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Hanuman
has opened doors for a new kind of experiment in the Indian cinema. The
success of the film seems to have inspired more makers of animated
films in India. Major production houses are not reluctant anymore to
make animation films and are coming forward with big budgets to make
animation films. Barely weeks after Ravi Chopra announced his decision
to make Krishna Leela (in Hindi) and Adventures of Lord Krishna in
English, UTV's Ronnie Screwvala's announced mega plans in animation
film-making. In 1995-96 UTV set up a large-scale animation studio in India. So
far UTV has done about 5,000 minutes of animation in 360 episodes.
Ronald D'mello, COO, UTV says, "Indian studios are co-producing
animation content for a global audience in association with
international studios. This way Indian animation studios are expected
to move up the value chain in the future and have a fair share of
worldwide animation revenues at the top end. UTV is working on large
order book comprising 14 Home Video movie features for a US-based
client, a TV series for Dubai based client (the first animation
production out of UAE in Arabic) and a 52-episode TV series for a
European client. We are also greenlighting local animation film
projects with renowned film directors in the next three months. We have
invested in a new facility comprising 25,000 sq ft area with 225 fully
equipped CGI workstations, high speed bandwidth, HD-enabled large
rendering facility at an investment of US $5 million."
Ravi
Chopra has signed up a "team of artists and animators from Canada. The
film will release next year. Today, entertainment biggies like Walt
Disney, Imax and Sony who are outsourcing cartoons and FX from India." Toonz Animation has wowed the world with The Adventures of
Tenali Raman. The film was sold to TV stations in Asia, Europe, North
America and Singapore.  Korean
Production House ANI21 Co Ltd has engaged Toonz to produce a new
animated show Twin Princes. Bangalore-based Jadoo Works is producing
two animated films — Lord Krishna and Bombay Dogs. Scripting and
pre-production for these series are done in US to ensure universal
appeal. Mumbai-based Maya Entertainment has provided special effects
for The Mummy and Stuart Little. Maya is animating short films with a
character called Wabo, which UN is using to educate worldwide audiences
on the importance of fresh drinking water.
Many animation studios are targeting the global market by
developing proprietary properties, based on Indian stories. Silvertoon
is now producing an animated feature film (Lord Hanuman) and plans to
release it in English and Hindi in US, UK and Asia. To bank on the animation potential, companies are also going
aggressive. Toonz sponsors a Childrenz Animation Workshop every year
where schoolkids submit their story ideas and character designs for
consideration for making an animated film. A feature film, Tommy and Oscar, is in the final stages of
production at the Toonz Animation Studio, Technopark, Kerala. Applied
Gravity, a New Zealand-based company, has outsourced 90 % of its
animation work to Nipuna Services.
The Walt Disney Company has outsourced some major animation
projects to various studios across India. Cartoon Network is buying
animation films made in India. A new outsourcing fever has gripped India. Mumbai, Chennai,
Bangalore, Hyderabad and Trivandrum have emerged as the country's major
animation hubs. Nasscom's Study on Animation and Gaming Industry in India,
released in December 2005, estimates the global opportunity in this
sector at $55 billion today, with the Indian market taking $285 million
in 2005. It sees the opportunity rise to $950 million by 2009. Experts say that unlike animators in China, South Korea or the
Philippines, Indian animators have not been exposed to animation films.
There is lack of awareness about the industry and absence of
substantial venture capital inflow. Experts say there is also a need to
set up more training institutes that focus on animation. And when all
that happens India can be called an animation hub. | 
