The list goes on. In this article, I would like to focus on digital art and the scope for upcoming digital artists within the Animation and Video Games industry.

As per the NASSCOM report on Indian Entertainment and Media 2010 by Price Waterhouse Coopers, the projected market size of the Indian Animation industry for 2014 is Rs 54 billion. Similarly the Indian Video Game Industry market size for 2014 is projected at Rs 19.4 billion. While these figures may look large, they still account for only a small fraction of the International market. Additionally, both these sectors are steadily growing in terms of demand and consumption by the local market. Both these factors indicate a huge potential for the Animation and Games Industry.

Many are still not aware of this fledging industry. There is a good mix of small and large game studios present in India, both of which work on both international and domestic projects. Huge Game corporations such as Gameloft, Ubisoft and many others have all set up their studios in India.

If one takes a closer look at the NASSCOM reports and the Industry, it is evident that one of the key factors to enable growth is the availability of professionally trained manpower.  There is also a false assumption going around that studios with proper set up’s and facilities will be more successful than other, however, in this industry success lies within the creativity of the people in the studios.
 
So then, let’s look at who is suited for this Industry. At the core, people who have a creative mind, exhibit artistic and aesthetic sensibility would be a natural fit, provided they are open to learning and adapting to technology, willing to put in hard work and have a keen interest towards this Creative Industry. Individuals, who fit the above criteria, need to be suitably trained, to successfully work in the Industry.

That brings us to the task of identifying the right training institute. As a first step, one needs to research and understand the nature and quality of work done in the Industry, both in India and Internationally, the various roles and areas of specialisation. This exercise will not just improve one’s understanding of the sector; it will also provide some direction with respect to career and specialisation options that one could pursue.

While there are many training institutions in the country, there are very few of repute. Hence choosing the right one could make a world of difference to ones career. It is always good practice to first talk to a few professionals from the Industry. Alternatively, one could search and find out what the Industry has to say about an institute. From an Academic point, it is good to look into the exit awards of the programs offered, for instance, is it a Diploma, a Bachelors or Masters Degree. Finally one would need to look into the program fees, including relocation costs.

Hence students aspiring to build a career in this sector need to put in effort initially into researching and finding the right institute. The internet with its search engines can prove to be a good aid in achieving the above. Better still, is to always reach out to professionals from the Industry for their guidance and advice.