MIFF 2024 Launches Animation Crash Course & VFX Pipeline Workshop Led by Warner Brothers’ Rahul Babu Kannikkara

Mumbai: The 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) has proudly launched its eagerly awaited Animation Crash Course & VFX Pipeline workshop, led by Rahul Babu Kannikkara, a Senior Animator at Warner Brothers. This exclusive, five-day intensive program, organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), began yesterday and is now unfolding with great enthusiasm at the NFDC premises in Mumbai.

Twenty-three aspiring animators from various parts of India and abroad are participating in this highly technical workshop, which offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve deep into the world of animation, movies, series, and gaming. The workshop has attracted participants across a wide age range, from 16 to 55 years old. Using Blender software, the workshop helps participants discover animation insights from scratch and unleash their creativity.

Rahul Babu Kannikkara, known for his work on iconic projects like Batman and Wonder Woman, is guiding participants through practical knowledge and industry acumen, helping them craft their own animation clips and understand the nuances of movie and gaming animation pipelines. The experienced animator, based in Montreal, Canada, said that the workshop serves as a foundational course that ignites interest in animation among beginners.

“At the end of the workshop, participants will be encouraged to create a 10 to 15-second animation video,” Kannikkara explained. “Though most of the students are beginners in animation, their response has been very positive, and they are catching up quickly. The main purpose is to get the students comfortable with Blender software and provide them with basic information about the animation industry worldwide. By the end of the course, students will also gain experience with VFX and gaming pipelines.” Additionally, career guidance will be provided to participants, helping them find animation-related job opportunities both in India and abroad.

The workshop aims to equip participants with the skills needed to thrive in this booming field. Maxine Jardiner, an aspiring animator from Australia participating in the workshop, shared that she is learning basics like making characters scroll and jump, and placing character parts in the right positions. “We are also learning about the backend of keyframes. MIFF has been a great experience for meeting new people and watching interesting films. I really enjoyed the panel discussions—they are engaging and offer insights into different filmmakers and the importance of documenting and sharing diverse stories. I look forward to seeing more movies,” Maxine added.

Jose Paul, a freelancer and retired polymer technologist, registered for this course to upskill himself and learn about animation. He believes it will aid his professional development. “There is a lot of scope for animators here. The basic idea of this course is to spark interest in animation so that more people will consider a career in this emerging field,” he remarked.

Participants of the workshop are allowed to experience MIFF and indulge in award-winning documentaries and animation shorts. They are also attending exclusive Masterclass sessions led by industry experts and luminaries. The workshop will conclude on June 20, 2024