Posted: Updated – 12:00 AM, Saturday – November 5th
Telangana will receive about Rs 2.5 crore investment in visual effects, animation, gaming and related fields this year.
Hyderabad: Following recent cross-sector investments, Telangana will receive around Rs 250 crore in visual effects, animation, gaming and related sectors this year. This is a huge win considering the media and entertainment sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and is now returning to normal.
“Hyderabad is becoming a hub for animation, VFX and eSports. Ongoing industry event IndiaJoy is discussing deals worth over $30 million,” said industry body Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA) President and Hyderabad said Rajiv Chilaka, founder and CEO of Green Gold Animations.
According to him, the industry now employs around 10,000 people in Hyderabad. Many companies are now hiring again after successfully dealing with Covid-19, and may hire about 20% of them. “These companies are hiring as orders resume,” he said.
Cinema, OTT and the creator economy are the main demand drivers. In addition to a 20% increase this year, hiring in the industry will grow by around 50% from next year as Telangana state supports IMAGE Tower, an exclusive cluster in gaming, animation, special effects and related fields, expected to prepare for next year.
The 1.6 million-square-foot IMAGE tower will enable members to use public facilities and save costs. It will be the enabler of the ecosystem. It will have six studios, including one large studio, with a typical studio floor measuring 120 feet by 100 feet. It will be 40 feet tall. It will also have motion capture as well as a green matte studio. It will house a digital intermediate (DI) kit for color grading, the final stage of video post-production.
Once ready, existing players will expand and new players, including many international companies, will come here as partners, or come here to build their networks. “IMAGE Tower will spur growth in VFX, animation, gaming and other areas. It will be an engine of growth,” Chiraca said.
Hyderabad is now benefiting from work from home that is still being implemented in other markets. Some orders are being outsourced to Indian cities including Hyderabad as they are not yet in the office. Most of the employees working at companies in the city have returned to office work, he said.
Companies here are also using new technologies like Unreal Game Engine, which allows the creation of advanced real-time 3D content with rich visual effects and immersive experiences. They are also upgrading their hardware. TVAGA and the Telangana government are working to upskill the workforce. The focus is also on training the trainers.
