- India has a vast base of English speaking workforce: Animation, which requires familiarity with the English language, benefits when the work is outsourced to India as most of the outsourced work is from the US and European countries. A number of animation companies in the country are also creating skilled manpower for the animation market through various training programmes.
- Presence of good studios: India has the second largest entertainment industry in the world, after Hollywood. Animation studios in the country provide a large supply of low-cost, high-quality animators. A number of Indian animation companies have set up hi-tech studios (equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software) to execute overseas projects. A huge number of ZICA students have been and continue to be employed by such top notch companies / studios like Prana Studios, Prime Focus, After Studios, Red Chillies VFX, Prasad labs, DQ Entertainment etc.
- Low cost of animation services: The main reason why foreign entertainment firms are flocking to India is the cost advantage the country offers.
ZICA’s Aesthetics ’14-’15 is our first students meet in history: Siddharth Roy
What is Aesthetics 2014-2015?
Most animation institutes impart the basic skills required to get a job in the animation industry. However, propagating the intrinsic artistic sensibilities and aesthetics within students rather than teaching only the software, which keeps upgrading from time to time, would never make an artist go obsolete. That been ZICA’s mantra, and has also been the inspiration behind Aesthetics 2014-2015. ZICA has come a long way as an institute that has instilled aesthetics within its students, which is an apt reason for it to commemorate its core values with an event, rightfully and aptly called Aesthetics 2014-2015, which would bring together all its students from all across the nation under one roof and on a common platform for the very first time in ZICA’s rich history of creating artists. In one sentence, Aesthetics 2014-2015 is ZICA’s National Student’s Meet for the first time in its history.
What is the message that ZICA intends to send to its students through Aesthetics 2014-2015 with reference to changing trends in the industry?
The Animation Industry in India has gained significance as an outsourced destination for animation work due to low cost, skilled labor being its many advantages. In the recent past Indian animation companies and animation studios have been moving up the value chain to create their own intellectual property rights with Hanuman, Roadside Romeo , My friend Ganesha, etc. and partnering with international studios to produce animated properties for the global audience. Aesthetics 2014-2015 wants to convey to its students that though a majority of the work done by the animation industry in India is outsourced in nature, this is expected to change in the future with increased demand from the domestic entertainment industry.
This would mean that their time to expose their creativity and achieving their much deserved glory is nearing, which is why Aesthetics 2014-2015 is also about showcasing their creativity via their independent films and awarding them on the same in various categories by a jury. Aesthetics 2014-2015 wants to convey to its students that India needs to mature to accept and appreciate animated films and this can be achieved when animation movies are made and released regularly. Once it comes of age, dubbing animated films in multiple languages would help animated films hold a universal appeal without any barriers, all across India.
Why has India become an outsourcing hub for animation films?