GOVT PLANS CENTRE FOR ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS

Smitha Venkateswaran, Goa, November 23, 2008
The Economic Times

In what could give a major boost to the animation segment, the Centre has now decided to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects and a Moving Image Museum at Mumbai.

The new animation centre, to be set up within next three years will be a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and will focus on creating a talent pool in India, promote post production sectors and facilitate creation of animation and gaming segments. Sharma also announced that the government has set aside, Rs 250 crore for the three projects.

"India has a lot of creative and technological talent available, and can become hub for outsourcing as well as making and exporting original animation films to other parts of the world," said the minister adding that the government has liberalized policies so as to encourage foreign direct investment with a hope that foreign companies will take the benefit to usher in new models that will lead to greater cooperation and greater profitability.

According to a recent Nasscom - Animation India study 2007; to cope with the growing demand India will require over 300,000 professionals in content development and animation segment by 2008; as against the current 12,000 people working in this industry. However there are still no schools set up for providing training in digital post production work; and the country has to create a solution in sight to create such large talent pool. Industrialists feared that such rising demand, while faced with shortage in supply, will lead to huge manpower costs thereby taking away the cost-effective advantage that India has.

Salaries paid to editors and other technical staff have increased many-fold. Most companies, now in a bid to retain their trained, qualified staff, are resorting to a 'service contract;' thereby binding the employee to their company for a brief period of time. "There is not enough talent in India, which is the biggest drawback for the industry to reach its full potential", said K.B. Reddy, CEO, Digiquest Studio.

"We have been discussing this situation with the government. I hope we can find an acceptable solution soon," he added. The company, apart from sending its staff abroad for training, is also in talks with the Andhra Pradesh government for developing a training institute there.