Arena opens animation centers in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Arena Multimedia, a division of the IT training company Aptech has

launched multimedia academies in Kolkata for providing high-end animation

technology. By the end of the year Arena Animation Academy will launch 20 more

centers across the country.

Anderson Consulting states that the Indian Animation industry is estimated to

be at $550 million and projected to grow at 30 per cent per annum for the next

three years and reach $15 billion by 2008.

The four centers so launched will give specialized animation training for the

growing digital entertainment industry whose course fees would range between Rs

30, 000 to Rs 60,000.

" With Western giants like ILM and Disney among others planning to set

up shop in India for animation and film production, animation will be one of the

fastest growing IT segments. Much like the other software segments there would

be a global need for trained manpower," said Arena Multimedia head Sudhir

Mathur.

India is to receive more than $2 billion worth animation business while the

global market is to grow to a whopping $ 70 billion by 2005. The mission of

Arena would be in creating a pool of high caliber multimedia professionals who

would capable of meeting the demands of any global organization.