Ravindra Sharma: Do you think that Animation is secure career option in India?
Mr. Lakshya Kabra: Well…, yes, Animation is best career option in India at present. Before now Indian people’s thinking was…Some relatives doing MBBS, some software engineering and MBA etc, so these are best career options. This was wrong thinking because if my brother has done MBA, then this decision is his own and according to his mind. But now we can say that Animation is great career option in India because for this course there is no need of mastering English language…, Animation is a creative language and creativity is human nature so students adopt this training very easily and become master in their interesting field in Animation industry. Here in India animation industry is not established so this is a growing industry and has great potential of generating employment. If a new plant grows then it finds unlimited sky to grow. Similarly now new students of animation in India have great opportunities.
Here in my institute students come from small villages and towns, they are very creative. In engineering and medical courses there is a strict format of course, but in animation there is no formula of 2+2=4, here two plus two may be 24, 27 or any number, this is an art. Animation subject is based on practical training, in animation an animator makes thing which are not in existence, for example you see the Avatar Movie, director, animator and other artists of this movie created a different world with their own creativity.
 
Q2: What is the reason of lack of quality in Indian Animation Industry’s productions?
Lakshya: Each new Industry faces this type of problem, each new person when start his work then he thinks that who is better than me, now you see that in Hollywood Animation Industry is 70 year old and here in India this industry is new and here we are trying to work on directly 3D animation. Now 3D animation production is industry’s current demand.
Animation sector grows through step by step process, in Hollywood the Avatar movie is not came directly, there they started first Walt Disney, Donald Duck, etc., after 20-30 years they developed this and then they came in next level and developed 3D animation production. Here in India we are starting directly 3D animation production, so it’ll take some time.
Another problem is acceptance in USA at age of 16 year most students start their vocation courses here in India most students do first there graduation and after this they think about professional and vocational training so age and time of creativity passes in most of students.
 
Q3: Do you think that Jaipur and Rajasthan have potential to provide high caliber animation professionals to studio handling international projects?
Mr. Lakshya: Yeah, a simple rule, that when a new technology or sector comes in a state then opportunity is open for all and the second reason is that Rajasthan is called ‘state of colours’ – ‘Rangelo Rajasthan’, here we have colourful dresses, pupates (Kathputli) shows and dramas, ghumar dance etc. so these have great amount of creativity.
I have seen that those people who come from small towns, they are more sincere and hard worker, with these two qualities our institute (MAAC) gives exposure to them and these students succeed. In Delhi there are about fifty institutes and I also belong to Delhi but I like Jaipur, because I like new challenges here. In Delhi there is very much confusion for students, because ‘more people, more confusion’ and ‘less people, less confusion’.
Here in our institute people come for training and they see new thing (Animation) and we utilize their creativity and give some exposure to them.
Here in Rajasthan and Jaipur very great potential of Animation industry. Before five years here were only two institutes Arena Multimedia and second was my Institute MAAC. Now about ten institutes are running here.
 
Q4: Do you think that - there should be a subject at school level related to Computer Animation and Digital Animation?
Lakshya: Oh yes, I think there should be at least introduction of Animation. I am very sincere about this because here in our institute students spend 5 to 6 hrs a day on animation training and the nature of school students is very creative, so may be bad impact on their formal education. But I agree that some introduction of Computer Animation is beneficial at school level education. Some schools teach Photoshop to class 11th and 12th students and Photoshop is basic tool in Animation Course.
 
Q5: What animation tools and software do you prefer to use 3D animation and 2D animation?
Lakshya: There are so many really great software packages out there that it's difficult to prefer one over the other. In our institute –MAAC, Jaipur we teach 3D Studio Max 3D Studio. This software is well suited for many different lines of work, like TV, visualization, movies, print and publications etc.
 
Q6: What would you recommend to a beginner?
Lakshya: Because most high-end packages require a big learning practice, if I had to start from scratch, I think I would examine the end result of the project first and start from there. In other words, if you look closely, each package has its own facility that you can pick out if you spend enough time around 3D.
Then, spend some time reading about each topic. First pick up some manuals if you can, or spend some time in book stores. You can sometimes get a feel package is best for you.
For a 2D package, there's Flash. Our students used it for broadcast projects as well as for the internet.
 
Q7: What are future projects you planned in your institute?
Lakshya: Yeah, this year we added a Chroma Studio- this type of studio used to create special effects in Bollywood movies. This type studio equipped with High quality cameras, lighting, full fledge screen, tripods, and other high-tech instruments. We added this in our Jaipur centre to give exposure to our students and other people. Next year are planning to add more Apple machines so that we can create more clear movies. Also we are adding infrastructure for clay animation in our institute.
Q8: Do you think that – Assignments like Animation Film by students is better idea? If yes, then do you have procedure to send short listed/selected films of your students to Production Houses/Companies/Animation Industries?
Lakshya: Yes, we have a system for this and our students submit their assignments to various websites. Our institute is dedicated to using the most current technology to provide our students with as many advantages as possible in their work. We also ensure work with the latest advances in technology as well as emerging developments.
We touch important aspects of concept development and story development. Animation is about communication through movement, so this is very critical to have a great idea to communicate. Our award-winning student work is universally well-received because this is not only technically sound, but made by unique designs and interesting scripts and stories.

Video Interview Coming Soon......