MUMBAI: Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) signed an MOU with Toonskool Advanced Animation Academy Bangalore yesterday for a three year degree program in Animation.

With the signing of this MOU, Toonskool becomes the first accredited institute in the country to train students for a B.Sc. Degree to be awarded by KSOU in the field of Animation.

Announcing the program, KSOU vice chancellor Prof. K. Sudha Rao said, "India has tremendous opportunity to be an animation outsourced country. This Degree program in Animation has been thoughtfully and timely launched by KSOU to enable the students to be a part of the growing animation industry. Even if one student from each village becomes an accredited animator it will add to the pool of much needed reservoir and bring in financial support. Besides the advent of this programme adds to the avenues available to them and they can now look beyond the traditional B.A, B.Com degree courses."

Explaining the nature of animation, KSOU IT director Viswanatha Rao said," Animation is both an art and science. While the end result achieved can be defined as art, the process of achieving it is science." He added, " From $250 million in 2005, the Indian animation industry is anticipated to soar upto $950 million by 2009. With the industry flourishing at such a rapid pace, by 2008, a minimum of 3,00,000 animation professionals will be required to fill the vacuum." He also commended the efforts of Shri Govardhan CTO Toonskool in spreading animation awareness in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Toonskool MD Ashwin Ajila said, "In India, animation today is no longer merely a pursuit. Animation has globally evolved into a $70 billion industry, playing a vital role in all disciplines of life ranging from medicine, to sports, interactive media to defence. It entails systematic academic procedures and studies to attain a professional level as demanded by the industry. India has begun to attract high end, complex animation projects that can only be executed by highly qualified animators. It is therefore essential for aspiring animators to go through a long term industry-supported course in animation. With this MOU, aspirants can become graduates and attain the desired level of proficiency to face the competitive global market in animation."

This joint programme facilitating B.Sc. Degree in Animation will be made available through the KSOU approved study centres all over the country. To begin with the first degree program will be launched from August 2006 in three colleges; NITTE Education Trust-NITTE Institute of Technology-Bangalore, Thakur College- Kandivli Mumbai and H L Sonawane College- Kalyan Maharashtra who are already the approved Study Centres, states an official release.

The content devised by Toonskool comprises script to screen processes. The course is holistic in nature and covers all the aspects ranging from identification of individual aptitude to specialization in the areas of interest. The program structure is academically and professionally streamlined to put the student on a definite growth path through the semesters. The course curriculum involves foundation art, classical animation, production process, digital techniques and creative ideation.