of training imparted at these institutes.

MCCIA committee co ordinator Cmde Anand Khandekar said the sector was more than just software. Being a multi disciplinary area, its manpower must be skilled at acting and the other performing arts. Lalit Kala Kendra of the University of Pune has, therefore, devised a course for applied theatre, where theatre can be used as a therapy by the industry.

Source : http://www.offshoringtimes.com/

Cartoon Movie 2009: A New Home

Cartoon Movie's 11th edition moved from its home in Germany to Lyon, France, bringing a new focus on videogames and a record number of participants.

Cartoon Movie moved to a new venue and a new country this year, logging a record attendance and putting a new priority on links with the videogame industry. After 10 years in the historic home of German film at the Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam, the event switched this year to France's second city, Lyon.

While Babelsberg was best known for production of cinema classics such as Metropolis and The Blue Angel, Lyon also has a place in the history of cinema as the city where the Lumiere Brothers invented the cinematograph. In more recent years, however, its media of choice has centered on videogame production.

Cartoon Movie was set up to ease the production of European animation feature films by encouraging co-production between European countries and accelerating the financing and distribution process. Films are presented to an audience of investors, distributors and producers at various stages of development. This year a total of 51 projects were on show with a total budget of €370 million -- seven completed movies, 10 in production, 16 in development and 18 in concept.

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Animation Movie Industry Needs Support

A GHANAIAN cartoonist, Pastor Joseph Gyebi, has expressed the need for players in the arts and entertainment industry and the corporate world to give particular attention to the county’s seemingly dormant animation movie industry.

According to him, even though cartoon movie is one excellent area to positively tell the true African stories to children especially and Ghanaians in general, much is not done to encourage cartoonists.

“The industry is not getting the necessary support it needs. There is no support for the industry. We have been doing animation for some time now but we don’t get support. People like Zingaro, one of Ghana’s top animation producers, only gets support from outsiders,” he said.

Pastor Gyebi said these in a brief interview with Beatwaves on Saturday at the British Council in Accra where his outfit, Parable Production, an animation company, premiered an intriguing animated feature movie based on the February 28 disturbances which led to the tragic death of Private Odartey Lamptey, Corporal Attipoe and Sergeant Adjetey 61 years ago and subsequently the national agitation for the country’s independence.

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Israel's Crew 972 is animated about cartoons

Hollywood is the center of the film industry in the West, Bollywood its center in the East. But where is the capital of Toontown? If Crew 972 has anything to say about it, Tel Aviv will be the world center for quality animation.

"Our expertise is in high-quality animation and with a focus on top-tier clients: service work, advertising, film, Internet, and DVD," says company co-founder Michelle Orrelle, noting the company's client list. Crew 972 has worked directly for Aardman Animations - of Wallace & Gromit fame; Bren Productions - the 3D animation arm of Spain's Filmax Studios; Electronic Arts and Super Villain Studios; with advertising agencies Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and Mathers, Young & Rubicam, and as subcontractor on projects for Cartoon Network and others under non-disclosure agreement. This week, a new Crew 972 project is being tested at Warner Brother's studios.

"We've identified that Israel is a boutique provider of talent, innovation and creativity," Michelle tells ISRAEL21c. "It's not a mass animation producer like China or India, the Far East, or Eastern Europe. Israel's cultural compatibility is one advantage that we have; the Israeli sense of humor is one the US audience understands."

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Animation industry set for high growth

Indian animation industry is expected to record USD1163 million by 2012, as against USD460 million, reporting a CAGR of 27 per cent,according to a report jointly prepared by NASSCOM and Ernst andYoung. The report, christened Indian Animation and Gaming 2008, divided the animation market into entertainment USD120 million, education USD53 million, custom content development USD187 million and multimedia/web design USD100 million.

While it had projected an annual growth rate of 40 per cent for education segment, the gaming industry is poised to grow at a CAGR of 50 per cent.

With all the groundwork already in place, the domestic animation and gaming industry is on the threshold of growth. With improved skill set and the ability to develop and produce high quality work, the industry has moved up the value chain, Ernst andYoungs National Leader Media andEntertainment Practice Farokh Balsara said.

He further added that with the change in the intellectual property ownership, the rights of animation will be retained by the developers enabling them to exploit alternative revenue streams like merchandising and sale of digital platforms.

Though the players in the animation and gaming sectors are bullish over future opportunities, they need to address some of the vital challenges like quality manpower, high attrition rates, cost of consoles, lack of bandwidth, acclimatizing the people about original IP internet protocol, lack of content variety and dependence on outsourcing, the report pointed out.

Source : http://www.offshoringtimes.com/

Animation parks to create 2 lakh jobs in 3 yrs: Assocham

Setting up of animation parks with studios for animation movie making can generate employment opportunities for two lakh skilled workers in the next three years, industry body Assocham has said.

"The parks could alone generate employment opportunities for skilled animators to the extent of a minimum of two lakh in next three years," a study paper by Assocham said.

Currently, the Indian animation industry employs anything between 9,000 and 15,000 animators and needs another 30,000 manpower immediately.

India would need skilled professionals like creative animator, conceptualiser, visualiser, 3D modeller, character designer, digital effects artist etc, who can handle multimedia software such as 3D Studio Max, Maya and Tictactoon, it added.

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FatKat attracts other animation company

A small animation company has been attracted to the Miramichi from Ontario by the prospect of freelance work with FatKat Animation Studios, its founders say.

Black Willow Digital, a two-person company made up of two graduates from the animation program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont, moved to Miramichi in September.

One of the animators, Tim Martin, said the company initially planned to set up in Windsor, but the economy in that city was moving in another direction. They then applied to FatKat to do in-house freelance work on the studio's show "Three Delivery," and moved to Miramichi soon after to be "closer to the source."

He said Black Willow's dealings with FatKat had been good so far.

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Animating the cartoon industry

Innovation and cooperation will continue to be the driving force for China's animation industry in the future, said Wang Yansheng, deputy director of China's International Cultural Exchange Center.

Many experts and scholars echoed the view at a forum on animation and cartoon industry held during 2008 China (Changzhou) International Animation Art Festival that opened on Saturday and will run until October 5.

Over the past few years, China's animation and cartoon industry has witnessed rapid development with application of new technology and resources. Many animation and cartoon companies have sprung up across the country, producing thousands of cartoon programs every year.

"But what we lack most is the power of imagination and innovation, which are indispensable in creating animation works," Wang said.

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India Animated Film Emerges: 'Ramayana - The Epic'

Feature animation production in India, for regional audiences, was projected go grow almost exponentially just a short time ago. Now, with large-scale productions further becoming the inspiration of animators with a familiar but fresh story to tell, India animation's overall growth is coming more and more in line with initially incongruous projections of the industry's growth to four times it's current value, by 2012. This to which brings animation enthusiasts to India's latest big budget cartoon film, Ramayana - The Epic, a story of Indian mythology that integrates the classic tale's sense of adventure with a youthful confidence.

Based on the ancient epic "Ramayana," Ramayana - The Epic, produced by Maya Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., is another highly anticipated Indian animation that market observers hope to push the industry further toward the precipice of international recognition. Although awareness for India features has yet to edge close enough to that cliff to warrant speculation of the local industry's potential to peer over into the deep and fast-paced ocean of global recognition, Ramayana - The Epic is another intriguing step in a new direction.

"There is a boom in the animation industry and India has immense potential to encash it," Jai Natarajan, Executive Vice-President of Business Development for Maya Ent., stated at a recent press event.

"I am confident that this movie will usher in a new era in the Indian animation industry."

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Regional animation not viable

It seems that animation industry in Hyderabad has come of age as producer Bhargava bagged the national award for his animation film Kittu.

"It's a great honour," informs the maker who also bagged the state award some time ago. Buoyed by coveted awards, the young producer desires to make an animation film for international viewers.

"Without universal themes animation films are not viable," says Bhargava who has teamed up a with a popular TV channel to produce a regular film Manorama starring Charmme in the lead. 'It would be an interesting fare," concludes the maker. From animation to commercial cinema — logical progression indeed!

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

B'lore: High job potential in animation industry

The Indian animation industry is growing very fast and creating original content for the home market in the country.

With huge employment opportunities in the industry, several schools have been offering courses in animation. There are at least one hundred such schools in Karnataka alone.

The industry, which was a bit late in entering the animation race, is now seeing some significant changes in terms of availability of homegrown talent, growing pool of resources with specific skills catering to various segments of the industry and a more structured training infrastructure to hone the talent.

The success of films like 'Hanuman' and 'My Friend Ganesh' and animation forming an important part of the storyline in blockbusters like 'Krissh', 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic' are part of the changing storyline of the animation industry in the country, said Chetan, Director of Ants (Animation Training School).

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Indian animation industy seeing more domestic demand

Bangalore (PTI): The Indian animation industry, which works on the outsourcing model, is now looking at growing demand for the domestic market and creating original content for the home market in the country.

The industry, which was a bit late in entering the animation race, is now seeing some significant changes in terms of availability of homegrown talent, growing pool of resources with specific skills catering to various segments of the industry and a more structured training infrastructure to hone the talent.

The success of films like 'Hanuman' and 'My Friend Ganesh' and animation forming an important part of the storyline in blockbusters like 'Krissh', 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic' are part of the changing storyline of the animation industry in the country, said Chetan, Director of Ants (Animation Training School).

Source : http://www.hindu.com/

Gujarat to house animation SEZ

Gujarat may be the next destination for the country's animation industry, which is expected to touch Rs 4,200 crore by fiscal 2009. Targeting the sunrise industry, an unnamed developer has proposed an IT SEZ in Umargaon in south Gujarat, according to state officials.

Overseas entertainment giants including Walt Disney, Imax and Sony are expected to outsource cartoon characters and special effects to Gujarat once the SEZ is completed.

Confirming the development, Gujarat's IT secretary, Rajkumar Gupta, said Umargaon near Valsad would perhaps be India's first SEZ to target the animation industry. However, he declined to disclose the name of developer. According to a senior official in Industries Commissionerate, the government is considering the proposal and is likely to send it to the Centre for approval soon.

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