MUMBAI: Arena Animation Academy presented ‘Perspectives: A seminar on Animation’ in Mumbai.

Perspectives aims to bring together professionals from the animation community on a common platform to share their knowledge, thoughts, views and experiences of the animation industry with the students, which would enable them to think beyond the obvious and get an insight into the career options within animation, VFX and gaming.

The speaker at the Mumbai Seminar was Chris Webster, Head of Animation Provision at the University of the West of England, Bristol, who spoke on ‘Movement without Meaning is Pointless.’

Webster aimed to explore how the underpinning nature of individual creativity is central to animation as a medium. Animation is a unique visual art form that entertains, informs and educates, though without meaning – it is reduced to a form of dynamic wallpaper. Using examples of work drawn from students studying on the programme at the University of the West of England, he aimed to explore the creative nature of animation and look at creativity as a transferable skill that we can all learn and develop.

The seminar was inaugurated by Arena Animation operations head (West & North) Salil Desai.

Aptech Ltd executive director R Krishnan said, “Arena Animation launched a series of seminars – “Perspectives – Animation in India: Future & Careers,” to create awareness among students of the unlimited career opportunities in animation and to create a neutral platform for budding animators to interact with the industry professionals. We are glad that professionals from the industry participated and lent their full support to the seminar.”

Desai said, “We believe that outreach is very necessary for Indian Animation and just made an effort to bring the industry professionals and the student community together on a common platform, which would definitely leave the students with an experience which I am sure they will always cherish.”

“Perspectives brings together professionals from the animation community on a common platform to share their knowledge, thoughts, views and experiences of the animation industry with the students, which would enable them to think beyond the obvious. The Perspectives series of seminars concluded at Cochin, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Indore and now Mumbai, have drawn a huge response,” he added.