Twelve year old Aman Rehman, declared as the Youngest Animation Lecturer of the World by Ripley’s Believe it or Not is certainly an unbelievable gift to the Indian Animation Industry!!!
His animation journey started at the tender age of 3. And nine years later, Aman was warded with an Honorary Doctorate from the Open International University Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Aman has received recognitions from coveted Indian Personalities including Former Honorable President of India, Smt.Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Famous Indian Cricketers, Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar.
Animationxpress.com’s Zeenia Boatwala had an interesting conversation with Aman to know more about his journey in animation, future plans and his thoughts on Indian Animation Industry.
Aman, you’ve created your first animation at the age of 3? Please share more on this
Yes! My first encounter with a personal computer was at the age of 3, when my dad purchased one for home. At that time, my family members didn’t let me touch the computer as they were confident of me landing up in a mess with the desktop. As days passed by, I started observing the way my elder brother used to work on the PC, and I decided to try my hands with it. I didn’t know that this little curiosity of mine would help me in creating my very first animation in 2004 named ‘DANCING ALPHABETS,’ which I created in FLASH, when I was only 3 ˝ years old.
When did you realize that animation was your choice of career? And what was your family’s initial reaction to this?
When I created my first animated file in Microsoft PowerPoint, it was applauded by all and this appreciation by my family members motivated me and I decided to make my future in animation, grab the position of being Indian youngest and best animator. After this, my dad took me to DATA LOGICS, where I completed my 1st Animation Diploma. Post completion of my Diploma at DATA LOGICS, I joined various animation courses at Xplora Design Skool, Arena Animation, ZICA, CIA, CAAD, Tech Guru and Webcom.
I’m really thankful to my family for supporting me and I’ve reached this series of success and recognition because of my dad and uncle. They’ve always helped me with the latest technologies by purchasing the best of computers and software so that I could study and fly towards my dream [Smiles]
Why Animation? And which is the most attractive animation medium for you?
Animation! Wow!! It’s just the best thing of this world as we do not have any boundaries for giving life to our imagination and shock the world [smiles]. Animation is my passion, devotion and I feel Animators are the best creators after God [smiles].2D is my favorite and most preferred animation medium because it’s truly an appealing and attractive medium to work on. Besides 2D as an Animation Medium, I love to work on 3D modeling and also Path and Cell Animation.
Please tell us about your academic journey?
I’ve completed various animation courses including diplomas and degrees for 2D and 3D animation. Each of these courses were of 1 ˝ year long, but I have successfully completely almost all my courses in the span of thee to six months. I’ve completed my Degree of BSC in Animation between 2008-2011, when I was 11 years of age and recently I’ve received Honorary Doctorate from Open International University Colombo Sri Lanka.
Can you share more about the recently received Doctorate Degree?
The Open International University of Colombo, Sri Lanka came to know about my Achievement in the field of Animation at such a tender age, Hence, they saw my good command at what I do and considered me fully qualified and awarded me with a Honorary Doctorate. The decision to grant this degree was made by the Senate and the Board of Directors, which also makes me the youngest child to receive a Doctorate Degree.
Please share about the animation projects that you’ve worked on?
Sure! I have worked on a great number of projects including like Bander ka Hridiya and social projects on the topics Water conservation, Deforestation, Traffic, Ganga, Fire, Global Warming, Environment, Tuberculosis, Voting and lots more. Amongst all the projects which I’ve mentioned, my favorite one is deforestation, where I’ve shown how deforestation is affecting our environment, causes of deforestation and various beneficial ways through which we can conserve the environment.
What kind of research have you undertaken to be where you are today?
Well, I feel, it was never a research for me as I was always passionate and dedicated towards animation .I always wanted to be an animator and aimed to create my own imaginary creations! Also, I feel that, besides using animation as an entertainment medium, I can make use of my animations for social causes, which could help our society in a beneficial manner. To continue with my creative expression, I always try to be myself, experiment with ideas that are funnier and create an impression and reaction on people which I expect from them.
You’re currently conducting lectures at which Institutes and Colleges?
Currently, I’m taking lectures at Tasmia All India Education and Social Welfare Society, ZICA and College of creative Arts at Dehradun. At these colleges, I am teaching 2d softwares including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash and many others including 2d animation softwares and few 3D Animation Softwares. Coming to the 3D sector, I’m imparting knowledge on Modeling, Lighting, and Texturing.
What inspires you? What kind of animation choices do you have and please highlight the areas which you study while watching any animation?
I’m a fan of gaming!! And crazy behind cartoons since my childhood. Getting inspired by various animations, I’ve always wished to create my own fantasy characters. My favorite cartoons are Tom & Jerry, Dragon Ball Z and Ben 10. Whenever I see a cartoon, I always see the creativity and idea behind it and also try to figure out the kind of impression, which it brings onto a person watching that particular animation. Besides animation choices, my favorite animation artist is MATT GROENING from USA. I’m in love with Ice Age Series and our Indian Animated movie, Delhi Safari. I wish to create my own fantasy character soon, which would be a Power packed Superhero, who posseses all the powers to save the world from various problems. A similar character to this imagination of mine is GOKU from Dragon Ball Z.
Can you share the experience of the first ever lecture that you had taken?
Wow! I’m so excited to explain this [smiles]. It was during one of the lectures that my faculty was absent and it’s that moment when my Head of Department of ZICA Dehradun told me to conduct the lecture and I became speechless and nervous . With my heartbeat running real fast, I completed the lecture and after that there was so much of appreciation and encouragement.
In 2012, you‘ve been registered in RIPLEY BELIVE IT OR NOT book – Enter If You Dare Edition as THE YOUNGEST LECTURER IN THE WORLD, please share more on this front, how did this happen?
It was one of my regular school days and my teacher called me and asked whether I’ve read the book ‘RIPLEY’S Believe it or not’. I answered with her with a NO and suddenly my teacher broke the news of me getting a place in the book. I was stunned! Speechless! It was a jaw dropping moment [Smiles]. I immediately called my dad and shared this news and later found that since two years, RIPLEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT was following my work progress and achievements and they declared me as the world’s youngest animation lecturer. This success set a huge standard for me and my work!!!
You’ve also been recognized by WIKIPEDIA?
Yes! My name has been published in Wikipedia as Child prodigy under Teaching & Leadership. Frankly speaking, I never expected this! But I feel my hard work has led to this success. Feels extremely proud to share that my name has been published in Wikipedia as Child prodigy under Teaching & Leadership.
You had received a received a Letter of appreciation from former Indian President, Pratibha Patil. Can you share more on this?
Well!!! This was one of the greatest and memorable moments of my life! In 2007, I was invited by Honorable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil at Rasthrapati Bhawan, New Delhi and received a Letter of appreciation. I received a post from Rashtrapati Bhavan in which it was mentioned that Pratibhaji would be happy to meet me and would like to see my computer skills. I went to meet Pratibhaji along with my parents and brother. I was so happy to meet her and she spent almost two hours talking to me and was amazed and proud of me ‘[Smiles]
And how about your meeting with Indian Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh?
Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh heard about me from various media sources and gave me a call [smiles]. I was amazed as such a great dignitary had called me to congratulate me on my achievements. One day, Yograji said that Yuvraj would be happy to meet me and then I headed for Chandigarh to meet Yuvraj and received appreciation from him. I have no words to explain the moment, when I met the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, it was a great meeting and Sachin appreciated me very much for my skills and dedication.
What’s happening on the Guinness front?
I approached Guinness Book of world record for a place in the category of youngest achiever. Currently, they’ve got me registered and are examining whether I qualify.
Your thoughts on Indian Animation
Animation is a very vast industry with a bright future in India! Indian Animation industry is booming and in future it will capture major countries of the world. My dream is to see India animation standard so high that students from US, JAPAN, CHINA come to India and study animation.
Indian animation movies are very good but at this stage we cannot compare it with the Hollywood because animation in Hollywood comes out with a great quality due to the huge budgets, which they spend on their movies.
I wish we adopt the latest technologies, equipment and well trained faculties for the betterment of Indian Animation.
You can enter into this industry if you understand animation genres well with a good sense of drawing and programming. But this is not all! Learning software alone does not mean you stand a chance in animation; creativity is much more important than mastering software.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Any Plans to start your own studio?
In the coming five years, I see myself as a very advanced animator, running my own NGO for children who can’t pursue studies due to their personal reasons. Yes! I do have a plan for creating my own studio, where I could hire professionals from major countries and would work for big organizations, Hollywood and Bollywood movies.
You can view Aman’s website by clicking http://amanthebillgatesofindia.webs.com/apps/profile/53932867/ , Also, if you would like to have a word with Aman call him on 919412935176 , you can get in touch by emailing him at master_amanrehman@yahoo.co.in