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India has become a hub of animation and visual effects jobs for production companies worldwide, especially in the last few years. Its mounting growth is driven by the increased demand for new content, which is visually appealing and exciting, as the consumption of OTT content increased during the pandemic. Mobile devices’ ubiquity and affordable internet have added to this dynamic growth. According to FICCI EY March 2022 report, the animation and VFX market has grown by 24 per cent and is slated to be worth INR 180 billion by 2024. Additionally, as per a report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in November 2021, the Indian government announced that it is working towards creating a National Centre of Excellence for AVGC (animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics).
As the industry advances, it is crucial that animators are equipped to produce creative and engaging visuals frequently. Although creativity is a big factor in the craft of animation, a master animator requires much more.
Artistic Mindset
Henri Matisse said, “Creativity takes courage.” To become an animator, a little courage to explore and accept your artistic side can do wonders. This includes knowledge of colour theory, texture, light, and shadow. Knowing how to use colours to your character’s and story’s advantage is essential. Colours, textures, light, and shadow are used to express different emotions, moods, environments, and even character traits in animation. Once you get a hold of your artistic abilities, you will be able to determine the colours and textures for your animated characters, adding depth with layers of light and shadow.
Communication and Collaboration
Like any other workplace in today’s world, animation studios are modelled on a collaborative system of work. The pipeline of a studio calls for a collaborative mindset. An animator must coordinate and communicate with various departments, colleagues, seniors, and clients while working on a project. Hence, cohesive teamwork and coherent communication help to present one’s ideas and bring them to life.
Analytical Skills
With the onset of 4K resolution in games, movies, television, and other screens, attention to detail has become imperative. Small gaffes in a show become an instant memes. Hence an animator needs to be thorough with all the elements present on the screen, making the frame of animation, whether it is a prop in the background or the physics of the movement of a character’s hair when the wind blows in a scene. Remember, “the devil is in the details.”
Time Management
Like most of the work nowadays, deadlines are a part of life as an animator. Animation studios work on tight schedules and have stringent deadlines. Time management skill is crucial to balance various tasks in a studio pipeline.
Technological Proficiency
Technological proficiency is and will always be the most crucial skill for an animator. Along with artistic abilities, technological proficiency brings the edge that makes an animator into a master animator. From understanding the 12 principles of animation to implementing them in your work is a long walk. An animator with the basics of animation and proficiency in animation software can create magic. Besides these fundamental principles, which animators use throughout their careers, graphic design and motion graphics knowledge add another feather to their hat. Animation, Visual Effects or VFX also has a vast market in India, and knowledge of animation and motion graphics helps to implement a variety of VFX in your work. It is good to have proficiency in software like Maya, 3DS Max, Adobe Animate, etc.
Several colleges and universities offer programs in animation, including AAFT, the National Institute of Design, and EDGE Metaversity. There is an increasing demand for animators across varied sectors such as startups that produce interactive content for social media, online and print news media website, video gaming, cartoon, and animation shows, advertising, marketing, edtech platforms, etc. Job roles include 2D Animator, 3D Animator, Key Frame Animator, Image Editor, Character Animator, and Texture Artist, amongst others.
With the animation sector flourishing in the country, the demand for animation and VFX professionals has significantly increased, particularly in the animation and gaming industries. In the era of the nascent use of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality, animation is regarded as a modern career choice, and there are countless opportunities for you to explore. However, aspirants for animation roles must enrol in a program at a reputable college or university to carve out a career in the animation industry. Both undergraduate and postgraduate animation courses are available to aspirants, in addition to diploma and certificate programs.
Written by CB Arun Kumar, Academic Director, EDGE Metaversity
