Aroha Media is founded by Abhijit Nene and Amit Dhamdhere – professionals with a combined industry experience of 17 years in Animation Production & Management and New Media Design. They have worked on national and international assignments, and been part of reputed animation shows, and films made for broadcast and for the silver screen. They are sharing their experience with new entrants in the Animation, Visual Effects and Design field through a Animation Fundamentals course ware titled “Learn Step By Step”. This set of training video modules are a treasure for animation institutes, fresh graduates and animation professionals alike… Let’s know why!
Article Contents
1. Could you tell us in brief about Aroha Media and its vision & mission?
AROHA MEDIA: Aroha Media is a new-media-equipped animation company working in the Indian animation sector. It springs from a conventional animation company that worked for several reputed clients for TV shows and broadcast films. Aroha’s specialty is our wide range of media service offerings. Like, for instance, we provide services like Digital and 2D Animation, E-Learning and Virtual Training modules, Digital Art, Motion Graphics for the Web, Graphic Design and Illustration for Print, Multimedia, Game Art Design and User Interface (UI) Design. We’ve also forayed into new media services like designing for mobile applications (Apps) and Tablet PCs. Our founders have a massive 17-year combined experience in animation design and production for National and International broadcast animation. This experience makes it possible for us to understand the needs of the animation and design market, and create products that add value to users.
At Aroha Media, our vision is to add value to the animation industry by developing IPs in training and entertainment, especially for the new media. Currently, we’re working on several Computer Based Training products in the pipeline, and are aiming to launch one such training pack every year. Recently, we have launched the first in this line – a USB-based training course for Fundamental Training in Digital Animation. The courseware will help students get to know the hands-on tips, tricks and techniques in Visual Effects Character Animation and Multimedia. The self-learner modules explains the topics in detail, and are designed to pave a path for students to become better animators. In fact, several animation institutes have procured and applied the product to ensure their students get a firm and in-depth groundwork in animation, one step at a time. The results are great!
2. What is the current state of the Animation, Visual Effects & Multimedia Industry?
AROHA MEDIA: Media is by far the fastest growing industry in not just India, but across the globe. In India, we can see the growth not just in terms of the number of projects being outsourced to indigenous studios, but also in the number of shows and films produced by Indian studios as well! Many reputed animation studios and media giants are entering India because of the incredible opportunities available in animation, cinema, and the multimedia market here. What’s more important, however, is the kind of talent that companies are seeing in India. Just some years ago, the opportunities for even good animators were limited. But with new studios setting shop, today, talent in animation, visual effects and multimedia has sterling career opportunities. However, to meet this ever-rising demand for talent, it’s important that animation and design institutes train their students not just in technique or the software, but also give them a firm grounding in animation as an applied art. Students need to know how it’s done in real studios. They need to learn how to generate a better result faster. That’s the key to success in these three in-demand fields.
3. Where do you see the whole industry as such is going towards – the new trends, technologies etc.?
It’s a revolution in the making. And it’s catching up faster than expected. While still further applications of animation are being discovered, we have this amazing spate of hand-held technologies operated via cutting edge gadgets. So, along with digital 2D Flash animation, animators and visual designers today have opportunities in Designing and Customisation of Mobile Applications interfaces, Game Art. And then there’s Tablet technology that’s waiting for talent, too. New Media industry is really booming. It’s essential that entrants in the animation and design sector understand what this is heading to.
From a company perspective, these rapid enhancements in technology means just one thing… that students need to have the ability to juggle all these technologies simultaneously. They need to have insight into how to integrate these technologies to get the desired results. Delivering quality would now depend on how well you can organise and combine these new media technologies. This, of course, is achievable, if training institutes can concentrate on imparting know-how through real-life projects, using real workplace processes and introduce animation fundamentals in a far more hands-on manner. Thankfully, institutes around the country have geared up to this task with high calibre infrastructure and latest software to couple with it. This will definitely help students imbibe new knowledge, adapt to the constantly changing technological environment, and optimise their talent with ease.
4. Could you share some insights about Aroha Media’s course offerings that will excite our readers?
Aroha Media: The Learn Step By Step training pack we have introduced deals with introduction of crucial fundamentals in the three aspects of animation. 2D Character Animation, 2D Visual Effects and Multimedia. The most unique feature of this package is that these are self-learning video modules that require just the presence of the student, and none else. It also means that students can learn at their own pace, and in their own time. There is virtually no need of a personal instructor. Often, we find that students are shy of asking questions in a session. In case of these videos, if they don’t understand some aspect of the tutorial, they can simply play the video again and again till they get it! Another feature that we have kept is that all these videos are written in absolutely simple language. So students who are from other linguistic backgrounds will also find our video tutorials easy to follow, and practice.
As mentioned before, we are offering three different modules, and they are all available separately as well. So, if you’re only interested in 2D Character Animation, you don’t need to buy the 2D Visual Effects and Multimedia modules! Last, and probably an important concern is the financial part. We wanted the package to reach as many institutes and students as possible. So, the package available at very reasonable and affordable cost. We’ve made sure that no matter which stage of development the student is at, the modules should add to their value, and lead to tangible improvements in their animation and design skill sets.
5. How your institute is unique in terms of Courses, Curriculum & Approach to the subject?
Aroha Media: We are a corporate working in varied projects in the E-Learning, web design, Graphical User Interface design and on several other design assignments. We train our staff on live projects. We take the Ground Zero approach. Because we believe that the field of Animation is a performance based field. It is not a theory-based field. Animators have to cut their teeth on real projects that challenge their technical skills and creative powers on a day-to-day basis. They need to imbibe a practical approach towards the techniques and processes of animation as a whole. That makes them professional. In fact, that really is the basis and reason for creating a video training courseware. It aims at not just teaching the techniques for using softwares, but aims to create a professional outlook and approach in the minds of the student. The courseware gives them practical tips to create better quality 2D animation in Flash, in lesser time, using the amazing functionalities present of the software. As a company, we prefer to train our staff in-house. But even to enter in to the field as a fresher, it is important to have a powerful grip on the software’s fundamentals. That’s what our Learn Step by Step package strives to do.
6. Could you tell us more about your path breaking USB based courseware & how it works?
Aroha Media: The Learn Step By Step training package contains strong initiating courses in technical and artistic skill development which will help students aspiring to be professionals in their respective field of study. It includes 3 distinct modules:
2D Digital Character Animation: This module will teach you how we can use Flash tools and techniques for Conventional Character Animation. The module also introduces you to basic traditional animation principles. It helps you better understand how to use these techniques in your character animation.
2D Digital Visual Effects: This module will teach you step by step how to use Flash tools and techniques in smart ways to animate interesting visual effects such as water, fire, smoke, etc. These techniques are very simple to use and can give you very professional results.
Multimedia: The Multimedia module offers training in slightly different techniques than character animation. It involves less of drawing and aesthetics and more of logic. This module is extremely beneficial for anybody who wants to train for areas like Web Development, E-Learning and other Interactive Media.
All the basic concepts in 2D Flash Character Animation, Visual Effects and Multimedia are explained through simple-to-understand video tutorials. All you have to do is plug in the USB drive, and begin your journey of discovery as a professional animator! Simple!
7. What is your point of view on ‘Employability’? What is the current state of affairs vis-a-vis Animation Industry?
Aroha Media: The demand for talent development in animation and design is huge and increasing rapidly. Thankfully, several institutes are entering the sector with modern infrastructure. The situation from a career point of view is very upbeat. Better machines and technology are being invested in. This is a very welcome sign. When it comes to employability, learning theory about the software is essential, but it’s never enough. One needs to get hold of practical tips on how to utilize the various functions of the software, how to create quality animation quickly, and concentrate on spotting, reducing and finally eliminating production errors from ones work technique. That’s when an animator becomes “employable”. The Learn Step By Step we have created handles this employability issue by actually leading the viewer one concept at a time, leading them to exploring the software’s powers, and sharpening their thinking processes by demonstrating the simplest and best ways to approach a given job. We believe that animators must understand two crucial aspects of animation: firstly, how to master the software techniques, and secondly, how to look at any given assignment as a professional focusing on perfection and swiftness of operations. We have taken this approach while creating the video tutorials
8. How your course helps the fresh graduates as well as already employed in the industry?
Aroha Media: Firstly, since it is meant to be hands-on training, the tutorials in the package are in audio-visual format. That’s why any student, whether he is a fresh graduate, a professional or a simple enthusiast, would gain a lot from it. The method of explanation is exhaustive. The procedures and functions are repeatedly elaborated so the student gets a solid foundation of basics along with a professional view of looking at animation. The tutorials emphasise use of time-saving options like keyboard shortcuts at every step. Several tips are provided to make work easy, and to add quality… secrets known only to professionals. This is as we said before – to inculcate a distinctly professional outlook in the viewer. For a fresher in animation, it will give an edge in employability. And for a professional, whether working for a studio, or engaged in freelance work, it will add value in terms of techniques to speed up the work, enhance quality and reduce procedural errors drastically.
Another unique feature of the pack is that it introduces the entire process of animation production. Having a detailed view of the entire production process makes animators understand exactly where they stand in the process, and gives them tools to enhance the quality and output of their team. And we all know being a good team member substantially raises the learner’s employability. In short, whether you are a fresh graduate from Art School, a freelancing animator who is already working in the industry, the package is a means to improve skill sets, and raise productivity of animators. Understanding these unique benefits of this Learn Step By Step training pack, several institutes are procuring the courseware for their students.
9. Do you provide with any placement assistance after the course?
Aroha Media: An animation career is all about strong fundamentals, and continuous enhancement of software and artistic skill sets. That’s what increases employability, and helps animators and designers create and add to their professional portfolio. Since 2D Character Animation, Visual Effects and Multimedia Design are all performance arts, practical expertise leads to better professional opportunities. The Learn Step By Step animation video training modules is meant to lead animators to a level where they can create a quality portfolio of their own. Provided that they have gone through the tutorials thoroughly and practised the techniques to perfection, there should be no problem in getting good employment. Those who have taken the courseware can, of course, approach us with their portfolios, and we’d be happy to give them some industry references that might be useful! It’s important to mention here that we’re even providing personalised support for animation to the users of our software… that’s another unique aspect of the course.
10. What advice you would like to offer to the candidates who want to make a career in the Animation, Visual Effects & Multimedia industry?
Aroha Media: There are two distinct parts of animation: Pre-production, which is all about concept designing, character designing, background and props designing, it is advisable that one goes through proper Art School training. It definitely increases your chances of success there. The second part is Animation Production, where it is a combination of Art, Technique and Software Skills. Here too, having an art or artistic background definitely helps you rise faster in your career. Whether you want to make a career in Animation, or Visual Effects and Multimedia, make sure you develop what we call an “Eye for Art”. In order to get success, candidates should consciously work towards increasing the quality and the quantity of their work simultaneously. We believe that animators should constantly prepare themselves for higher responsibilities by enhancing their skills as an artist as well as an animation professional.
Talent and Perseverance are essentials. You require to get your fundamentals right, and you need to learn the habits of great animators, practice professional techniques till they become second nature to you and concentrate on best quality in least time. You can see some video samples from the Learn Step By Step modules http://arohamedia.com/. We are sure that students of animation across the country will benefit from Learn Step By Step pack from Aroha Media! Happy Animating!
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