This three-day festival in Mumbai will celebrate animation, VFX, gaming and more

File photo

Animation is not just about a cartoon strip, and to reiterate this statement and have it animated on stone, not-for-profit organisation Aniverse and Visual Arts Foundation will organise a three-day-long animation festival this weekend. At AniMela, acclaimed animators and creators from across the globe will fly to Mumbai to showcase the contribution they have made in this proliferating industry.

"There are many studios and individual creators in the animation industry that have delivered blockbusters; but their names are lost in the closing credits. Our aim is to offer a platform for them to showcase their work and encourage students to explore the possibilities this industry offers," says executive director Neha Jain. The festival will see animators who have worked in movies, VFX, cartoon shows, gaming industry (XR development); and comic and manga creators gather at the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The gathering is divided into workshops, screening of films, and experiential zones.

On January 19 to January 21; 10 am to 10 pm
At National Film Development Corporation Ltd, IT Colony, Cumballa Hill.
Log on to insider.in (for passes); animela.in (for complete schedule)
Cost Rs 885 (for one day pass); Rs 2360 (for all three days)

The guide's top picks

. New beginnings
The opening ceremony will invite award-winning movie Sultana's dream's director Isabel Herguera. The animated feature film is inspired by a feminist who was born nearly a century ago. This will also be the director's first-ever appearance at an Indian screening of the film.
On January 18; 6 pm to 8.30 pm (pre-registration required)
At New Excelsior Theatre, Fort.

. Hear it from the expert
Take a deep-dive into the VFX of RRR and Baahubali, where Srinivas Mohan, VFX supervisor, Baahubali and RRR, and Shobu Yarlagadda, CEO, Arka Mediaworks, and producer of Baahubali will give you a masterclass on how to achieve the global standards of production and VFX.
On January 19; 2 pm to 3 pm
At Knowledge Centre, NFDC.

. May the best pitch win
France's Annecy International Animation Film Festival is bringing their International MIFA Campus for the very first time to India. Five Indian animators were selected and during a four-day intensive workshop with mentors from the international film festival will get a chance. The best pitch will be decided by a jury consisting of the three IMC mentors and Indian filmmakers Ashutosh Gowariker and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
On January 19; 8 pm to 9.30 pm
At Knowledge Centre, NFDC.

. Movie marathon
Attend the screening of 19 short films by Indian animators; most of whom will be present for a quick post-movie chat. All movies are and family-friendly and include genres like environment,
musicals, ageing, patriarchy and more.
On January 19; 12.30 pm to 2.45 pm
At Animela Theatre, NFDC.

. The best is yet to come
Reality Remix: A Kaleidoscope of Extended Reality will have Indian experts decode AI, XR, web3, Metaverse, real time engines and accelerated content generation for you. The idea is to measure the impact, weigh challenges and uncover opportunities the industry provides to content creators.
On January 20, 12.30 pm to 2 pm
At Knowledge Centre, NFDC.

. Meet the one-man-army
Lachlan Pendragon writer and director of the stop-motion animated short film, An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It (above), which was also nominated for Best Animated Short
Academy Award at the Oscars in 2023, will talk about how he designed, created, animated and edited every frame of his film alone.
On January 21, 4 pm onwards
At Knowledge Centre, NFDC.

. A ride to Dholakpur
Rajiv Chilaka, CEO, Green Gold Animation and creator of Chhota Bheem, and Junaid Ullah, VFX Director, Chhota Bheem will bring alive the childhood hero, as they give the audience exclusive BTS visuals, never-heard-before stories on the origin of their upcoming project Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan and an insight into what a technical shift to live action looks like.
On January 20, 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm
At Knowledge Centre, NFDC.

All-day activities

1 The Indie Comix fest is collaborating with AniMela where they will showcase Indian comics. Expect interactions with creators and many workshops.
2 Experience the 360° Dome, where you will be able to watch a film in 360 degrees, travel on a spaceship, cross all the planes of the universe or visit fantastic underwater worlds.