The Market
Indian animation industry continues to gain momentum and gradually started hobnobbing with global counterparts. Visual Effects (VFX) is turning out to be one of the biggest catalysts pushing and spearheading animation and digital gaming industry in India. Moreover, recent advancements in Augmented Reality (AR)/ Virtual Reality (VR) is further catapulting unprecedented growth in this segment.
As per the industry report, the animation and VFX industry across the country had a market size of around 73.9 billion INR in the financial year 2018, up from about 46.5 billion Indian rupees in the financial year 2015. The market size of the industry was projected to be around 151.8 billion rupees in financial year 2023. (Source: Statista.com). In fact, VFX is touted to be one of the most promising industries in terms of employment generation in the time to come.
The challenges
Alike to any emerging sector, Indian VFX and animation industry too has its own set of challenges. Though, the challenges are many, but the absence of legal structure is the biggest concern. Few Indian states including like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana have started becoming vocal about standard regulators including content, price and policy regulation. Piracy is yet another factor which is hampering the growth of media and entertainment industry in India. Moreover, there are hardly few media agencies which are exclusive to Indian VFX and animation industry.
Animation Xpress is one such player, which has served as the nucleus of the Indian animation, VFX, gaming and comics industry online, since its inception. The company has also organised many industry conferences and have media partnered almost everyone in the animation,VFX, gaming and comic events all over the world for the past several years, Animation Xpress is in the midst of a transformation that will add immensely useful engines and features and revolutionise the way B2B happens online in the space globally.
Content Licensing
Internationally, content licensing is a very mature market where broadcasters do collaborations with animation studios for original content- for example, Sonic and Nick for animated cartoons. The trend has just started in India, primarily due to OTT content providers such as Amazon Prime and Netflix which have started signing exclusive content licensing deals with various studios in India. Moreover, the rapid growth in digital space, the industry has witnessed the demand Indian kids’ exclusive content channels such as ChuChu TV, CVS 3D Rhyme on YouTube, around which licensing programme can be developed.
Indian Licensing Expo (ILE) 2019
ILE 2019 is one stop destination to meet top notch animation, VFX, gaming and character IPs. License India, India’s largest and most influential media servicing body is the organising body of ILE 2019 powered by The Economics Times. Animation Xpress is one of the leading supporting partners of ILE 2019.
ILE 2019 is divided into two parts including Labels Conference on day one of the show which will culminate into Labels Awards celebrating the heroes of brand licensing industry. The other part is exhibition arena, which will see the participation from heavy weight licensee and licensor community including TOI – Femina Flaunt, Viacom 18, Shemaroo, Green Gold, DQ Entertainment, Baileys amongst others.
Learn More: India Licensing Expo 2019