It is a first for the festival and TASI has plans to not only have a retrospective on Indian animated films, showcasing nearly 50 films produced in India but also various other special programmes to take animation to the broader spectrum of people who will be attending IFFI.

Team TASI has already chosen a panel of experts to speak on various different aspects of animation and I will be putting up details here on the blog once the TASI committee and ESG finalize the list of speakers and presentations.

For The Animation Society of India this is just one of the many endeavours it has undertaken to promote Animation and animators in India. Their monthly workshops/sessions are very popular amongst students and professionals alike and their annual “Anifest India” animation festival is already in its 5th year now.

The International Film Festival of India kick starts in Goa on November 23rd.

Watch this space for more details.

More to come later…

The season kicks of with the much-awaited and resilient ANIFEST INDIA ‘09, which battled the killer flying pigs (you know what I mean!!) to emerge a winner. Now slated for 18th, 19th and 20th of September, ANIFEST INDIA will retain its flavour and all its fantastic sessions except for those by Nate Wragg and Christian Krupa who had to return to the USA. Instead we have a super VFX bonanza from Sony Imageworks - Behind the Scenes of ‘The Watchmen’ and ‘G-Force 3D’. TASI has done a superb job of getting an assortment of topics together all at one venue - Anifest India ‘09 is being held at the Convocation Hall, IIT Powai, Mumbai. Registrations were closed in early August itself as the number crossed 1500 but spot registrations @Rs.400/- all inclusive might just be available if you reach early on the days of the event.
For all the details including sessions, speakers, timing and the TASI Viewer’s Choice Awards, visit www.tasionline.org

Next up is the week-long International Animation Day celebration by ASIFA India sometime in October-November. Every year, 27th October is commemorated as International Animation Day across the globe. ASIFA India has been celebrating the occasion with events held across various cities in India - typically beginning with an all-day event in Mumbai at NCPA where the Awards of Excellence are given out. While I’m still awaiting details about this year’s festival, the Call for Entries for the 8th Annual ASIFA India Awards of Excellence are open. For details, check out this link. Hurry, the last date is 13th September 2009.

Then from Oct 29th to 31st we have the second edition of Chitrakatha - An international student animation film festival organised by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. What’s even cooler about the festival (besides the fact that you get to interact with probably the best talent in the country) is that it is being held against the beautiful backdrop of the NID campus. If you missed it the last time, make sure you don’t miss it now! They also have announced a call for entries - one for a student category and the other for teachers. Check it out here.

Make the most of it and don’t miss any of these celebrations of the Art of Animation!

10th August, 2009

Important announcement from TASI Managing Committee

Friends,

As all of you are aware, for the past 4 months we have been working overtime to organize this annual festival. The pre-selection jury was working from 10.00 am on Saturday, Aug 8th till 3.00 am, Sunday morning (over 17 hours!) to select films for screening and voting at the festival. The entire operations machinery is at present geared to conduct this festival successfully and all arrangements are in place. Everyone has given more than 100% to ensure that we have a rocking Anifest India 2009.

Today we are unfortunately forced to POSTPONE the festival till further notice for the following reason:

You may be aware that India and more specifically the city of Pune, is grappling with the outbreak and spread of the highly contagious H1N1 virus, more commonly known as Swine Flu. Efforts are on to contain its influence and spread. Schools in Pune have been declared closed for the next 1 week. In Mumbai, as per news reports, 2 schools have declared holidays for the next 8 days. There are advisories to avoid public places and large gatherings so that this menace can be controlled quickly.

Anifest India has received 1500+ confirmed registrations and a LARGE number of people are traveling from out of Mumbai for this festival. Under the present circumstances, as a responsible organization we have taken a decision to avoid gathering such a large crowd in close proximity to each other for 4 days under one roof. We know that this will mean substantial financial losses to the Society since a large part of the organizational expenses have already been incurred but these are inconsequential compared to Public health and safety which is far more important than any disappointment or monetary loss. We are all extremely frustrated that we have had to make this call since so much of hard work has gone into the organization of the fest BUT we believe that going ahead with the event under these circumstances is not at all advisable.

We trust that this extremely difficult decision will be supported and appreciated by all. TASI promises to bring the festival back on as soon as the conditions on the ground improve. This is our commitment to our community.

This decision by TASI is in General Public Interest. Please do not create panic and spread rumors. You are advised to keep yourself updated of the latest developments from official Government sources and news channels.

Our best wishes to all our friends in Pune and everywhere else in the country. Please take all necessary precautions as advised by the Government.

Please watch this space for updates and further news.

TASI Managing Committee

Remember the dates: 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th August at the Convocation Hall, IIT Powai, Mumbai

The TASI committee has worked extra, extra hard and got some super-speakers all ready to share their knowledge with the Indian animation enthusiasts. Here is the basic information (click on the posters to enlarge) and if you want to know more, just go right ahead to the TASI website - www.tasionline.org

First, a very big thank you to all those who have been waiting patiently for new updates on the website and blog. As most you must be aware by now, AAA is a one-person effort at spreading awareness about animation and sharing knowledge as well as industry news. AAA is not a funded company but the result of an individual’s passion for the art of animation.

For the past couple of months there has been very little activity on the site and blog because I have been busy working on some other projects. As these projects, which essentially fund AAA, are almost reaching closure, I assure all my readers that come June, AAA will be back in full swing. In fact, with a lot of new features as well as some important announcements. Therefore, I request all of you who have been patient for so long to just bear with me for another month, and I promise not to disappoint you.

Also, to enhance some of the features, I am moving the site to another server in the coming weeks. This will enable me to host many of the new services/features that are being planned for AAA. During the shifting process, the AAA website and blog will experience downtime for 24 to 48 hours. I will post an announcement 2 days before the actual migration. Once the transfer is complete, you will find AAA at the same url as you always have - www.allaboutanimation.com

Looking forward to rekindling the active relationship with all readers from June onwards. Do send in any suggestions that you have for improvements to the website!

Thanks to all the supporters, friends, colleagues and especially, all the readers!
Akshata

Frame Flixx Awards 2009 - Call for entries

TASI Model Making Workshop

TASI is organizing a full day Model Animation Workshop conducted by none other than all-time-favourite Vaibhav Kumaresh of Vaibhav Studios. It will begin with the screening of some puppet animation film clips. After that, the process of stop motion/puppet/clay animation will be demonstrated live. This will include techniques like displacement as well as replacement animation. Topics like lip sync and character performance will also be touched upon. The participants will be guided to create their own wire frame armatures for stop motion.

The workshop will demonstrate the following:

1. Translating a 2d character design into an armature diagram
2. Building the armature
3. Shoot setup
4. Action planning
5. Lip sync with replacement lips
6. Stop motion shoot and playback
7. Q&A with the audience

Date: 22nd March, 2009
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Venue: P C Saxena Auditorium, IIT Powai, Mumbai
Fees (includes the cost of materials for armature creation):
Students - Rs.300/-
Professionals - Rs.500/-
TASI Members - Rs.200/-

ONLY 100 SEATS!

To register, contact the following TASI committee members:
Devang - 9870006181
Devika - 9821319058

REMEMBER: There is no online registration for this workshop and registration is against full payment only. Registrations close on 19th March.

Waltz with Bashir

Well, from Ari Folman, the creator of this compelling animated documentary, actually. An interview with Marshall Fine of the Huffington Post, gives us a glimpse into the mind of writer/director Ari Folman who made this film against all odds and gained worldwide success. He has almost philosophical views on war, forgiveness and politics but those have no place here on an animation blog. What I really want to share here are 5 invaluable lessons gleaned from the interview with this unconventional film-maker. I hope our aspiring animators and film-makers who want to make their own films will take these lessons to heart.

Lesson No. 1: It is all in the story-telling

With a controversial but factual story about war combined with real, archival footage, who would have thought the film would catch the fancy of people across the world? A dark, disturbing subject like war has been tackled innumerable times before so what sets apart this film? The answer lies in the telling of the story. Can you create interest in the minds of the audience? Can you get them involved in the lives of your characters? Can you hook them, grip them, enchant them, make them suspend disbelief and lose themselves in your story? THAT is the power of story-telling, no matter what the subject is.

Lesson No. 2: Believe. In yourself. In your story. In the medium.

A lot of people questioned Folman’s decision to make a film on this subject. They felt his choice of medium was inappropriate as well. He did not have a background in animation either. But he believed. In the story he had to narrate, in the medium of ‘animated-documentary’ and most of all, in himself. The strength of his conviction ensured that the film got made.

Lesson No. 3: Never give up. Keep trying.

The task was daunting. The film was almost experimental and most people had rejected his pitch. Yet he went on undeterred. He not only worked on the film himself, he also went around trying to raise funds. He did everything possible to ensure the film was completed. He had a vision and a task. He went all out to make it a reality, not giving up even once.

Lesson No. 4: Innovate

Sure, there were problems. Unforeseen ones as well as expected ones. With a budget that was limited, Ari and his team reiterated the proverb - Necessity is the mother of invention. When you have a goal, you cannot let anything stop you from achieving it. Try with whatever is within your means but also push the limit whenever you can. Experiment, innovate, turn your shortcomings into advantages, push the envelope.

Lesson No. 5: Do it for YOURSELF

Folman did not make this film to prove a point. He did not make it to win accolades for the animation. He had a story that he wanted to narrate which he wanted to take to people across the world. He was not thinking of audiences or jury when he was making the film. He made it the way it best enhanced the story. He was focussed on the task at hand and gave it his best. That is something most of us do not do. We lose track thinking of the grand prize awaiting us at the finishing line. Do not make the film because it is your class lesson, or project, or perhaps your job. Do not do it for the ‘money’ or ‘awards’. Do it for your own sake - because you have a story that deserves to be told in the best possible manner.

I will leave you with the trailer of Waltz with Bashir and a parting thought. There is so much to learn from the experiences of others. Our animation/filmmaking students sometimes suffer because they do not have good teachers at their schools and institutes, but what stops them from learning outside the classroom?