SHILLONG, July 25: Arena Animation, reportedly the first animation academy in the Northeast, celebrated its 26th anniversary in Shillong. The academy is operated by Aptech Limited, a global leader in education and training solutions.
Besides being the only institute to provide animation course in this region, Arena Animation, Shillong, is also the one of the most trusted names in the field of VFX, Animation, Gaming, Web & Graphic, etc.
Director of Arena Animation, Shillong, SH Mawlong, said it was on July 25, 1999, when Late RG Lyngdoh inaugurated the Academy. “It was the first Animation academy opened in the Northeast. When it opened in the year 1999, not everyone had heard about Multimedia, Animation, VFX and Gaming academies. And so, it was a big challenge for us and we faced a lot of hurdles for many years at the start,” Mawlong said.
“Today, the Animation, VFX and Gaming sector is a billion-dollar industry. We have trained thousands of students over the past 26 years and all of them have been placed in the industry or doing free lancing or have opened their own studios,” he added.
Arena Animation, Shillong, till date has successfully prepared a lot of students for creative careers in these high growth areas and skill courses such as Graphic & Web Design, sponsored by the Meghalaya government, for the youth relating to employability.
On completion of 26 years of Arena Animation, its Director said, “Aptech has always offered students world class training experience by providing technical and contemporary training offerings. Over the past one decade, it has been our endeavour to make a difference in the lives of thousands of students in Shillong and in the nearby region, who are meritorious but could not find means to progress due to want of proper career guidance. It gives us immense pleasure to share with you the successful placement of hundred students in companies like Chilli Breeze, DreamWorks, Cognet, 3Di (New Zealand), Asian Film Institute & Zee.”
Mawlong expressed the academy’s desire to work with the state government to train students from high school to college in the field of Animation, VFX and Gaming. Citing the National Education Policy 2020, he said, “Our course offerings are aligned to national skills qualification framework and qualification pack of sector Skill Council, Media and Entertainment Skill Council. We do have content aligned to various levels based on audience profile. Therefore, we would like to see this being implemented, since the youth of Meghalaya, should not be left behind with the rest of the world.”
