International Animania
By Sue Booth
sue.booth@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist
Animation is quickly becoming a strong global business. As an aspiring animator, a variety of lucrative opportunities may be available to you after you graduate from animation school.
A World of Animation
The international demand for animation is continuing to grow. Animation programs are becoming “cross cultural” and are not necessarily region-specific. According to Nina Hahn, VP of International Development at Nickelodeon, based in London, “We do a tremendous amount of research (based on the pilots of programs) in the United States, and now, we’re increasingly doing so internationally. We’re here to divide and conquer the international sides of our business.”
Here’s a list of the latest significant international animation developments:
- “Planet Sketch”: a UK-based 11-minute comedy featuring wacky characters
- “Oban Star-Racers”: a sci-fi co-production with Jetix Europe and Japan
- “Pororo the Little Penguin”: an animated Korean international hit
- “Lola & Virginia”: a series for 6- to 12-year-olds that has been picked up by Nickelodeon Latin America, Nickelodeon in Asia and France, and Animania H.D. in the U.S.
- “Charlie and Lola”: a Chinese pre-schooler series.
A Collaborative Effort
Animation trends show that there is increasing collaboration between North America and Europe or Asia. In producing some animation series, full teams of European animators travel to Japan to work with the Japanese artists.
Western animators are having a difficult time breaking into the Japanese market with its unique anime style animation. Some European animators are having better luck. However, other nations such as China and India have enormous potential for Western animators. In 2006, Disney spent more than $40 million to acquire stake in India-based software communications and its children’s TV station that invests in animation. China is recognized as an important market in animation.
With so many growing opportunities internationally, the world will be your oyster when you embark on an animation career. Enroll in animation school and your animated characters may become world travelers.
Source
About the Author
Sue Booth is an arts and education freelance writer with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and has experience with CAD.
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