A world of make-believe

Animator Ezhil Vendan on his foray into the exciting field of animation

animation2 Toy_Shop

Animation remains a fledgling industry in India. But the situation is changing, thanks to animators such as Ezhil Vendan, a dentist, who seeks to bridge the gap between opportunity and talent with the Emagic Animation Academy, which he founded in 2013.

Dr. Ezhil says an “overpowering ambition seizes you when you’re inclined towards art”. He initially illustrated for local magazines for the joy of seeing them printed, but eventually, in 1996, he began learning graphics and animation at Prasad Studios in Vadapalani, at a time when animation in the country was in its initial stages.

Working in India in the early days, however, was not smooth, says Dr. Ezhil. However, he gradually found his feet and went on to become a lead designer. With that experience, and little formal training, he went to the U.K., working for 10 years on games such as Medal of Honor and the Lego Games series at Codemasters and TT Games, with renowned animator Paul McCormack.

Dr. Ezhil then decided to do something to pass on what he’d learnt over the years in animation. He set up the Emagic Animation Academy in Chennai and offered a five-month course with a focus on communicating ideas across the table and spending time with students every day.

Dr. Ezhil says he helps students create portfolios that are essential to apply for higher education and jobs. “Students work on projects and will have quality work to show at the end of that course.”

Dr. Ezhil explains that names like DreamWorks are setting up small offshore studios in the country, and are looking for experienced people they don’t always find. He is also working on his own project over the past year-and-a-half: an animated 3D feature film called

Mahiravana . He says, “

The

Ramayana has little gems of stories, and we’re giving our own visuals to them, with characters you love, stories you don’t know, in places you haven’t seen.”

This won him a ticket to work with Green Gold Animation, the makers of Chhota Bheem .

Dr. Ezhil is now working with the studio, his own team at Gamaya Inc. and his students to make a full-fledged movie with stereoscopic vision.