The Hindu Business Line : Toonz inks pact with TN varsity

Toonz Academy, the animation training company of the Toonz Group, and Anna University-Coimbatore have signed an agreement to work together on a number of projects.

Announcing the partnership at a press conference in the city today, Mr P. Jayakumar, CEO, Toonz Group, said that the agreement with Anna University-Coimbatore covers four areas. To begin with, the university will recognise all courses currently offered by Toonz Academy through its training centres across India.

Toonz will also develop certificate, undergraduate and post-graduate courses on animation and multimedia that will be endorsed by Anna University-Coimbatore, he added.

The agreement also covers a proposal to offer animation and digital technology as electives in the undergraduate engineering courses currently offered by Anna University-Coimbatore, Mr Jayakumar said.

Centre of Excellence

Another feature of the agreement is that Toonz will set up an Animation Centre of Excellence on Anna University-Coimbatore’s campus.

Around 10,000 square feet of space will be earmarked for this facility. Under the agreement, Toonz Academy will also work with the university to explore the possibility of setting up a Film and Media School, he added.

Dr R. Radhakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University-Coimbatore, said that the partnership between the two organisations will help address the demand for skilled human resources in the entertainment industry.

The university is currently looking at the possibility of launching a post-graduate course in animation and digital technology, he added.

Tie-up with SBI

According to Mr Jayakumar, the company has recently tied up with State Bank of India to offer education loans to students of Toonz Academy. It is also planning to offer courses for people looking to enter the gaming industry, he added.

Toonz Academy currently has 14 training centres across the country and plans to start another 100 centres over the next two years, he said.

It is also setting up training centres outside India. Toonz Academy has already signed agreements with several Chinese universities to start animation training centres in that country.

The company is also exploring markets in West Asia, Africa and South East Asia, he added.

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