ShikshaTopQuestions-Animation

Hello,
Opting for higher studies or pursue a job is a very common dilemma of every student, regardless of the field. In the current volatile market conditions, many students who are not able to get a job, option for higher studies. Because of this, the market is over-saturated with inexperienced students who have accomplished higher studies. Therefore, my suggestion is to pursue a job as soon as you get an offer in a field of your interest. Work in the industry for approximately 4 - 5 years. This is the time you will be acquainted with the practical dimension of your field. Once done, you can opt for higher studies. Further, having an industry experience in a relevant field also makes pursuing the higher studies a lot easier. Once you have completed your higher studies, your current degree,as well as your previous experience will surely get you a much better career.

Hello,
There are a number of government institutes offering animation courses. Kindly refer to the following link for more information on the government institutes providing animation course: https://goo.gl/zA1DDs
There are a number of institutes providing animation courses and increasing in number as well. However, I agree that the number of these colleges are far less in number than colleges for mainstream courses. This is mostly attributed to the fact that the number of students interested in this field is quite less. It is also attributed to the fact based on the number of students who get a decent job on completion of the course. Also, it does take an enormous cost to set up the infrastructure required to impart education on Animation. All these factors are taken into consideration before launching an institute on Animation.
I hope this answers the question.

For the most part, I would think that creating animation using some software is generally bound to be much easier/faster than hand-drawn animation. Compare adding two keyframes in software, say 1 second apart, to manually drawing the 20-odd frames for that same second. Not to mention the ability of software to easily duplicate and modify the work once done.
Having said that, I do see some advantages to hand-drawn frames. However, specific they may be:
1. The ability to capture some specific motion in a frame-by-frame drawn animation, cannot sometimes be matched by some software blindly interpolating between keyframes. Despite the amount of control offered by software today (eg. using complex hierarchical armature/rigs, controlling time-curves, etc.), it might still be better to draw each frame, in order for the artist to get the exact desired flow of motion.
2. A perhaps more important use is rotoscope. The idea of first shooting an actual video, and then artists 're-mastering' on top of the video frames, leads to some incredible artwork with the ability to do something to each individual frame, the artist can really take the mood conveyed by the animation to a whole new level just by varying the choice of medium (eg. charcoal, watercolor, etc), and also other parameters such as the strength of brush strokes, etc.

No, we don't lag behind at all.
Have you seen Bombay Velvet?
Many outdoor shots in the film are complete VFX.
Here are some pictures worth observing.
Animation studio was Prana Studios.
The main shot of Bombay Velvet: The club around which the film revolves.
One last point: VFX doesn't always mean dinosaurs and robot and aliens. The main point of a film should be to make it realistic. That is the sole reason why a fantasy feel-good film like Forrest Gump feels so real.
Animation and VFX also serve another purpose.
To make things look convincing.
To put it simply most of the directors here lack imagination. We have MBA from IIM serving as the head of animation companies, not someone who has been a part of the game.
Wrong people at the wrong place controlling the right workforce.
Future: Our rich culture is a major advantage for our technicians as they provide fertile ground for imagination, which is essential in this field. If the government too takes an initiative and encourages local talent and content, we could easily turn ourselves into a global VFX and animation hub in the next 10 to 15 years.

Steps to become an animation designer.
Animation designers, also referred to as animators, create the visual effects and animation featured in video games, movies and TV shows, as well as on websites. Created from computer software programs, 2D or 3D animations are used to replicate the features and movements of people, animals, places and things to tell a story or advertise a product. Animators often work long weeks and nights. Working weekends might also be necessary to meet deadlines.
Let's take a look at the steps needed to become an animation designer.
Step 1: Learn to draw
An animation is based on traditional drawing skills, so aspiring animators will want to develop observational drawing skills, especially the use and control of line.
Step 2: Earn a Bachelor's degree
Earning a Bachelor's degree in animation can prepare students for a career in media arts, illustration, Web design, film and television. Students take fundamental courses in drawing, graphics, storyboarding, character motion and art design.
Step 3: Put together a demo reel
While in school, students usually create a portfolio, DVD or website to showcase their best work. Some educational programs feature a senior project for students to demonstrate their creativity, artistry and proficiency in various software programs.Step 4: Consider industry certification
Earning a certification can be a good way to stand out, as only a Bachelor's degree is required for senior animator positions, according to job postings. Certifications in this career field are typically offered by software publishers, such as Adobe.

1. Animation course content: Students looking for a quick route to the animation industry are often lured by the "short-term" courses that claim to teach the nuances of animation over a short span of a few weeks. You should make sure that the college you choose offers quality content that teaches all aspects of animation. An education in animation is quite different from simply learning about animation software. However, you should also confirm if the institute teaches the basic tools and software required by animators.
2. Quality of faculty: Take your time deciding if your teachers are qualified and experienced enough to mentor and train you for the next few years. In medical education, the best surgeons train the medical students in surgery techniques. The field of animation is no different. You should learn from the best and preferably with people who have had industry experience doing the real thing.
3. Placement facilities: The job placement facilities of a college can directly reflect on the quality of the education it imparts. Having professional animators as faculty may also play an important role in the institute's track record for placing students.
You can talk to former students or final year students and understand the college's reputation in the animation industry. Find out if the college alumni are well-placed in the industry. A good alumni network and industry connections may prove invaluable once you graduate with a degree in animation.
4. College infrastructure: You should visit your shortlisted animation institutes and take a tour of their campuses to get an idea about the quality of their infrastructure-computer labs, library, classrooms. Find out if the institute provides internship opportunities or workshops with animation studios or film production houses.