The Hindu Business Line : Now, a `dream world' animation from Vivavr

THE fun world of children's edutainment is set for a revolutionary change with the introduction of 3D and 4D digital animation films, said to be the first in this country.

The concept has been introduced in India by the US-based Vivavr Technology Co Ltd, a $900-million company specialising in 4D Virtual Reality. Vivavr is an associate company of the global IT giant, TeleSynergy Group, and has major operations in Taiwan.

In India, Vivavr will be introducing the concept of `Dream Festival World' — a complete integrated complex with a digital 3D projection theatre where movies on kids' education and entertainment will be projected.

The add-ons of the theatre will be restaurants and retail outlets featuring the 3D movie characters. Toys and children's kits would be retailed too. These items, to be initially imported from China, may be co-branded with other companies.

Vivavr is mounting the first Dream Festival World project at the DLF Shopping Mall in Gurgaon all by itself with an investment of $4 million. It is expected to be ready by April.

The company wants to take this concept to other Indian metros , and is looking at two other joint venture partners. While Vivavr will be providing the technology and the projection equipment, the first partner will develop the 3D movies in Indian languages. Films based on Indian fairy tales will be made. The second partner, a group of franchisees, will set up the infrastructure for the Dream Festival World.

According to Mr James Y. Kou, Managing Director of Vivavr, the Gurgaon project would be a model one. "We are building it ourselves so that we can create a prototype for our future franchisees," Mr James told Business Line.

For software development, Vivavr may join hands with Descon Ltd, a group company of DPSC Ltd (formerly Dishergarh Power Supply Co). An offer has been made to Descon, said Mr Kou.

Vivavr is initially looking at a business of Rs 25 crore but hopes to increase it to Rs 300 crore in the next three years. However, it will not move into the general entertainment sector. "Our target group is the kids segment because every Indian family is ready to go the extra mile to please their children," Mr Kou said.

Vivavr's Dream Festival Worlds are operating in China, Taiwan, Thailand and the US. Mr Inder Jit Bhat, Director of Vivavr, said that apart from India, they are also eyeing the Latam countries.

Asked how different is a Vivavr movie from any other 3D movie, Mr Bhat said that the existing ones in India are analog-based but Vivavr's would be completely digital. "Here you do not need to build a dome to project a 3D movie and the theatre construction cost comes down to around Rs 4-5 crore from Rs 22 crore," he said.

The Vivavr model will have the added feature of 4D effects. "For example, small droplets would fall on spectators as they witness a rain sequence in the film. Similar other attractions would be there too," he said.

Ms Julia Wang, CEO of Vivavr, said 15-16 movies on children's education and entertainment were available in English, Chinese and Spanish. These films can be dubbed into any of the Indian languages.

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