More than 400 people attended the seminar on Future in Animation organised by Animaster at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan auditorium on Thursday, the 2nd of March, 2006. The seminar was sponsored by technology giant HP.
The seminar inaugurated with lighting of lamp by Prof. B.K. Chandrashekar, MLC and former education minister. He was accompanied by V.G. Samant, Animation Guru and maker- writer-director of Hanuman, the Indian animation epic, Bhanupratap Singh, CEO Animaster, Ratan Singh, President Slum Morcha, Keshav Raju CEO IIHT, Biren Ghose, CEO Animation Bridge, Prafull Gade, Head of Escotoonz, Paresh Hazra, renowned Painter, Linda Cooke, Chairperson Design Studies, Algonquin College Canada. The Honorable Minister for Higher Education, Shankar Murthy was also present.
Professors from Algonquin College Canada, Paul and Neil presented a brief history of animation and spoke on the animation scenario world over. Animaster Director Veena Pratap represented the animation training scenario in the region and showcased the areas of strength of Animaster and its training centres in India.
The highlight of the event was an emotional call put to present animation students by V.G. Samant, ” You should be passionate about your work and utilise the resources made available by the training institutions of today. Work hard and reach the sky, Indian producers now have the confidence in Indian animators of today and more Indianised content and better films should keep following Hanuman” he said.
The veteran also stressed that animation education should start at an early stage in schools and institutions like saying, �Animation also needs regular practice just like classical music or dance�.
The talk was accompanied with an AV on the making of Hanuman which played in the background even as Samant spoke.
Chandrashekar presented a case study of primary schools in Karnataka and reiterated the need for more and more graphics and animation be incorporated in schools study material for better understanding. He also congratulated Animaster for making an animation film for Karnataka, which was used in Supreme Court for presenting the Karnataka’s case on Cauvery waters.
Biren Ghose, Prafull Gade and Linda Cooke gave an insight into the trends, HR opportunities, production and training aspects of animation industry in India and Canada.
The event also witnessed distribution of winners shield and prizes for Animatter Challenge held sometime back under the sponsorship of Anithing Studios and Animaster.
The evening closed with a vote of thanks from Veena Singh “Going by the industry reports- hundreds of thousands of trained professionals will be required for animation industry by the year 2008, to fulfil which is no doubt a daunting and uphill challenge and Animaster has already accepted it” concluded Veena.