The much-awaited policy for animation, visual-effects and gaming, that was slated to be unveiled at the IT.biz, was not released. Even as the Government claims the policy is in its final stages, a session at the conference had industry leaders, creative experts and other stakeholders deliberating on the changing nature of this niche industry and the policy decisions in the pipeline that aim at making Bangalore a hub for the industry.
Though Bangalore was nowhere on the scene till around five years ago, the outsourcing nature of the industry, and the coming up of big companies that have been taking on large global projects, have resulted in a growth in the sector. It is this that the State Government, and existing players in this segment, seek to build around.
Today, Bangalore is easily one of the top three destinations for animators, says Biren Ghose, president of the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry and country head of Technicolour.
The policy, in its current form, focuses on three major aspects: building a skilled workforce by setting up ‘centres of excellence' for training, helping small and medium enterprises by creating an infrastructure for them to present their work at international expos, and creating an ecosystem for companies to be able to invest.
The proposals that involve skill training, industry experts say, is an important part of the policy, which involves setting up training centres and offering digital training by ramping up facilities at existing colleges.
The animation industry has been growing phenomenally in the last five years. According to a PwC report, animation and gaming grew by 26 per cent in 2006-11.
Despite the growth, it must be pointed out that the Indian animation industry is barely 1 per cent of the global pie. While big companies can put up their own stalls, smaller players cannot represent themselves at important global event.
Pratik Sinha, who runs a gaming start-up in Bangalore, says that when he visits international conferences, there are pavilions from different countries, where small players like him are provided space to showcase their creativity. “This kind of infrastructure and thought does not exist in India,” he says.
