Animation industry in India is growing enormously with time. By 2012 the market is set to grow at 49 per cent to hit USD 830 million, a study revealed by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM). The sector comprises of multimedia/web designing, entertainment, education and custom content development.
Rising popularity
No one can deny the fact that the animation industry is prospering fast and so are the careers in this profession. Ultimately the experts realised the need and demand for the animation institutes in the nation to generate skilled trained professionals. JV Umamaheswara Rao, Training - Head, TAPAS shares, “India has got very good scope for multimedia and animation. It's been to all the corners of media, entertainment and business. Everybody needs some kind of a design or a presentation. Demand is always there. Only thing is we are lacking quality people to do the things right. In near future more animation movies are going to come up and CG has been used like anything else in movies (eg. Robot, Avtar recent movies), and people are going to like it.”
There are many organised animation institutes that are providing top-notch animation and multimedia courses. These institutes considering the growing demand for multi-media professionals have opted for franchise route for expansion. The industry is offering lucrative opportunity to the aspirants in animation and multi-media industry.
Inspiring factors
Before indulging into the details of the brands in the animation and multi-media industry let us consider the factors responsible for the growth.
Job opportunity: Animation industry is not restrained to movies. The sector has vast job opportunities in other areas like TV soaps, newspapers, magazines, websites, advertisement agencies, video games, etc. Animators working in an animated movie project earn a good package. Ravi Ranjan, Director TGC Animation and Multimedia says, “TGC Animation and Multimedia has got an experience of a decade in training students with hardcore skills in design with technology and placing them in the top notch companies in India and internationally.”
Entertainment boom: Animation in entertainment industry has drawn major significance as the trend of animated movies and games is growing rapidly. Video game with 3D technology industry in India is thriving and can make a promising career in the domain.
Outsourcing: India is emerging as an outsourcing hub for animation and visual effects. Large numbers of international media companies are entering into joint venture with animation studios in India and the industry is gaining popularity.
Franchise troupes
Franchising is the best foot forward for brands looking for expansion. Animation industry is not an exception. Most of the brands have opted for franchise route for the expansion of their brand far and wide. Few of them are:
Animation Live: The institute provides the best animation services in India. Animation Live offers the Degree courses for web designing, graphic designing, FX, and multimedia from reputed Universities. Presently, Animation Live runs five franchise institutes and two company owned.
TGC Animation: TGC is New Delhi based innovative Media Education Company incorporated in year 2000, runs institutions in India and abroad. The company has more than ten franchise institutes running.
Toonz Academy: Toonz Academy is the training division of animation studio, Toonz Animation India Pvt Ltd. The academy was established in the year 2002 and is a fully owned subsidiary of Toonz Entertainment Pte Ltd Singapore, the parent company of the Toonz Group. Presently they have three institutes out of which one is franchised.
Creative Ink Animation Institute: Creative Ink Animation Institute provide 3d animation education. It is a joint venture of IT professionals. The institute is planning expansion via franchising in five to six months.
Cavalier Animation, AAG Picaso, Animation are some other organised players in the domain.
Progressive franchise industry
The animation industry is already dominated by the organised players as students also prefer to go to branded institutes for better learning. Franchisees also find it painless, to tie-up with a franchised animation brand without any hassle. Ranjan shares, “In India, multimedia training is largely dominated by franchise brands due to ease of opening and operating from the franchise point of view, whereas the convenience and availability of centre in nearby vicinity from students point of view. Having the advantages, yet there are issues of uniform standards of quality and infrastructure to be addressed due to diversity of geography and spending capacity.”
Franchise requisites
Running an animation franchise for interested aspirants is not a difficult task as it requires an investment around Rs 25 lakh with an area of 2,000 sq. ft. Ranjan tells, “We look at the potential franchisees with the capacity to invest Rs 12- 15 lakh along with a working capital of Rs five to seven lakh. To open the franchised centre, the franchisee is required to have an area of around 1,500- 2,000 sq. ft size.” Similarly Hitendra Singh, National Head (Channel Development), ATS Edutech Pvt. Ltd said, “Investment would be between Rs 15-25 lakh depending on the city.” Aspirants should have knowledge about animation and multimedia and technical skills. Rao says, “Firstly the franchisee need to know what is Multimedia. Unlike other businesses it is related to creativity. And it requires lots of Software knowledge. The rest is very much like any other IT training.”
Conclusion
From the above discussion it would not be wrong if we call animation and multimedia industry a flourishing one. Increasing need for animation and multimedia professionals is encouraging organised brands to expand the opportunity across the country.
