Ram Mohan was the first man in India who build a strong pillar of animation (in 2D & 3D). Ram Mohan (26 August 1931 – 11 October 2019) who was also known as the father of the Indian Animation, started his career from the Cartoon Films Unit, Films Division of India, Government of India in 1956. Owned an animation company in Mumbai called Graphiti Multimedia in 1995, and later, he also established the Graphiti School of Animation in 2006.

He won multiple awards, like Padmashree award in 2014, lifetime achievement award at Mumbai international film festival in 2006 & national film award for non-feature animated films, You Said it (1972) and Fire Games (1983).

He started an era of animation in the 80’s and 90’s in 2D animation. In the early 80’s and 90’s there are a lot of animated movies like The Legend of Prince Rama, Homo saps, which are co-directed by Ram Mohan.

The history of Animation in India can be seen in the earlier 20th century. In those days’animation such as shadow puppets and slide shows entertained audiences before cinema. Great Men such as Dadasaheb Phalke, Gunamoy Banerjee, K.S. Gupte, and G.K. Ghokle kept the tradition of animation alive during the first 50 years of the 20th century. They are so impact-full and full of emotions that they were usually self-taught and were inspired by foreign cartoons.

Roadside Romeo (2008) is India’s first 3D animated film, which is a joint venture between Yash Raj Films and the Indian division of the Walt Disney Company.

In between these couple of years, some of the best-animated movies was released which are as follows:

• Pandavas – The Five Warriors 3D animation (2000)
• Alibaba & the Forty Thieves (2002)
• Hanuman (2005)
• Bal Hanuman (2006)
• Krishna (2006)
• Bal Ganesh (2007)
• Dashavatar(2008)
• Cheenti Cheenti Bang Bang (2008)
• Jumbo (2008)

Current status

The Indian animation industry grows very well in the past 10 years, and now we can say that India finally finds a unique and most amazing way in the animation industry to make animated movies.

In 2008 Hanuman, O my friend Ganesha & Roadside Romeo these 3 movies produced by using amazing 2D & 3D techniques. ‘Arjun- The Warrior Prince’ was released in 2012 in India and the US. The Picture quality of this movie is totally extraordinary & most amazing.

Big Hollywood production houses & studios have business tie-ups with Indian production houses and studios. After milestone success of roadside Romeo Indian animation industry just release the totally brand-new animated movies which are as follows:

• Bal Ganesh 2(2009)
• Pangaa Gang (2009)
• Ramayana: The Epic (2010)
• Toonpur Ka Superhero (2010)
  Jumbo 2: The Return of the Big Elephant (2011)
• Arjun – The Warrior Prince (2012)
• Delhi Safari (2012)
• Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan (2012)

After Avatar (2009) movie came, it changed the whole concept and its base in a totally different way; we can also say that avatar build a brand-new future of upcoming animation movies. In technology-related avatar change, these two things which are too huge, and it is 1) Stereoscopic 3D in cinema, 2) Motion Capture Technology.

Stereoscopic 3D in cinema

A three-dimensional stereoscopic film (also known as three-dimensional film, 3D film) is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth of field, which adds the third dimension. In this approach, a regular motion picture camera system is used to record the images as seen from two perspectives (or computer-generated imagery generates 3D conversation)

You can also make a 3D stereoscopic movie from your regular movies by using a 3D conversation technique.

There are also some directors who made 3D movies by using their 2D movies in 3D conversation techniques like Titanic, Jurassic Park, etc.

Stereoscope (also called stereoscopic, or stereo imaging) is a film technique for creating or enhancing the depth of field in an image by means of binocular vision.

Motion Capture Technology

To automate that process, animators looked to motion capture. Bio-kinetic researchers like Simon Fraser University’s Tom Calvert were breaking new ground with mechanical capture suits. 1 company created the “Waldo” face and body capture devices, which can be used by an actor to drive a Nintendo Mario avatar, who interacted with crowds at trade shows.

mocap was a studio process where tight-suited actors were alone insets surrounded by special cameras and lights. Avatar introduced “performance capture,” Which includes facial expressions, lip movement & body movement. And also, it used in Games GTA 5, Spider-man 2018, call of duty, Red Redemption, God of War 4 & much more also drastically improved realism by combining facial and full-body capture.

Current Situation in Indian animation

Nowadays there are very big companies who tied up with Bollywood and Hollywood movies & animated projects. India has its own animated series and as well as animated movies, which are now popular worldwide. VFX is used most in animation because nowadays, in animation, VFX has its own beautiful and most amazing places which can be used in animated movies for a better experience. The animation is used almost 80% to 90% in VFX, so animation comes with VFX.

VFX has very great and huge contribution in Indian movies like Koi Mil Gaya after its 2nd part released which includes Stunning and well-balanced use of VFX ,at that time it’s called totally impressing and awardable movies of all time.Ra.one also made its stunning impact on animated industry, but after sometime robot movie release which carries heavy VFX and live-action scenes which is totally looking amazing and much impressing, after that, the movie comes with a hit which ruled whole Indian cinema on its own, and it is Bahubali saga which includes its two-part, and two of them contain huge uses of VFX and animation, and it’s a first-ever movie which set in Indian studio.

About the Author

Mayank Nimavat is the Founder & CEO of Sarvam FX. The company is working in many serials, and films from Hollywood and Bollywood as well as shows are live on Netflix, Amazon Prime, DISNEY XD, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Colors Rishtey, Hungama Tv,  etc. It has many renowned clients like Coca-Cola, Airtel, Aditya Birla, Elite-18, Champs Diaper, Nissan, Bollywood Animated Films & Serials, Balaji Wafer, Roger motors. Sarvam FX received the 2018 MSME award for the best Animation studio in Gujarat. It is active in the Animation & Visual Effect Industry & Growing more.