Animation is the design, drawing, layout and production of photographic sequences that are incorporated in the multimedia products in order to give it a smart appearance. In other words, animation involves the manipulation of still images to create the illusion of movement. Using computer technology, a sequence of staggered images captured in related positions are made to appear as if they’re really moving.
Multimedia is any combination of text, graphic art, sound, animation and video delivered to us by computer or other electronic means. Technically the term “multimedia” can be used to refer any combination of visual and audio material from a range of sources into a single presentation. More specifically the term “multimedia” is used for the combination of materials within a format or medium that can be used by a computer, including CD-ROM or digital video, interactive touch-screen monitors, internet or web technology, streaming audio or video, and data projection system etc. Modern cinema has gained great heights by absorbing the gift of multimedia in Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters viz., Jurassic park and Krish etc. Television advertisements, cartoon serials, presentations and model design are no exception.
Animation : the career is concerned with the design, drawing, layout and production of graphically rich and attractive multimedia clips. Animators may use 2D or 3D animators for gaming, instructional programs, CD-ROM or Web, kiosks and video. Animator may or may not be a great artist. His/her talent may lie in 3D modeling and following a designer’s sketch. Those with strong drawing skills could be hired as storyboard artists who can visualize a sequence of events from frame to frame. Using laser equipment, computer animators scan images of real objects onto a computer and convert them to digital form. Usually the animator has to model the character or object in the computer, drawing curves, constructing surfaces and using primitive objects (such as spheres and cubes) to produce a wireframe model. Controls are then added to the model to allow it to be bent and posed. It is advantageous to understand photography, lighting and movement for those planning to work in computer animation. They must be able to visualise how an object will look in three dimensions and have the know-how to make an animate object look real.
Work and skill requirements:
The work of multimedia professionals can he described as the generation and
manipulation of graphic images, animation, sound, music, text and video into
consolidated multimedia programs for entertainment, education or instructional
media. Multimedia development includes a combi-nation of different skills
viz., combination art, music, education and many other areas with comput-ing
and information technology. As such there is no single background that can
be considered as ideal pathway in the profession. But knowledge of more than
one skill in animation, author-based programm-ing, computer-based graphic
design, digital audio-video mixing and editing, educational and instructional
design and multimedia pro-gramming is necessary. Besides, creativity, pioneering
personality, flexibility, mathematical and analytic art, strong verbal and
written communication skill, ability to work well with others, flair for innovation
design and artistic talent are other traits which can give more advantage.
Animation application areas include many avenues in the following:
Eligibility
You do not need to have excellent academic credentials to become an animator.
You just need a creative bent of mind and an artistic inclination. The courses
you do help you bring out your creativity.
There are various courses on multimedia offered all over the country. For acquiring a diploma in multimedia, one has to pass the 12th standard examination from any recognized board with a minimum of 45% marks. For the bachelor’s degree program the same eligibility criterion is applicable, while for the PG program one must have a bachelor’s degree.
Animation and Multimedia career Courses
There are various diploma and degree programs in animation and multimedia.
These courses focus on teaching and equipping a person in various styles and
techniques of animation, which may include :
Private Institutions
Some Universities and Institutions in the country offers long term and short term courses in Multimedia depending upon the qualification and depth of training to be given.
National Multimedia Resource Centre (NMRC), Centre for design of advance computing (C-DAC), Shivajinagar Pune, has taken lead in multimedia training programs. They have designed latest academic curriculum for their multimedia courses. Multimedia training programs covers the topics like high-end 2D and 3D Animation, Non Linear Video Editing, Virtual Reality Authoring and Web Multimedia to produce highly trained manpower in the field of Multimedia. The multimedia tools and technology development at NMRC covers Multilinguism in Multimedia, Digital Library Authoring Tools, Content Archival, Usability Evaluation, Content Editing and Database driven software. The centre is also engaged in the development of ActiveX components for multimedia support in applications and extending it in the areas of sensing devices, Virtual Reality (VR), Human Computer Interface (HCI) design and multimedia applications of sensing technologies.
Besides, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar; National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad; Industrial Design Center (IDC), IIT at Mumbai and Guwahati; Film & Television Institute of India; Centre for Development of Imaging Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; Kerala Cartoon Academy, Kochi; Toonz Animation India Private Limited, Thiruvananthapuram; AFA-Animation and Fine Arts Academy, Coimbatore; College of Fine Arts & Applied Art, JNT University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad are also providing education in multimedia. Some other leading private sector institutions are also creating manpower in the area by providing sophisticated training.
Specialisation
One can specialise as a 3D or 2D modeler, special FX Creator, Animator, Character
Designer, Games Designer, and Interaction Designer.
Career Prospects
The Indian animation industry is currently at US $500 million and is expected
to reach US $1.5 billion by the year 2009. Yet, statistics reveal not even
half of the manpower requirement in the animation industry is being fulfilled
in India. With international companies such as Walt Disney, Warner Brothers
and Fun Bag Animation looking at India for sourcing content as well as doing
projects in collaboration with the Indian animation companies, there has been
a growing demand for animators in the country.
NASSCOM says that India's gaming industry (computer games and mobile games)
is expected to generate $424 million by the 2010. NASSCOM has projected a
creation of an additional 300,000 jobs in this sector in next few years.
Global animation industry is estimated to grow around US$75 billion by 2009
and Indian share is expected to be $950 million in the same period, thereby
witnessing annual growth rate of 35% from 2005-2009. The market for another
multimedia product i.e., gaming is expected to reach $300 million by 2009.
In India, there are around 90-100 million TV homes, hundreds of TV channels
and over 70,000 cable operators. They are demanding round the clock information
and entertainment services for TV viewers. These figures shows a promising
growth, bright prospects and opportunities for multimedia industry. The only
factor which hampers the growth of multimedia sector is the dearth of skilled
professionals. It is expected that in next few years the requirement for multimedia
professionals can swell to 2 lakh. Moreover, the IT-enabled services sector,
which includes interactive or digital multimedia, animation and gaming, is
expect to employ around 1.1 million professionals by 2008.
In the animation industry you can work as:
Average Salary
After completing the on job training in some leading animation production
studio, you can earn around Rs. 12000 to 15000 as a junior animator. A senior
animator with an experience of 3 to 5 years can take home a sum of Rs.30000
to Rs.40000. If you have a portfolio of some outstanding animation work you
can expect to earn more than Rs.50000 to Rs.60000.
Study Abroad
You can also explore study options in animation abroad. Some of the preferred
locations for training in animation are New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the
US and UK. Click animation to explore various study abroad options in animation.