The Hindu : CM asks animation industry to push for growth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

CM asks animation industry to push for growth

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD June 20. The Chief Minister, N.Chandrababu Naidu, has asked the animation industry to prepare a `blueprint' laying down a "vision, goal and a well defined strategy to achieve the growth objectives for the sector.''

He was addressing representatives of the animation industry from India and abroad at the "Animation India 2003'' organised by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) here on Friday. Responding to Mr.Naidu's suggestion, the organisers, Kiran Karnik, president of NASSCOM, agreed to make this an annual event. A NASSCOM report on the animation industry was also released by Mr. Naidu.

While assuring Government support to implement the `blueprint', Mr. Naidu expressed the desire to make Hyderabad the "capital of the animation industry.'' He felt this was perfectly feasible, given the availability of infrastructure ranging from film studios to Information Technology companies, and turnout of engineering students.

``Hyderabad is the real place for the animation industry,'' he said, adding that it could take tremendous advantage of the huge potential offered by it, just as the city made its presence felt on the IT front. On the training front, he felt one could straightaway start courses on animation at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Gachbowli.

Human resource development is a crucial factor for the growth of this industry, he said, pointing out that there were only 300 animators in the country, against a requirement of about 10,000. India being the largest film producer (800 films annually) is another advantage, he said.

It is estimated that the 0.6 billion Indian animation industry would grow to $1.5 billion by 2005. The global animation market is projected at $50 billion by 2005, he said.

Mr. Kiran Karnik said the animation and gaming businesses were growing rapidly and India has not even `scratched' the surface of the opportunity provided. Amit Khanna, President eE@, said the bandwidth problem is more or less over, and in the last six months Indian companies had been able to achieve a `breakthrough' by getting work from several global companies. Creation of human resources ultimately holds the key to India getting a bigger share of the global animation business, he said.

What is required is a conducive environment and Government support, he felt. Pawan Kumar, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said India will have to learn from its successful IT story and replicate it in this sector also. He assured to prepare and forward a "$1 billion roadmap'' to the Chief Minister. His plea to the industry was however not to position India as a `cheap' sourcing centre. Quality and cost go together. He said India is already considered a "low cost and high quality'' source.

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