Animation Masters Summit 2020 – Digital Edition got to a solemn start today by paying tribute to legendary animation master late Arnab Chaudhuri, who passed away in December 2019. He was posthumously conferred with the Legend of Indian Animation Award 2020 at the inaugural session of the Summit today.
Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar; Star India infotainment and kids head Anuradha Aggarwal; Technicolor country head Biren Ghose; and Sach Chandaria from the promoter group of Toonz Media Group spoke at the inaugural session. Jayakumar said on the occasion that Animation Masters Summit, the flagship annual event of Toonz, was going virtual for the first time in the 21-year history of the event, in response to the current global scenario.
“This year’s Animation Masters Summit is about the changing scenario of art and entertainment. We hope that this Summit will act as a platform to connect, collaborate and start conversations about forging new ties and creating meaningful content, as we adapt to the new normal,” he said.
Jayakumar added that Toonz will also be launching soon an online learning platform dedicated to animation and creative arts, in order to mould new talents in the field.
Offering his felicitation at the Summit Ghose said that even in the midst of the current uncertainties, a new narrative of the 21 st century is evolving among young creators. “It will be a new language of powerful storytelling, that represents our fight back as the human race,” he said.
Aggarwal, in her address said that the three crucial aspects that could act as game-changers for the creative industry today are people, technology and quality. “We strongly believe in the swirling interplay of art and technology. Young people today are creating fantastic content. If they also make use of the right technology, sky is the limit,” she said.
She also announced the Legend of Indian Animation Award for Arnab Chaudhuri. His wife Ashima Chaudhuri and his brother Sudeep Chaudhuri accepted the award on behalf of the late master.
“From a little boy who was called out for doodling, to winning the Legend of Animation Award, I would like to thank every single person who was part of Arnab’s journey,” Ashima said accepting the Award. The inaugural session concluded with a tribute video showcasing Arnab Chaudhuri’s life and work.
The coming four days of the Summit will include master sessions by veterans in the field of entertainment including writer, story artist and animation director Cinzia Angelini; ACE Eddie Award-winning animation editor Fabienne Rawley; Epic Games and general manager (India & South East Asia) and gaming expert Quentin Staes-Polet; ISC -Renowned Indian cinematographer Ravi K Chandran; National Award winning music composer Shantanu Moitra; and Academy Award winning character animator Sajan Skaria.