The market size of the animation industry in India as of 2010 is about Rs. 3,130 crores and this figure is slated to rise by 21.4% in 2015, according to a report by a well known research and analytics firm. Along with this the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India are in the process of setting up a “National Center of Excellence for Animation, Gaming and VFX”. It is no wonder that the youth today who have a penchant for creativity are considering it as an attractive career choice. Animation deals with making inanimate objects alive. Multimedia is bringing together of different media like audio, visual and effects to create an enriching interface for the users, it opens a different world of graphics and animation. The animation industry requires trained professionals in both these subjects and also in game designing, creating visual effects or VFX and developing interactive systems. Animation is primarily of two types – 2D (two dimensional) and 3D (3D three dimensional), each requiring specialized knowledge and skill sets. Animation institutions in India provide a range of courses that cater to such varied needs of the animation sector and impart students with the required knowledge and education to become a successful professional in this space.
Courses in Animation
An animator needs to be well trained in the theory, technology and practice of animation, design and multimedia. A student right after his / her 10th standard board examination can opt for a certificate course. For a successful career in animation, experts advice students to complete high school before joining a college that offers an undergraduate degree or diploma in animation or multimedia. Usually, the popular courses in animation are of the post graduate level where students come from varied backgrounds like engineering, architecture, design, fine arts and science, to specialize in animation. In addition to these, as the vocation requires knowledge of computer graphics and various software applications that are updated regularly, institutes provide short term refresher courses for professionals as well. You can consider pursuing the following courses to enter the animation industry:
| Certificate Courses | Animation TechnologyAnimation and Computer Graphics Animation Film making
2D Animation 3D Animation Visual Effects |
| Diploma Courses | Animation Film DesignComputer Arts
2D Animation 3D Animation |
| Undergraduate Courses | Animation (2D and 3D)Multimedia
Visual Effects Visual Communication Design Animation Film Design |
| Post Graduate Courses | Animation (2D and 3D)Industrial Design
Visual Communication Design Animation Film Design New and Interactive Media Interactive Design |
Eligibility Criteria for Animation Courses
Institutions offering animation courses require a minimum academic qualification and age that students will need to fulfill before applying for a course. The main criterion is creativity and passion for drawing and animation. Students can keep a collection of their drawings and animations to show at the time of interview. Other eligibility criteria are:
Undergraduate level:
- Must be below 20 years of age
- Must have completed or appeared in the high school board examination
- Must have scored at least 45% in the qualifying examination (depending on college)
Post Graduate level:
- Must be below 30 years of age
- Must be a graduate in any discipline or have a Diploma in Design or have a B.Tech in Architecture etc. (depending on college)
- Must have scored at least 45% to 55% in the qualifying exam (depending on college)
Doctoral level:
- Must have completed a post graduation in animation or a related field from a reputed institution
- Must have had minimum 3 years of relevant industry experience (depending on college)
Top Animation Colleges in India
There are more than 300 public and private institutes that offer courses in animation and related areas like multimedia, visual effects, game art and graphic design, at various levels. The duration for certificate or professional courses can vary anything between 4 weeks to 1.5 years. Undergraduate diploma and degree courses are of about 3 to 4 years duration, whereas post graduate diploma and degree courses are of about 1 to 2.5 years duration, depending on the college. Here is a list of the top ten animation colleges in India:
| Name of College | Location | Courses Offered | Admission Procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Design (NID) | Ahmedabad | Undergraduate Diploma: Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD) with specialization in Animation Film DesignPost Graduate Diploma: Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (PGDPD) with specialization in Animation Film Design | Undergraduate Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma: Design Aptitude Test conducted by institute followed by studio tests and interview |
| Manipal University | Bangalore | Undergraduate: B.Sc. Animation, Visual Effects, Visual Communication Design, Game Art, New and Interactive MediaPost Graduate: M.Sc. Animation, Visual Effects, Visual Communication Design, Game Art, New and Interactive Media | Undergraduate and Post Graduate: Creative Aptitude Test, Personal Interview |
| Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra | Noida and Jaipur | Undergraduate: B.Sc. in Animation and MultimediaPost Graduate: Master in Animation and Design | Undergraduate and Post Graduate: Portfolio and Interview |
| Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) | Pune | Certificate: Animation and Computer Graphics | Certificate: Entrance examination, interview |
| Industrial Design Center – Indian Institute of Technology (IDC-IIT) | Mumbai | Post Graduate: Master of Design in Animation, Interactive Design, Multimedia, Computer Graphics, Visual CommunicationDoctoral: Ph.D. in Design | Post Graduate: Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED), IDC Admission Test, InterviewDoctoral: CEED, admission presentation, interview |
| National Multimedia Resource Centre (NMRC), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) | 11 Authorized Training Centers across 8 cities | Post Graduate Diploma: Diploma in Advanced Computer Arts | P.G. Diploma: Common Entrance Test, Interview |
| Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK – MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Post Graduate Diploma: P.G. Diploma in Graphics and Animation | P.G. Diploma: Statement of Purpose needs to be submitted with application, written test conducted by institute, interview (portfolio to be shown at interview) |
| Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art | Mumbai | Undergraduate: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Art with specialization in Computer Graphics | Undergraduate: Common Aptitude Test conducted by university |
| Maya Academy Of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) | Centers all across India | Certificate / Career: Visual Effects, High End 3D Animation, Game Art Design and Integration, Animation Filmmaking, MultimediaUndergraduate: B.A. in 3D Animation and Visual Effects | Certificate: No admission procedure, apply and get inUndergraduate: Entrance test |
| Toonz Academy | Centers all across India | Diploma: Advanced Diploma in Animation | Diploma: Admission test and Interview |
Approximate Cost of Animation Courses
The cost of studying an animation program differs from college to college depending on the nature of the program and its duration. The fee can be anything between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 5 lakhs. The more extensive the course, higher is the fee amount. For example, a short term certificate program in MAAC Academy costs about Rs. 15,000 (starting), whereas a 3 year undergraduate degree program in Manipal will take you down by Rs. 4.7 lakhs. Another factor that governs the fee structure is the academic level of study. For instance, in the National Institute of Design, the graduate diploma program costs about Rs.2.2 lakhs per year, and the post graduate diploma program costs Rs. 2.6 lakhs for 1 year approximately.
Career Prospects in Animation
Animation professionals have a wide scope in television, movies, advertising, media, gaming, internet and e-learning companies. After completion of a diploma or degree course you can either go for higher studies or apply directly to animation studios to gain relevant experience. The starting salary for an animator is between Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 15,000. With some years under your belt and a solid portfolio of projects to show case, opportunities are galore for a dedicated professional in the field of animation. Experience will provide you with a better salary of around Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 45,000. In the areas of movie and video making, you can work in specialized positions such as graphic artist, visualizer, 3D animator, 2D artist, flash animator, illustrator, texturing artist, rigging artist, visual effects designer, storyboard developer and 3D modeler. In firms engaged in creating 2D and 3D computer games animators are in demand as game character designers, game artists, developers, VFX artists etc. If you have a Bachelor’s in Engineering along with an animation course from a well known institute you can work in several positions in the industrial sector like the designing departments of information technology, aviation, space aeronautics, automobile and marine organizations. Companies that require animation professionals include Wizcraft, Nickelodeon, Tata Elexi, Channel V, Pogo, Hungama TV, Cartoon Network, Tata Interactive Systems, Cognizant, Accenture and Dhruva Interactive.