MUMBAI: Just as mainstream and independent cinema co-exist in Bollywood, there is a similar division in animated films as well. On one hand, while there are some animation film producers who take the obvious mythological route, there are others who explore unusual genres.

Animagic is one such company that readied an animation film Raju & I in 2003 for an NGO Aseema. Since then the film has been screened at more than 40 festivals across the world and won 14 awards including a National Award for best animated film in 2005. “We started work on Raju & I in the year 2000 as the first serious concrete step to provide us with a platform for creating a story that would showcase the caliber on Indian artwork across the world,” says Animagic director Chetan Sharma.

Just as Raju & I rolled out of Animagic studio, work commenced on MAAA-aaa for Children Film Society and is now ready. Now Sharma is eyeing for a theatrical release of both the films around June this year after the schools re-open. “Many people across the world have seen the film and think it should be made more accessible hence we want to release it commercially. People are receptive to independent films and the public acceptance of animation films is also growing,” points out Sharma.

Sharma is in the midst of negotiation deals with distributors for the theatrical release. Animagic has already begun work on four additional projects, which will be produced and owned by them.