Page 18 - Mousumi: Unbelievable Transformation

‘Picasso Animation College’ in Bangalore, ‘FX School’ in Mumbai, ‘Toonz
Academy’ in Thiruvananthapuram, etc. are some of the best in India. By
pursuing a course through them, you can expect a bright career in this field.
Above all, of course, is your capability.

The learning process

There are many great books available both in hard-copy and on-line that explain
everything step-by-step. If you install the required software on your computer,
you can learn a lot by yourself. One can start by making shapes, and later mix
them to form scenes, landscapes, rooms, cars and bodies. Finally, face the tricky
part –motion. Sometimes, a thing changes shape along with location, such as the
world-famous ‘bouncing ball’ –which gets rather squashed as it falls on the
ground. The earth revolves on its axis as it goes around the sun. But these are
not half as tough as a novice may think.

Scope for improvement
As for small clips, or animated logos, Indian animators are already doing well.
However, in the case of movies, especially three dimensional (3D) ones, we still
have a lot more to learn from the west. They have set an example which China
has already followed. Chinese Animators have come at par with Americans in
terms of quality of animation.
An example to follow

Talking of Walt Disney, his animators give life-like realism to evidently
unrealistic characters, For instance, the green monster in the ‘Shrek’ franchise or
the numerous large-eyed heroines with hourglass figures. They aren’t exactly
realistic. It is the smoothness of their moves, their expressiveness and body
language that makes them seem alive. It is impossible to appreciate those
animators enough. This sort of thing remains to be seen in India.
Animation, like most other artistic fields, is neither too hard, nor too
easy. First of all, it depends on the interest of the person willing to pursue a
career in this field. Secondly, the tough part of this game is the patience you will
need. It is no child’s play. It takes months, and even years of continuous practice
before your work gets up to the mark, however, it also depends on your
dedication. Thereafter, rewards are sure to follow! The learning, though, doesn’t
stop. If you keep striving for excellence, your journey as a learner will continue
throughout your life.
Ananya Aloke
Acclaimed and Multiple Prize Winner Artist

♦♦Career Mantra♦♦ Page 17