The old tradition of being either a doctor, lawyer or engineer no longer holds true with the current Indian generation, minds have progressed, industries have progressed so why shouldn’t our career choices too! One such progressive career option is a career in animation and it is not a bad one. With high salaries, career growth and an opportunity to showcase your creativity, a career in animation could be the right choice for today's youth.
With movies like Baahubali, Kung Fu Panda, Ice Age and others being a rage among children and adults alike, the prospects of animation industry look bright.
A job in animation can be defined as the art of breathing life to a character or an object and getting some pixels in motion. A blend of entertainment industry and technology, it is concerned with design, drawing, layout and production of graphically rich and attractive multimedia clips.
Here's a list of probable job roles in animation:
2 D Animator
3 D Animator
Key Frame Animator
Image Editor
Modeller
Character Animator
Texture Artist
Layout Artist
Lighting Artist
Story Board Artist
Background Artist
Clean Up Artist
Rigging Artist
Rendering Artist
Digital Ink and Paint Artist
You need sketching skills and a passion for animation. For better job prospects, a degree or diploma in animation helps.
Other essential skills for a career in animation include:
Creativity
Good Visual Imagination
Knowledge of CAD
Good Colour Sense
Artistic Skills
Appreciation of Aesthetics
Ability to Express Ideas Through Drawings
Detail Oriented
Computer Skill
Career in Animation after 12th
Here are some of the courses that you can go for once you pass 10+2. Please note different institutions have different eligibility criteria for an animation course. 50% marks is minimum that you should have in your 10+2
B A in Animation
B.Sc in Animation
Diploma in Animation
Certificate Courses
Top 10 animation colleges in India
1. National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkata
This is one of the best animation colleges in India. It boasts a long line of illustrious alumni. Some of its alumni members include Sudipto Dey and Raja Sen. This college is known for conducting unique learning and teaching techniques to impart skills and knowledge to the students. It strongly encourages brainstorming and out-of-the-box thinking.
2. St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata
This college is one of the oldest animation colleges in Kolkata. Therefore, it is one of the top animation colleges in India. Its range of courses in animation attracts crowds of students every year. It is well-known for having an advanced animation lab. The placements cell is also known to have helped students find gainful employment with top animation companies after graduation.
3. Maya Institute of Advanced Cinematic (MAAC)
Established in 2001, this institution offers quality education. Its courses and curriculum are very career-oriented and the job placements cell is also top-notch. The college has a wide network of centers, in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and other cities, which offer courses in VFX, animation, gaming and Web, filmmaking, and graphics designing. It also offers various courses in subjects like 3D animation and visual arts. It is one of the best animation colleges in India.
4. Arena Animation
Founded in 1998, this renowned institution has trained over 4 lakh students. It has to be included in the list of top 10 animation colleges in India. It is an arm of Aptech Limited, which focuses on Web designing, animation, multimedia education, and VFX. It offers 2D and 3D animal courses, including digital sculpting and digital visualization. It has centers in Delhi, Bangalore, Noida, and Mumbai.
5. FX School, Mumbai
In the entire animation industry of India, this institution’s infrastructure is the best. Students are permitted to access the animation lab 24 x 7 to practice their skills. Since it is located in the financial capital of India, it has patrons from many of the top names in the industry. The placements cell has also helped it gain a lot of popularity.
6. Picasso Animation College, Bangalore
This institute was founded by Picasso Digital Media Private Limited. The college has always strived to inculcate and instill creativity in its talented students. It is considered to be a stalwart in the animation field. It is fully equipped with tools needed to sculpt competitive professionals and help them flourish globally.
7. Mayabious Academy – School of Animation and Visual Effects, Kolkata
In a list of top animation colleges in India, this college cannot be left out. Established in 2002, this institute has the best-in-class laboratory. Its animation courses are popular across India. Many students apply to this college to learn about graphics multimedia animation. This academy is also popular for its part-time and short-term courses in animation.
8. Toonz Academy, Thiruvananthapuram
Located in Kerala, this institute takes a very practical approach to education, thereby ensuring success in its placements. It is very popular for its animation internships. If you wish to create and direct the next big animated feature film, like Kung Fu Panda or the Minions Movie, this is the college to study at.
9. Zee Institute of Creative Art (ZICA), Bangalore
Founded in 1995, ZICA is India’s premier full-fledged digital and classical animation training academy. It offers courses in modern 3D animation and classical 2D animation. Compared to other institutions, ZICA offers the highest number of PDP certifications and courses.
10. Whistling Woods International Institute (WWII), Mumbai
Founded in 2006 by filmmaker Subhash Ghai, WWII has become a preferred destination for creative courses in a short span of eight years. This college has a placement cell, which is one of the best in the industry. It is one of the best animation colleges in India.
Jobs in Animation
India has more than 300 animation studios, which employ over 15,000 animation professionals. The gaming industry is one of the top employers and they also pay quite well.
Though entertainment through film and television is the main area of application in this profession, animation is also needed in other areas such as business, sales, engineering, education and advertising. Animators can also find jobs in print media and publishing firms.
Freelance work is another option, particularly for web animators. Animators can also branch into website design, CD-Rom production, graphics designing and three-dimensional product modeling.
As an animator, you may get an opportunity to work in the following sectors
Online and Print News Media
Cartoon Production
Advertising
Video Gaming
Theatre
Film & Television
E-learning
Salaries: Junior animators or trainees could get between Rs. 8,000-15,000 per month. With three to five years experience they can earn Rs. 25,000- 40,000. A well-experienced animator who has a good portfolio of excellent animation work could easily get Rs. 50,000-60,000 per month.
With US and European studios outsourcing work to India, and Indian companies creating a number of animated films and cartoons, the future looks bright for creative animators.
The professional world is ever changing and dynamic, every second day a new job is envisioned, every fourth day that envisioned job is established and by the end of the week; a profession is made. Animation, though new in India, enjoys the position of unlimited potential and a scope to only improve in the future, so do not be discouraged by the old traditional ways of thinking and do not be afraid to explore a little, animation is one such career for you to dwell into and bring that artist of yours to life.
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