Preparing for a Career in Multimedia and Animation

In the last couple of decades, the multimedia and animation industry has grown rapidly fuelled by the popularity of animation movies, special effects, graphics and gaming. Blockbuster movies such as Ice Age, Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E, Shrek, and The Jungle Book are just some of the marvels of modern animation technologies.

In India, the animation industry has transformed from being just an outsourcing facility to a trusted creator of world-class animation. As of 2015, there were more than 300 animation studios in India employing over 15,000 animation professionals. As per the FICCI KPMG 2015 report (2014), the visual effects, gaming and comics sector in India is poised for rapid growth. For instance, while 20,000 people of the total 4 lakh people employed in the media and entertainment sector work in visual effects (VFX), animation and gaming, this figure is expected to reach 30,000 by 2017, and over 4.4 lakh by 2023; which means a growth rate of 120 percent!

Courses in Multimedia and Animation

There are a variety of multimedia and animation courses being offered by various universities and private institutes in India. Here is a look at some of the courses you can enrol for to begin your career in multimedia and animation.

1. Bachelor’s Degree

If you want to pursue multimedia and animation after high-school, opt for any of the following undergraduate degrees:

• BA in Animation & Multimedia
• Bachelor of Visual Arts (Animation)
• B.Sc. in Animation & Multimedia
• BA in Animation and CG Arts
• BA in Digital Filmmaking and Animation
• B.Sc. in Animation and Gaming
• BA in Animation and Graphic Design
• B.Sc. in Animation and VFX
• BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Animation, Graphics and Web Design

Duration: Like most graduate degrees in India, the duration of these programs is three years.

Eligibility: Candidates who have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board are eligible to pursue this undergraduate course.

Institutes offering bachelor’s degree courses in animation are:

• Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore
• Apeejay Stya University, Haryana
• Frameboxx Animation and Visual Effects, Various locations across India
• Birla Institute of Technology Extension Centre, Noida
• School of Information Technology & Engineering, VIT University Vellore
• National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkatta
• Minerva Institute of Management & Technology, Uttaranchal
• Rathinam College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore
• MARG Swarnabhoomi Institute of Creative Technology, Tamil Nadu
• Punjab Technical University, Punjab
• Yeldo Mar Baselios College, Ernakulam , Kerala
• University Institute of Animation and Multimedia, Chandigarh University, Punjab
• College of Film Technology, Mahatama Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur
• DAV College, Amritsar
• Image College of Arts, Animation and Technology, Various locations
• Hindu College, Amritsar
• Jagran Institute of Management and Mass Communication, Noida
• Arena Animation, various locations
• Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar
• MET Institute of Information Technology, Mumbai
• Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi
• Amity University, Noida

2. Diploma Courses: There are various diploma courses available for students who have passed 10th or 10+2. Some of the diploma courses available are:

• Diploma in 3D Animation
• Diploma in 2D Animation
• Diploma in Digital Animation
• Diploma in Animation and Filmmaking
• Diploma in Animation and VFX
• Diploma in CG Animation
• Diploma in VFX
• Diploma in Animation, Video Editing and Post Production works

Duration: Most diploma courses have a one-year duration, however, some shorter diploma courses of six month’s duration are also available.

Eligibility: Candidates who have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board are eligible to pursue this course. Some institutes give admission to students who have cleared their 10th class as well.

Institutes offering diploma courses

• Little Flower College, Thrissur
• KAR JEN Multimedia & Animation, Hyderabad
• MET Institute of Information Technology, Mumbai
• Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore
• Frameboxx Animation and Visual Effects, Various locations
• Arena Animation, various locations
• Industrial Design Centre (IDC), Mumbai
• Animaster, various locations
• National Institute of Design (NlD), Ahmedabad
• Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
• Maya Academy Of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), Various locations
• The Heart Animation Academy, Hyderabad
• The Toonz-Webel Academy, Kolkata
• Zee Institute Of Creative Arts, Secunderabad
• The JJ School Of Arts, Mumbai

3. Certificate courses in multimedia and animation

If you are still making up your mind about pursuing a three-year bachelor’s course in multimedia and animation, enrol for a short animation course to get a taste of the things. Some certificate courses are:

• Certificate in CG Arts
• Certificate in VFX
• Certificate in 3D Animation
• Certificate in 2D Animation
• Certificate in Editing, Mixing and Post Production Works

Duration: The duration of certificate courses various across institutes and courses. However, most courses last for three to six months.

Eligibility: Candidates who have passed 10th standard from a recognised board are eligible to pursue certificate courses.

Institutes offering certificate courses are:

• Arena Animation, various locations
• Animaster, various locations
• Maya Academy Of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), Various locations
• The Toonz-Webel Academy, Kolkata
• Zee Institute Of Creative Arts, Secunderabad
• Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
• School of Computing, Sastra University

4. Postgraduate programs in multimedia and animation

Advanced courses such as Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Animation, and PG Diploma are also available for those who wish to pursue higher studies in the field of multimedia and animation. Some of the recognised post-graduate programs are:

• M.Sc. in Animation and Multimedia
• M.Sc. in Visual Effects
• M.Sc. in Animation and Digital Filmmaking
• A in Digital Filmmaking and Animation
• A in Animation and Multimedia
• PG Diploma in Animation

Duration: The duration of PG degree is two years, and that of PG diploma courses is one year

Institutes offering advanced courses

• Xplora Design Skool, Ahmedabad
• Centre For Development of Imaging Technology, Tamil Nadu
• Centre for Electronic Media, Pondicherry University
• Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Tezpur University, Assam
• Government Polytechnic, Mumbai
• Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore

Career Options in Multimedia and Animation

You can make a career in the multimedia and animation industry as an animator, graphic production artist, game designer, graphic designer, and visual effects (VFX) artist. Some of the areas where multimedia and animation professionals work opportunities are:

• Films
• Television
• Advertising
• nline media
• Digital advertising
• Gaming
• Print media
• e-learning

If you are creative, if you have drawing  and sketching skills, and if you love tinkering with computers, then a career in multimedia and animation may be the right choice for you.

 

Image Courtesy: GNU Free Documentation License