Animaster to set up 7 academies in Kerala

Bangalore-based animation training academy, Animaster, is planning to set up animation academies across Kerala.

Talking to Business Standard, Sebastian Thomas, general manager (channel development), Animaster, said: "We have finalised plans to open animation academies in seven towns of Kerala at Kochi, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur."

Of these, Kochi will have two centres, one in the city and another in Aluva. Animaster already has two centres in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad.

The amount of money to be pumped in for setting up of these academies would depend on the infrastructure and the selection of the franchisees. Each centre is expected to incur a cost of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

"Work is being undertaken on a war-footing and the seven animation academies will come up in the next four months. We decided on our Kerala expansion plans following the realisation that animation training has great potential here with the state already a name in the field. Companies like Toonz Animation and the upcoming Kinfra Animation and Gaming Zone have already given the state capital a name to reckon with in the field. Moreover, 30 per cent of the animation students in our Bangalore academy are from Kerala," he added.

The new academies will run on a franchisee model, with an exclusive Animaster branding, he said.

"Each institute is being lined up on 2000 sft space and will impart training to a minimum of 700 students per annum in different courses every year. The academies will offer crash courses running for a month to complete courses that extends for a period of two years. The fee structure will range between Rs 15,000 and Rs 2 lakh depending on the course a student opts for," Thomas said.