'Indian animation Ind to touch $1 bn by 2010'

New Delhi, July 2: The market size of Indian Animation industry is expected to reach one billion dollars over the next three years compared to 360 million dollars in the year 2006, an industry body said here today.

The animation parks with super Hi-Tech Studios will create a minimum of two lakh jobs by 2010, according to industry chamber Assocham.

''Since, the viewers these days have no time and prefer to watch movies that are animated in much lesser time than normal movies, its market is growing at an average annual rate of over 20 per cent,'' Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot said.

The chamber has expressed fears that growth of animation industry in the country will be impeded with acute shortage of skilled manpower and specialised training institutes, lack of government funding, hi-tech studios and tax incentives, if proper attention is not paid for creation of suggested parks.

Despite the lowest cost of animation production in the country compared to countries like the US, Canada, Korea, Taiwan and Philippines, Indian companies get lesser work. Production cost of half-an-hour animated movie in India costs around 60-70,000 dollars while in the US, it is around 2,50,000-3,00,000 dollars, revealed the chamber analysis.

In the absence of hi-tech studios and improved technology in India, currently Indian animation corporate houses outsource its advanced animation work to countries like the US, France, Canada, Malaysia, China and there is a need to prevent flight of domestic capital spend by Indian industry in these countries hi-tech studios, said Mr Dhoot.

Currently, the Indian animation industry employs around 7,000 to 10,000 animators in the country and is facing immediate demand of manpower 30,000. India will need skilled professionals like creative animators, conceptualiser, visualiser, 3D modellers, character designer, digital effects artist and many more who can handle multimedia softwares such as 3D studio Max, Maya, Tictactoon and more.

Indian companies have captured around 100-110 million dollars of business which is a small pie of nearly 15 billion dollars global animation industry and therefore there is a need to capture overseas markets through outsourcing and with low cost of movie production.

Indian government can also help the animation industry by giving them funding, provide guidance on manpower development and recognise the animation courses. By recognising these courses, students and youths will conveniently get the bank loans which is missing at present.

UNI