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PASSIONATE ABOUT ANIMATION

Who in the world doesn’t know Mickey Mouse? Besides being a popular global corporate mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse is undisputedly one of the most widely recognized cartoon characters of all time. Created in the year 1928, the anthropomorphic mouse, synonymous with the medium of animation, has over the years become an integral part of the urbane landscape. Similar is the case with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Doraemon, Nobita, Peppa Pig, Motu, Patlu, Ben 10, Winnie the Pooh etc., to name a few, that are the quintessential narrative of the progeniture. But once out of the formative years, very few have looked at infusing life into the inanimate with animation as a viable, prospective stream of study.

Ironically there are few takers for this medium of story-telling even though the global animation market size estimated at USD 372.44 billion in 2021, is predicted to reach over USD 587.1 billion by 2030. “The youth seriously need a nudge to start looking at animation, as a career,” quips Chatrasal Singh an Animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios, California.

Hailing from the land of ‘Dhola Maru’, Rajasthan, Chatrasal has been globe-trotting working for over a decade in the animation industry with leading production houses across the world. “The Dhola Maru legend has inspired a lot of artworks in the form of paintings, literature and music. Growing up in Rajasthan, I received this art and culture as a part of my legacy and somewhere down the line it fuelled my love for performing arts,” said Chatrasal animating for nearly 13 years now, since his first assignment.

In hindsight, Chatrasal’s first job as a 3D animator was at Toonz animation studios, Trivandrum, Kerala. “At the time we were working on some TV shows for local channels and some direct to DVD movie tests. It was high-paced work and we had to put out a lot of seconds of animation per week. This is usually when you start in this career, to be working for TV shows/ direct to DVD. However, on a quick trot, I moved onto Prana animation studios Mumbai assigned to work on the Tinkerbell DVD series that was produced by Disney toon studios (a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios), he said.

The animation industry has boundless scope for those who love to create magic. Getting an opportunity to work on new interesting characters and create performances that move audiences across the world sure is an interesting task albeit a very challenging one that keeps the animators on their toes. Butit is always fresh. “Besides the projects being diverse, I also got to take up contracts in six different countries beginning with India to London, China, Australia, Canada, and now the USA. And it feels good to say that I am still as enthusiastic about my work as the day one,” said Chatrasal from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank, California.

Currently working on a recently announced studio feature “Strange World” that has a theatrical release on Thanksgiving weekend i.e. 23rd November 2022, he feels that the level of detail, love and care put into craftmanship at Walt Disney animation studios is second to none.

“You can see this in the movies they make and in the performances of the characters that we see in their movies. The animation at Disney has a very 2D approach, which in my opinion means they focus on the 12 principles of animation in creating believable and entertaining performances and focus on design to bring out the most of the characters in terms of appeal. Having a nearly-100-year history in animation, the studio has all the necessary technical/ar tistic tools and the incredible talent to ignite literal magic on screen. The studio constantly has classes/talks by experts in various art forms, that are available for all employees, to sharpen their toolbox. To be working at Disney is an animator's dream and I am very fortunate to be able to attach my name to their legacy and contribute in a small way. Being surrounded by the immensely talented folk in such a highly artistic environment makes you hungry to learn more,” he says.

True as they say, in the field of animation, the world is your oyster. It is an incredibly versatile medium that is widely used in many different forms today. The art form has witnessed a major growth spurt in recent years due to the popularity of films such as ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Avatar’. Apart from cartoons and movies, it is also a highly effective tool in marketing, advertising and even education, thanks to its unique ability to communicate messages in a highly memorable way.

“With the number of online school/ tutorials available now and also with remote work opportunities, the animation is a viable career option. One that is thriving. Besides, with the rise in streaming platforms, the number of series and movies have multiplied tenfold- and all of those productions need artists,” feels Chatrasal.

So, hold your horses, for some time soon in near future Chatrasal aspires to make an animation film about Rajasthan and the Rajput warriors from days of yore. “This would be re-visiting history through a unique story in animation, that I hope to work on someday,” he quipped.

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