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Dharmsurya S Tomar is the editor of Animation Carnival Portal and digital Magazine. He has direct links with many of the giants of animation industry worldwide. He is writing about animation, games and films from a long time. With his expertise of animation film making he see thing differently. He is well known for his clear approach and coldhearted writing. He is related to well renowned family who has along business background. He owns an Animation Studio and has experience of a decade. His Company Fame Production India Pvt. Ltd. is producing two Animations films with collective budget of 35 Crores. He is brilliant in expanding business and have his money involved in Animation and Vfx Production, International BPO, IT, HR Firms, Construction Business, Retail Business and Social Network. |
India has been established itself as hub of animation and CG industry for nearly one & half decade, hundreds of studio opened in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Benguluru, Pune and even in smaller cities. A research shows that nearly 2000 small and medium level studios opened in five year span across nation. The speed of opening these studios was amazing and thousands of students from various institutes had joined them. The students who trained by unprofessional “Teacher” was getting the salary in five figures. Every person who loves cartoon and comics thought to be the film maker and animator. Institutes took admission of thousands “Layman” students. Entire community was livening in dreams. Everything was working perfectly so no one was worries for future aspects.
Today, when the time has changed and gems becomes gums, the whole scenario now turned to a bad dream for Indian animation industry. Students are not getting jobs, studios not getting projects and most of the work which were once outsources to India is going to countries like Indonesia, China, Philippines and even Singapore. Employees of high salary packages are now barely survive with their savings. Studio shut down due to unmatched income and expenses. Market investments of running a animation and film studios (includes salary, high end machinery, costly licenses & very highly paid Business Development Team) unable to captured new business. The worst has not yet come. After putting all the efforts of experts industry fails to produce good new talent, due to which because of what new investors are forced to shut down their business. Quality of highly paid employee is making their task more difficult in such conditions.
"The question is “How we can stop the downfall of Indian Animation Industry and what are the actions we must have to take ?"
In just last one year over 7000 animation professional are dropped by the studios with cost cutting statement. Currently, India has over 50 giants in the animation industry and 2050-2200 smaller firms dealing with digital media (here we won’t include architectural designing firms and news industry). We had talked to some good names and notice that everyone scores lesser profits then past year. Infect few firms are close to shut their business.
Leaving few states like Andhra, Maharashtra and Gujarat, no Govt. is showing any supportiveness towards film and animation industry. While India is loses its work to comparatively smaller competitors, studios are looking for some support for state govt. and in return they are levied by huge taxes. Animation experts blaming it on poor funding, the government has snubbed to make any dedicated policy for Animation, Media and Entertainment industry. Experts are in dilemma and getting no sign as the government has merely been talking about it for long.
With no dedicated governing body, the animation and gaming industry continues to be under the reported National Association for the Software and Services Companies aka Nasscom. The body reported the boom came in the industry in past 5 years actually was not supported by the lower level studios.
As per the mid and small scale studios, the outsourced work is not coming to tire two cities. All big giants are capturing such work with respectively higher price. Small studio that have less than 30 members in team, are capable to do the same kind of work in less time and price. “I have enough experience to be a part of any animation film but no company is ready to outsource to my firm as they are looking for big brand to do the work.” Said Mr. Idraneel Chadda Dir. Merlin Entertainment. The similar statements are given by other studios too. Does this means Indian Animation Industry is driven by some big giants and smaller companies has no scope in it. “No, I don’t feel like this. I have caliber and got the project. Problem occurs in people’s mind. Other companies are not willing to invest at first place but asking for some source and funds from others. Animation is expensive field and one always is ready to invest more.” Said by one of the small studio owner but denied to let me write his name.
On other hand, experts say genuine talent is also hard to come by as youths in general do not perceive the gaming and animation industry as a very viable career option. Remember animation has more admission than any other vocational course in India as universities are still calling animation and film making vocational studies. No university gives animation and film making the degree in technical field. Since Indian educational structure in at least 60 years old (counting after independence), medical and engineering studies are way ahead but the 100 years old field still asking for its place in universities. Developed countries has animation as one of the technical field and have dedicated courses for providing training and degree. No Indian institute or studio demanded it by the date. Few of them said it once in blue moon with the quote “I am saying this off the record.”
Salary structure for a freshman is below 1 lakh per annum. Studios blaming institutes for this. According to one senior project Manager and one HR of a renowned studio “Institutes are in the business for their own welfare and they don’t provide proper training to future animator as most of them don’t have required equipments and trainers”. Some Studios are clearly blaming Govt. for this as their statement is "We have lost several projects to China and other new countries in animation due to funding. Their governments get actively involved in cases where an international project is involved and also chips in with funding.”
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These charts give you an idea, what our industry doing and what we required to do. The salary structure is not enough for anyone to come or stay in this field for long. We have no such security of job and future in our industry. Some real good people can make their place on top but the average and above average candidates are thrown away brutally due to high quality requirements of field. |
The indolence of Indian Govt. is not allowing the animation industry to grow as fast as it can. India has not dedicated degree courses for this field. The institutes opened these days are more keen to earn rather than providing good quality education.
It was very much shocking new for industry when the Oscar-winning visual effects company Rhythm and Hues aka RnH filed for bankruptcy in February 2013, the company that won three Academy awards, the latest being for the best visual effects for Life Of Pi in 2013 had reportedly laid about 250 employees before it was taken over by Los Angeles based Prana Studios in March 2013.
Next to that is another leading animation studio Crest Animation based in Mumbai would also be shutting shop soon. Before we dwell on why a career in animation no longer attracts awe from aspirants and industry veterans it would be only pertinent to understand what is going wrong at Crest Animation and, in effect, with the industry. Started in 1990, the studio that once had over 500 employees under it roll is reportedly incurring financial losses and finding it difficult to sustain operations even after downsizing its staff to 250.
According to a research done by AnimationCarnival.com, the size of the animation, gaming, architectural and VFX industry in India for 2012-2013 was over $960 million. The rate of growth was much lesser then than it was in first decade of this century. If we try to point out the issues we can come to below mentioned points,
Problems faced by the industry
High investment risk - Towering production costs due to expensive software and equipment
Electricity misery - Unhindered power supply difficult due to state's power crunch
Deficient in fresh talent - Youths don't see the gaming and animation industry as a viable career option
Govt indolence - The government's policy has been in the planning stage.
Growth factor – mid level and small scale studio along with students are not having any ROI plans
If we work out these points we may have better structure we will have place for every player.
Hope soon Govt. and bigger players will give a deeper thought on it.
"We would like to thank and very grateful to Mr. Dharmsurya S Tomar for sharing such a valuable article and his precious Expereince Regarding Indian Animation Industry ".