The annual FICCI KPMG report on the entertainment industry in the country has predicted a good future for the animation, VFX and gaming industry as well. While currently 0.02 million (5 per cent) people out of 0.4 million people in the media and entertainment sector are employed in the animation, VFX and gaming side, this figure is predicted to rise to 0.03 million in 2017 and 0.44 million by 2023.
This means that the industry will require a highly qualified skill force to tackle the ever increasing demand from India. The report states that the spike in outsourcing activities has created demand for professionals such as character designers, key frame animators, 3D modelers, layout artists etc.
Due to this increase in work, there is a significant demand for highly skilled and trained workforce that merges technical and artistic capabilities in the field of animation, VFX and gaming. Not only are there animation jobs available in the motion picture industry but several fields where they are valued as well such as cartoon production, websites and video game manufacturers who require animation artists.
Since the major chunk of employment will be taken up by TV and film, the growth rate of employment in animation/gaming will not be major contributors despite a rise in employment in the sector. The current 5 per cent employment will reduce to 3 per cent due to overall growth of other sectors, even though the employment numbers in animation, VFX and gaming will see a positive growth.
For the industry, the report summarises the skill set requirements as follows:
Graphic Designers
Gaming concept design especially for multiple levels of a game, cultivating scientific and logical thought process, cross-functional understanding, user interface experts (user interface skillset today is sourced from abroad).
Animators
Traditional hand drawing/sketching skills, particle animation/dynamics and complex combination skills like accurately animating facial expressions and emotions.
Art and design
Conceptual design skills with the ability to create original characters/objects, knowledge of drawing and human anatomy, appreciation of spatial aspects, architecture and geography and communication skills.
