I would like to share a lot of information about a great career in the fields of Animation and ELearning. Animation in an entertainment context has been discussed in depth, I would like to discuss about its application in the fields of education and edutainment. To begin with let me give a small introduction about the magnanimity of the fields.

ELearning is ‘happening’ and considered the ‘in’ thing of the day. It is slowly attaining the title “Indispensable” because of the growing and glaring need for learning in students and professionals alike. In a scenario where organizations exist in a global village where professionals are dispersed at various parts of the globe, regular teaching and learning on a common platform can happen only in a virtual model i.e the e-way.

The Information age offers tremendous opportunities to promote social, cultural and economic wealth at the individual, organizational, national and regional levels. ELearning is a critical element of the Information age and is becoming an effective tool to transform Nations into knowledge economies by imparting skills and education to learners facilitating their professional development through better utilization of their time. ELearning provides flexible learning opportunities for learners, personalizing learning and by creating new collaborative learning opportunities. It has the potential to deliver great benefits for the society by increasing the speed and degree of dissemination of knowledge.

“ELearning is not the next big thing; it is the now big thing.” The Rs 2624-crore ($656 million) Indian IT education and training market is growing at a 64 percent CAGR. The Indian IT e-learning market which is Rs 488 crore ($122 million), is growing at a CAGR of 74 percent.

http://www.channelworld.in/interview/index.jsp/artId=4292967

Animation has been described as the culmination of various arts such as drawing and painting, dance and drama (acting), music to filmmaking and story telling. The Indian animation industry today stands at Rs 12 billion, and is projected to grow to Rs 42 billion by 2009.

According to National Association of Software & Service Companies (NASSCOM), the Indian animation industry recorded revenues of US$354 million in 2006, a 24 percent growth over the previous year. The sector is also forecasted to attain revenues of US$869 million by 2010, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% over the 2006-2010 period Training, investing heavily in the industry, and providing original and compelling content, will be critical to its growth. The encouraging news is that while the primary work coming to India is through animation outsourcing, the industry is moving up to the next level, with many co-production assignments coming to India. It highlighted that India has the potential to grow its animation industry to US$1 billion by 2010 but cites the looming demand-supply gap in employable human resources to restrict that growth.

About 300 animation companies in India employ more than 16000 professionals (including freelancers) and this is expected to cross 27000 by 2010.The gaming industry is showing the same potential and employability as well. Exports are estimated to have accounted for more than seventy percent of the revenues in 2006. A major proportion of the workforce is involved in the outsourcing segment. Career opportunities are varied, in entertainment, education, web designing, visual communication, advertising, gaming and so much more.

As for the Indian gaming segment which hit the US$48 million in 2006, the Association expects it to exceed US$424 million by 2010, at a CAGR of 72% over the 5-year period.

Finally, with over 112 million TV households including 68 million cable and satellite ones and over 200 million phones including both wireless and fixed-lines, India continues to evoke bullish sentiments in the broadcasting and mobile entertainment sectors. And with a buoyant mood in the economy, and GDP growing at the rate of 8-9%, India's future definitely looks promising.

http://www.ai-interactive.com/article-961-indiarising-Asia.html

While India produces very little feature animation for domestic consumption (where are the India Pixar's?) they are beginning to be the back office for US majors Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony and other major production studios. Moreover there are companies like Image Metrics, Autodesk, and Soft Image that are looking at the feasibility of setting up shop in India according to sources.

In an interview with the Business Standard, KPMG Advisory Services (P) Ltd Director Jaiddep Ghosh said, "Although India is the largest media consuming market in the world, only 1 per cent of the US market size which is estimated at $10 billion, so far the animation is concerned, it is currently pegged at $600 million."

Which means India has vast potential and will more see more and more foreign and domestic investment in this area? Ghosh further goes on to add, "the Indian market size is extremely fragmented with the top players accounting for 10-15 per cent of the industry turnover. Further, most of the players are direct or indirect off-shoots of the Indian BPO boom. This legacy and low indigenous demand forced most of the players to adopt the outsourcing business model."

http://animationservices.blogspot.com/2008/06/indias-animation-industry-to-reach-1.html

Meet you soon.

Surekha