Picasso to open animation colleges in Vizag, Mumbai

Delhi-based Picasso Digital Media Private Limited is planning to start two more animation colleges at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai from the next academic year.

The company at present has animation colleges at Delhi and Hyderabad.

"We will start colleges in Vizag and Mumbai at an investment of over Rs 5 crore from the next academic year," ABRP Reddy, managing director, Picasso Digital Media, told mediapersons here. The two-year-old company is promoted by the Maharishi Group.

According to him, there is a huge shortage of animators in the country, which is resulting in India losing contracts worth about $1 billion every year in the international market.

While the global animation and gaming industry are growing at 8 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, the corresponding growth figures for India are 25 per cent and 72 per cent indicating the country's growth of 3 to 4 times the global growth.

"Keeping this demand in mind, we are expanding our network across the country," he stated.

In Andhra Pradesh, students who qualify Eamcet are eligible for admission to the institute's 3-year BSc degree animation course. The company also provides placements.

Affiliated to the Punjab Technical University, the programme offers an international certification from the Canada-based Centennial College.