Guru Gyan

When Prosenjit Ganguly began with his topic for the seminar,look at the ingredients that make the soul of a film,he cancelled everything out - numbers,figures,formulas,IT,and focused on just one - story-telling.

Written by Jaskiran Kapoor
May 18, 2009 03:35 AM IST

3 min read

No numbers,no figures,no formulas,its all about a simple story; animation gurus draw the soul of this phantasmal medium

When Prosenjit Ganguly began with his topic for the seminar,look at the ingredients that make the soul of a film,he cancelled everything out – numbers,figures,formulas,IT,and focused on just one – story-telling. While the rest are mere tools,the main ingredient is a good story,and this is one thing thats missing out in the animation industry, the animation guru,alumnus and former staff member at the National Institute of Design,Ahmedabad,and director special projects at Toonz Animation,threw light on the art of story telling. At a seminar Animation works,organized by Animaster,Ganguly along with animation gurus raised points that have long been at the centre of debate and discussion in this field. The lack of story-telling topped the talk.

This story requires a subscription

Select a plan and use IE10 code to get 10% extra off

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

This story requires a subscription

Please Select A Plan

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

Why did Roadside Romeo or Ghatotkach fail? Its because they didnt have content to carry the weight of technical excellence, for Ganguly,content is king. While hes working on short animations,TV features and screenplays,Anand Gurnani is busy guarding and keeping an eye on the industry as a knowledge keeper. Co founder,CEO and Managing Editor of the internationally acclaimed Xpress Network,Gurnani has his eyes on animation,visual effects and gaming space. We are into research,finding out new kinds of viewing, he talks in a measured tone. According to an industry overview,animation makes up about $400 billion market,but its still at a growing stage in the country. Were super in out-souring and grab about 25 per cent of the market share. When it comes to co-production,its 20 per cent,intellectual property is low at 30 per cent and rest forms services like special effects provided to others, he gives an industry overview. Animation for Gurnani is a far more phantasmal medium than any other. You do things that you cant imagine in live actionthere is so much,effects,emotion,creativity,gamingthis year along is going to see about four to five major Indian animations,and 40 are lined up for future already, he adds.

A techie at heart,veteran animator Shripankh S Patil still feels that animals make for the best animated characters. They are easy to make,create,name and they have this unconditional love thing about them, he says.

With a burgeoning animation industry,India is in dire need of creators,content writers,techies who can deliver and take animation to the next level. A great animator needs to have a good mix of creativity,imagination,love for gaming,passion,love of cartooning,communication and technical skills. Its a tough call,but one of the most challenging fields to step in, reflects Akshaya,Senior Manager Operations and Branding,Animaster Corporate and Balakrishna Maddur,MD Mediatech Studios. But as creative director with Phoebus wraps up – Dont worry about the technicals or finances. Just go out and make a movie,create something!