News Pick
International Animation Day: The magic, evolution and future of a global industry
In a world where ideas move faster than ever, animation continues to prove — if you can dream it, you can animate it
Every year on October 28, the world celebrates International Animation Day, a tribute to the art form that has brought imagination to life for over a century. From Émile Reynaud’s first animated projection in 1892 to today’s CGI-powered blockbusters, animation has grown far beyond cartoons; it is now a universal language of storytelling, creativity, and technology.
What once started as hand-drawn sketches on paper is now a multibillion-dollar industry. The global animation sector is estimated to be worth over $400 billion, and is rapidly expanding with the increased demand from OTT platforms, gaming, education, advertising, and virtual reality. This growth has given rise to diverse careers — from 2D and 3D animators, storyboard artists, VFX specialists, and game designers to sound engineers, scriptwriters, and AI animation experts.
Technology meets imagination
Today’s animation landscape is evolving with innovation. Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality are revolutionising production, speeding up workflows and allowing creators to build immersive worlds. Hybrid animation styles, blending 2D artistry with 3D realism, are gaining popularity, seen in films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Animation is no longer just for entertainment; it is changing classrooms, advertising, healthcare training, architecture, and even social media content creation.
Why it matters to students, teachers and parents
According to Mr Ankit Goel, Head of Department of Multimedia at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, “For students, animation is more than entertainment — it’s a pathway into creativity, coding, storytelling, and design. Schools are using animated videos for teaching science, history, and languages, making learning interactive and enjoyable. Teachers can integrate stop-motion projects, digital drawing, or storyboarding to enhance critical thinking and teamwork. Parents can support their children by recognising animation as a serious, rewarding career driven by passion, skill, and global demand.”
How the art has transformed over time
Gone are the days of painstaking hand-painted frames. Now, motion capture suits, digital drawing tablets, and sophisticated software bring characters to life with lifelike emotions and movements. Animation has evolved from short silent clips to global cinematic universes like Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli, and DreamWorks. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime have made animation more accessible and inclusive, encouraging stories from every corner of the world.
Animation in India: From mythology to modern marvels
India’s animation journey has evolved remarkably — from traditional mythological tales like Hanuman and Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama to modern digital hits such as Chhota Bheem and Mighty Little Bheem. With studios like Green Gold, Toonz, and Cosmos-Maya leading the charge, Indian animators are now collaborating on global projects and creating original content for OTT platforms. The rise of animation institutes and government initiatives like AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality) is further propelling India toward becoming a major global animation hub.
