Animation vs AI: Confused About Your Career? Let’s Clear It Up!

Animation today is a lot more than cartoons; it is a mini-industry that combines art,

technology, and storytelling to create a whole world of possibilities. Animation courses allow you to join this spirited industry regardless of your degree background, whether it was arts or science. Animators, at the entry-level, graduate as assistant animators or character animators and earn roughly INR 4–5 lakh per annum. At the mid-level, animators and production artists earn salaries ranging from INR 6–8 Lakh. Senior roles such as art directors or video game designers can earn upwards of INR 10–15 lakh.

After completing their Class 12 studies, students can take a B.Sc. / B.A. in Animation so all non-professional major students are qualified to pursue Animation as their choice of industry. Even crash courses under two years provide students with enough fundamentals – and later in the career path, you can build those fundamentals with either general certification problems or degree programs.

Animation is a large sector of the entertainment industry (TV, films, cartoons, online/video games, caricatures, OTTs, etc.). Animation (along with Visual Effects) is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the entertainment industry. The country now has approximately 26,000 people working in the AVGC sector (Animation, VFX, Comics, and Gaming). This is almost 38% of the total number of potential workers. Based on projections, it will need another 24,000 people skilled in the industry in ten years to keep up with demand, meaning we don’t have near enough talent to meet skilled worker need. Surprisingly, West Bengal has almost 1,490 animation institutes, resulting in many student and opportunity possibilities.

Acknowledging this opportunity, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has suggested that the Government develop a national AVGC policy. It has suggested to:

• Develop the big picture into smaller, yearly and quarterly goals (for example, train 10,000 students by 2030);

• Provide regular updates on progress, timeframes, and outputs;

• Provide the Indian Institute of Creativity and Technology (IICT) with permission to develop contemporary curricula, create outstanding labs and create pathways, particularly for students not in metropolitan cities.

And now, here comes the future: Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI tools are already incorporating animation—performing tasks such as character movement, background generation, and voice matching. The AI will still be creating and, as is already being seen, AI will 'reinvent' animation as we know it, with some of the Ghibli-style AI animations very recently trending.

The answer is straightforward: the animation industry is expanding, and the mutual relationship between technology and imagination is cracking the door to infinite possibilities. If you've ever thought about bringing characters, stories, and ideas to life - now is the time to animate your future!