Get Animated:
Tech Wealth for Youth W
hen you watch local TV and you hear “a eediat ting dat!,” you know it’s iCat from the Broadcasting Commission’s PG ratings campaign. If you just read that line in his voice, you’re a fan! How about Cabbie Chronicles? This Jamaican animated series is about a taxi driver navigating the absurd complexities of modern Jamaican life. There are an estimated 30 to 50 animators in Jamaica navigating their way through what is a booming industry globally. According to PM Newswire, the total value of global animation industry was US$ 254 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach US$ 270 billion by 2020. The demand for animation, VFX and gaming has expanded with the increase in targeted broadcasting hours by cable and satellite TV, availability of low cost internet access, penetration of mobile devices along with the growing popularity of streaming video. In addition, the demand for Animation and VFX content to power immersive experiences such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is growing exponentially.
T
he rapid advancement of technology has made animation, VFX & games available to the masses, and this industry has become one
of the fastest growing segments in the global media and entertainment market. We are increasingly seeing more of the global animation, VFX and games production taking place in a globally distributed mode. Production work is becoming global with tax incentives, regional low labor costs and lower computing costs, which put pressure on companies to reduce costs and set up facilities in tax advantaged or low-cost regions. This is a model which is increasingly being tapped by content producers.
G
lobal consumers are displaying a growing appetite for engaging, high-definition visual experiences. Moviegoers are demanding high quality productions with engaging visual effects and realistic animation and studios are including more animation and VFX shots into films. Consumers are consuming more immersive content across channels such as ultra-high-definition TVs, tablets and smartphones to head mounted devices. According to the World Bank, brimming with talented, techsavvy youngsters, Jamaica is a hub for innovation. And now, the visual arts have the potential to turn this talent into a meaningful and professional career, thanks to a growing demand for locally sourced animation products.
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hile currently home to just three “pure play” animation studios, the animation industry in Jamaica has the potential to create thousands of jobs. With students receiving grades 1 or 2 in Visual Arts at the CSEC level, there are thousands of young people aged 16-21 with the basic skills to become world-class animators. “Young Jamaicans have the talent. Through partnerships with educational institutions and the private sector, we can provide the opportunity to put them at use in a growing creative industry,” explained Fabio Pittaluga, World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist and the initiative’s coordinator.
SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 2019
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