Animators join forces to promote Thai skills | Bangkok Post: tech

Four Thai animation studios have joined forced to launch the 'SILK' project, with renowned director Nonzee Nimibutr as director and the aim of exporting domestic animation to the world market.

A selection of Thai cartoon characters from Imagimax.

Lak Taechawanchai, chairman of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (Tacga) said the four studios involved are Anya Animation, Imagimax, Imagine and Kantana. They are seeking to create a pilot animation and have applied to Sipa for 10 million baht of support. In total, the project hopes to eventually attract some 100-150 million baht in funding.

However, creating one production which all four studios can agree on and work on together can be challenging and time-consuming.

Nonzee suggested that rather than all working on the one feature-length storyline, the four studios instead could produce separate 20-minute production which follow a common theme.

This model is inspired by the success of recent chapter-format movies such as Thai horror release 4Bia and US production New York, I Love You. In this case, the four animators followed the theme of 'Love'.

The team has not yet finished the project but has already put together a 10-minute teaser supported by Sipa funds and plans to use this to promote the initiative and attract further funding from both domestic and international investors.

"If we can build our funding to reach around 150 million baht, the team expects that within one year all four companies will be able to finish their work and create the final project," said Lak.

"Once complete, our project should be the first short animated feature anthology, like 4Bia, to get a theatre release in Thailand. We feel that Thai audiences have tended to enjoy this type of mixed series features recently."

Auchara Kijkanjanas, Managing Director of Kantana Animation Studios, said this collaboration will encourage animators to share their expertise and reduce the development time for animated feature films from the current average of two or three years down to one year.

"We have no doubt in [Thai animation's] capabilities but the big problem is the cost of investment against the uneasy atmosphere of our political situation which harms consumer spending confidence," said Chat Sundaravitac, Production Manager at Imagine Design.

He added that this project allows studios to learn from each other and transfer technology and experience. This is especially valuable with Kantana Studios, which has the experience of producing two theatrically released feature films, Khan Kluay and its sequel Khan Kluay 2.

This project should help Thai animation studios to explore opportunities in the global market.

Anya Animation managing director Sutape Tunnirut added that the feature film will boost the company's capabilities which had previously been used mostly in animated TV series.

Kriengkri Supornsahusrungsri at Imagimax said this project will help to build Thailand's brand reputation in animation and intellectual property and reduce barriers such as budgets and staffing.

Previously, the company outsourced many animation projects to the international market but this represents an opportunity to push Thailand into the world market.

Lak continued that this collaboration should help to overcome existing limitations experienced by animation studios in Thailand due to most of them being independent and very small.

"Tacga has realised that we are not alone and can be friends, not competitors. Most international projects require a lots of talent but due to our fragmentations, [Thailand] cannot stand as a mature animation producer on the world map," Lak concluded.