Animation Films- The Best is Yet To Come

Much to the delight of young and ambitious animators, the 'back office' tag on the Indian Animation film industry is finally wearing off. The face of the Indian Animation Industry has changed phenomenally over the last few years. From subcontracting for global animation giants to striking co-production deals, India has made quite a dramatic transition which can be attributed to both the insatiable demand made from International Content Producers as well as the availability of comparatively cheap but skilled manpower in the country. In such an emerging stage, the springing up of several Film festivals and Animation Schools can aid the growing process tremendously by nurturing and recognising the early signs of creative brilliance seen in students and professionals. “We observe subtle shades of hope, despair, innocence, introspection, humour and happiness in the entries we receive from talented students around the world. In the face of challenges like tight deadlines, stringent resources and consistent storytelling, we are overwhelmed by the sort of substance we receive in the animation category” asserts Hemanshu Parmekar, Vice-Chairperson of sixteen:nine International Film Festival organized solely by students with an aim to unearth and promote new talent. Also, the organizers at sixteen:nine International Film Festival(SNIFF) declare that such events provide our domestic students a forum to witness and discuss the works of students from advanced animation content creating countries. The sheer range of stories, styles and mediums employed in the repertoire of the animation genre gives you the fundamental reason why there is so much excitement about the potential future of the Indian animation industry. On the other hand, critics and skeptics suggest Indian animators may have a tough time adjusting to original movie productions as they require greater skills, time and capital than what subcontract companies focused on outsourcing are accustomed to. The Indian Film Industry, notwithstanding the most prolific film industry in the world, churns out only 4-5 animation films every year which makes it a lamentably lopsided scenario and presents the herculean task ahead of Indian Animators and Production Houses. “If our country wants to develop a national brand identification in Animation and have a strong representation in major International Animation Markets and festivals, then it is imperative to increase the demand for Animation as a career option for our students” says Prof (Mrs.)Zinat Aboli, faculty advisor at sixteen:nine International Film Festival. With recent releases like Roadside Romeo, though it may not have been a commercial success, animation films in India has finally taken a step beyond mythology, folklore and fairytales. Suffice to say, due to the general lack of awareness about the industry, we are wont to identify animation only with light-humoured cartoons meant for children and escape the glaring fact that Animation is a vast genre which can transcend humour and embrace serious tones of satire, tragedy and drama catering to “adult understanding”. Sure there is an unprecendented boom with the Indian Animation Industry projected to grow to Rs.42 billion by 2009, but will our animators and production houses ever find a pan-India audience? That only time will tell. In the meantime, let us hope that in the days to come, India will boast of animation parks, along the lines of software technology parks that provide us all the infrastructural facilities to help us build our own identity in this field.