Dinesh Kamath's news 'Where to Every Where: Animation Films Poised for a Boom in India...' that was published in Newsband...

Where to Every Where: Animation Films Poised for a Boom in India...

Above: Trailer 1 and 2 of Stolen Princess
As per the Ernst and Young report in FICCI Frames 2018 animation sector in India has been growing steadily over the past few years and has reached INR 17 billion in 2017, registering a growth of 13 % over 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11% till 2020. India also is now attracting a lot of work from France, Germany and Middle East other than US and UK thus driving up the volume of international TV productions outsourced to India. India has emerged as a key animation development market as Hollywood studios have been tapping India’s large pool of low-cost, English- speaking animators who are familiar with the western culture. Even the increased consumption in Tier II and Tier III Indian cities is creating more opportunities for the industry.

At large, Governments of various states are coming up with suitable policy and strategy to support the animation industry. like Maharashtra is allocating land for setting up National Centre of Excellence for Animation, VFX, Gaming and Comics & Telangana is planning to set up an incubation centre in Hyderabad.

Since the past 3 years animation films from both Bollywood & Hollywood have shown major consumption in India across various genres & languages:

·         Incredibles 2 which released in India on 22nd June 2018 by Disney Pixar in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu collected more than 30 Crores till date since its release, becoming the highest grossing Hollywood animation film in the country.

·         Peter Rabbit released on April 2018 in English & Hindi collected more than 6 Crores in India

·         Coco released on November 2017 in English & Hindi garnered more than 10 Crores in Indian box office

·         Despicable 3 released in June 2017 in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu made more than 19 Crores in India 

·         Cars 3 released on June in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu made more than 11 Crores in India

·         Boss Baby released in March 2017 in English & Hindi garnered more than 18 Crores in India

·         The Jungle Book which released in India in March 2016 in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu crossed Rs 100 Crores within just 10 days. Eventually ending up collecting Rs 243.27 crore at the box office

Animation Films to be released in India in 2018:

·         Hanuman and Mahiravana: 6th July. Distributed by Yash Raj Films to release in Hindi & Tamil languages in India in 3D and 2D versions.

·         Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacations: 13th July by Sony Pictures Animation to release in English, Hindi,Tamil & Telugu 

·         The Stolen Princess: 24th August 2018– A Ukrainian film by Ultra Media & Entertainment Group in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu 

·         Chhota Bheem: Kung Fu Dhamaka by Yash Raj Films in Hindi & Tamil languages in 3D and 2D versions (releasing in this year, date not yet confirmed)

·         Spiderman into the Spider Verse: 14th December 2018 by Sony Pictures in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu

·         Small Foot: 28th September by Warner Bros in English

·         The Grinch: 9th November by NBC Universal in English and many more…..

Animation Films released in 2018 till date are:

·         Shiva The Secret World Of Vedas City on: 9th June, 2018 in Hindi

·         Pakdam Pakdai Doggy Don in Egypt: 2nd June, 2018: Hindi

The Regional Touch:  In the 1st week of its theatrical release, the dubbed versions collections of Jungle Book garnered 52 % compared to 48 % from the English version. Local audiences are keen on watching films in a language that provide them experiences that local films cannot deliver. Indian market is diverse, comprising several powerful regional centres. Dubbing the Hollywood animation films localise its content into regional languages & helps it to penetrate into newer markets & attract newer audience. What were once considered as an English film strictly for the multiplex audiences now releases in single screens too catering to the B and C centers

The Right Voice: Using voices of well-known Bollywood Celebrities for key animated characters have also helped in creating the right credibility & curiosity amongst the audience. Kajol Devgan being the latest to lend her voice for the “Elastic Girl” in “The Incredibles 2”. In the past Priyanka Chopra, Nana Patekar, Irrfan Khan & Om Puri dubbed for The Jungle Book. Akshay Kumar & Shah Rukh Khan has dubbed for The Incredibles 1.

 OTT & digital platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and VooT have also increased their Indian animation content. Amazon Prime has partnered with the likes of Green Gold Animation to commission exclusive animated series of its popular IPs such as Chota Bheem. Netflix signed Green Gold to produce Asia’s first animation original with their own IP – Mighty Little Bheem – to be syndicated in over 190 countries

Sushil Kumar Agrawal, CEO, Ultra Media & Entertainment Group said, “India has a fair appetite for good animated films made in different languages if the story is engaging and told in the regional language. Hence, we are releasing a well-known Ukrainian film The Stolen Princess in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in India. The film has been very well received globally. It’s an engaging fairy tale, where the protagonists are involved in several adventures. It will appeal to children, teenagers and other age groups too. The arresting visuals will add to the appeal. We have also acquired other animated films from around the globe, which we will be releasing in theatres in due course of time.”