Be it setting up his own animation and sfx studio in 1995 or providing insights and project reports to help re structure organisations and animation training schools, independent animation producer and TASI India founding member/spokesman Ranjit Singh’s 15 yr old stint in the animation Industry is marked with many highlights.
In 2001, Ranjit resigned from the company he founded and has since been working as an independent animation producer, director and consultant. He is currently writing the first of a series of books on animation for beginners.
An animator and modeler himself, Ranjit is very passionate about animation. He wants the new breed of animators to avoid the struggle of his formative years and in this endeavor he is forever available for advice to students and animators alike. He can be reached at phanspal@vsnl.net
(At the recently held animation/graphics expo CgA World, Ranjit Singh presented a white paper Industry based Training in Animation’, the series is an adaptation (by Ranjit himself) of the same.)
Animation Express presents the first in a 12 part series.. titled ‘Introduction’. The views expressed throughout the series are the Author’s. Animation Express may or may not subscribe to the same.
Reference: Skillset -The Animation Industry 1997-98 prepared by Myra Woolf, Alan Chrisnall and Sara Holly.
‘INTRODUCTION’
The commercial side of Indian animation industry has been active now for more than a decade. As is common in all new age technologies, it has had its share of peaks and lows and is currently going through an important phase of introspection. There are a number of studios that have had to scale down operations, staff and expenditures in light of falling revenues. Unfortunately a large part of this slowdown is self-created. For many years now, the Indian entrepreneur has viewed this industry mainly as a cash cow. Failure to recognise the need and importance of qualified and efficient manpower, the never ending desire for greater profits, the callous attitude towards research and development and all this at the expense of human resources has put the industry in this precarious position.
Animation is labor intensive, requires long hours of dedicated work and being a form of creative expression is not something that can be mastered in a short while. It is a prestigious part of a much larger industry (the Entertainment Industry) and has an international appeal. But it is still confined to the small-scale sector with relatively few animation companies worldwide employing over 300 artists. Majority of this industry comprises of small independently held studios and companies with fewer than 20 artists. The absence of a unifying body that can act as a guide, mentor and support structure to hundreds of practicing animators also contributes to the fragmented structure of this industry. With the advent of newer technologies web and computer game developers have also made inroads into this sector.
However these companies do not find economies in affiliations to large animation houses since they do not depend on animation as their main source of revenue. Also present are small independent operators who have taken to computer animation and provide some form of low-cost alternatives to the frugal advertiser, corporate house and upcoming independent businessman.
In the near future companies do see changes that will involve better technology, established work norms and production processes and the general feeling is that computer animation and digital processing will become quite common. The direct implication of this development is that a large adaptable skilled workforce will be required to service this spurt in demand. Herein lies the dilemma. Small companies are not in a position to conduct significantly effective training programs and neither are they in a position to carry trainees for long periods of time. Large companies on the other hand are too busy chasing nightmarish deadlines to be able to do full justice to training programs as most of these are designed towards specific skills of its workforce relevant to the jobs at hand. In such a situation the industry suffers because:
1. It is difficult to maintain current skill-sets
2. New skills cannot be easily developed to face the ever-changing demands of business.
In the present scenario companies find that the limited pool of experienced local talent is a hindrance to business development. If we are to compete in the changing global environment we need experts to lead our businesses.
The international scene is quite different from that in India. A large part of the animation workforce has some formal training in the field before it enters or rather, is accepted into the industry. This training may be in the form of a recognised degree or some other animation related qualification. This however does not mean that qualified people get into animation abroad and that India accepts rookies. A sizeable percentage of new entrants abroad are just as clue-less as their Indian counterparts and further a large number of companies do not follow a system of in-house training. Job profile and skill up-gradation is pretty much left to the employee and his personal outlook. In some cases where companies provide formal training for skill upgrades, the courses are restricted for its regular employees only. Freelance artists have to pretty much fend for themselves.
In India, animation training is quite a hands-on experience. Workplace supervision by seniors is the major contributor to skill development and up-gradation. Whatever formal education is being provided by a handful of private institutes is quite irrelevant to the requirements of the practicing industry. The National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad is just about the only place in India that can be called a formal institute. Even NID has recognised a need for change and up-gradation of the courses being offered to students in order to keep abreast of the latest global developments and this has made a positive impact on the quality of animators it is producing.
The following factors are enough to show that serious introspection is required both at the training and industry level as far as animation education is concerned:
1. Current lack of industry based institutes
2. Small companies do not have the resources to commit towards training employees
3. Skill up-gradation is necessary to service and compete in the changing global scenario
4. Shortage of skilled animators in the industry and projected high demand in the near future
5. Small companies and relatively stable workforce call for an industry based training course
6. The large gap between available courses and training needs as recognised by most animation companies in the country
7. Theoretical software based approach towards training by private institutes that are distanced from ground realities of the medium
8. Absence of courses in subjects such as life drawing, character study, storyboard development, scripting, art direction, visualisation, production planning, project controls etc.
9. Willingness of local and international industry to participate in such ventures
10. Urgent need to establish a competent body that can impart education relevant to the production demands of the industry
11. Required to give a necessary boost to the local animation industry
A serious effort will be required by industry, educational institutions and the Government if we are to place India firmly on the global animation map not just as a source of cheap labor but also as a hub of creative development. India has the manpower, talent, willingness to learn and desire to excel as has been amply demonstrated by the revolution in information technology. Countries such as Canada, China, Korea, Philippines and others in the South East Asian region have recognised the importance of this medium for their local economies and these Governments proactively support their animation industries. It is high time we create an atmosphere for the Government to look at us seriously.
The primary aim of this series is to try and understand the need, viability and profitability of true animation training given the existing and future Indian market conditions. There is no doubt that a huge market exists for industry-based courses. Qualifications that can help people get profitable jobs and create people who are useful to employers without additional financial burden will always be welcome. Jobs that contribute to the improvement of industry revenues and corporate bottom lines will eventually provide for creative freedom and artistic development within this industry.
End of Part 1
Part 2 of the series entitled ‘Animation Overview’ shall appear in the next issue of Animation Express.