Authored by Ami Agarwal, Head- Centre for Open and Digital Education at Hindustan University
A picture says a thousand words, but if that’s a moving picture, like multimedia or animation, that means thousands of pictures, and that would be equivalent to millions and billions of words. That takes multimedia and animation among the fast-scoring career options in today’s fast-moving world.
Multimedia is the field related to computer-controlled still or moving texts, images, graphics, audio, drawings, and animations. The content in multimedia can be represented digitally in the form of audio, video, and animation in contrast to traditional media. In contrast to traditional media, the content in multimedia can be represented digitally. Multimedia presentations can be projected, transmitted, or played locally with a media player. The various formats aim at enhancing the users’ experience by conveying information easier and faster.
Animation is the art of presenting a simulated motion picture depicting the movement of still photographs using various computer-based techniques. Animators develop visual effects for films, video games, television, and mobile platforms using illustrations and software programs. With a career in animation, they can bring to life an object or character using animations, special effects, and other visual images with electronic tools or computers for commercials, movies, inventions, website graphics, and more.
The minimum criteria or education qualification required for a degree or diploma course in animation is a high school pass or equivalent. Graduates from any stream are also eligible.
Multimedia is a vast and expanding field that deals with delivering content and entertainment to the public using combined mediums. A degree in the subject may lead to a career in the fine arts, marketing, or entertainment industries. Students keen on learning about various types of media entertainment, such as television, film studies, video production, interactive media, and computer animation, can pursue this program.
They can make a career as an animator, concept artist, game developer, illustrators, graphic designers, VFX designers, web designers, music producers, and special effects technicians.
According to a report published by the International News media Marketing Association, multimedia advertising is becoming mainstream. Advertising agencies, public relations firms, internet marketing companies, and other media companies, including newspapers and magazines, are employing multimedia as a major strategy for improving service and gaining an edge over the competition.
Multimedia graduates can also be 3D modelers who make characters and environments for video games, 3D movies, etc. They can join game design companies, advertising and graphic design firms, and web design firms, among others.
A Graphic designer’s main job is to design or create graphics to meet particular requirements, such as packaging, logos, displays, websites, publications, etc. Their scope includes manufacturing, publishing, advertising, public relations, wholesale trade, government, aerospace, scientific research, and development services.
Animators make visual effects and animations for the film industry, video games industry, television, mobile devices, and other forms of media using illustrations and software programs. They can join motion picture and video firms, computer systems design and related services, software publishers, advertising, public relations, and associated services.
A cartoonist develops characters, their moods, and color patterns dramatizes action, and creates background scenes. A cartoonist can join animation studios, film and video studios, cartoon-making companies, and such.
The Indian gaming market was estimated to be valued at $1.02 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach up to $4.88 billion by 2026, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.83% over the forecast period 2021 – 2026. India has one of the world’s largest youth populations. Hence it is expected to become one of the world’s leading markets in the gaming industry.
People will continue to demand more realistic television and movie special effects, more capable video games, mobile device graphics, and more and better cartoons, resulting in the insistence on more advanced computer software.
Also, the youth offer new stories along with new animated characters, which is only possible for real enthusiasts. In this way, career opportunities also increase, so the aspirants will never run short of options.
