Animation is the manipulation of static images to give the illusion of moving pictures. This happens when a sequence of picture are passed through the projector at a rapid speed of 24 frames a second. There are computer animators who work on computers to make their characters come alive. But there are also cartoon animators who draw the pictures for the animated movies. Animation has its uses in entertainment as well as in practical applications in industrial and scientific research. Animators work in film and television studios, advertising, and software production companies where they may be creating games and educational softwares, in science and industry, computer animators may be creating compute models of physical events and interactions. Animators translate ideas on paper or file in order to communicate these ideas to an audience.

A sense of colour, a sense of balance and proportion is a must in this profession. An eye for detail will take you places. The essence of the job is to know how exactly each character should move or react and create something extraordinary which seems full of life. Animation can be of two types – 2D (two dimensional) and 3D (three dimensional). Animation is tipped to be the hottest growth segment of IT-enabled services. In the information age jobs for animators will increase. Big money will always depend on a touch of genius and savvy marketing. The following institutes offer training in this field.

1. National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad – 380 007

2. Heart Animation Academy, Hyderabad

3. Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai – 400 076

4. IIT Guwahati-Pan Bazar, Guwahati – 781 001

5. Areena Multimedia, Santa Cruz, Mumbai – 400 054

6. Pentamedia Graphics Limited, United India Colony, Chennai – 600 024

7. Institute of Design, 54, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 62

8. School of Broadcasting and Communication, Andheri (West), Mumbai – 400 053