AN INTERNATIONALLY recognized animation studio is expanding its operations in the Visayas, specifically in Cebu City.
Manila-based Toon City, which is recognized as one of the top animation studios in the Philippines and the world, is now looking at Cebu as a major source for animators.
Roderico Rene de Guzman, vice president for Toon City and chief operations officer of Toon City Academy (TCA) said developing Cebu as a major hub for animation could boost the industry’s goal of increasing animation earnings to one percent of the US$270 billion global animation industry.
At present, the country’s animation industry revenues stand at $20 million to $30 million.
Toon City, which ranked 22nd best in the world, is working with the likes of Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.
Juan Miguel del Rosario, president and chief executive officer of Toon City, noted there’s a huge demand for animators in the country due to the rising demand for animation from global entertainment companies.
“Toon City is looking for animators. There’s a lot of work, and we know for a fact that people in Cebu are very talented. And we would like to expand our reach by asking the young people of Cebu to join Toon City or Toon City Academy,” de Guzman said.
The TCA is the official training arm of Toon City, with veteran Filipino animators as instructors. It will start operations of its Cebu City facility by June this year.
Pays well
According to del Rosario, jobs in the animation industry pays well and provides jobs even for those who have not finished a four-year course. He added that 60 percent of their animators are non-college graduates.
Animators can earn from P24,000 to P25,000 monthly, which is not bad, especially for those who haven’t finished a four-year college course, del Rosario pointed out.
He added that there are even some Toon City animators who earn up to P100,000 monthly.
“We believe in the creativity of the Cebuanos. We believe the talent (for animation) is in Cebu,” said del Rosario. “We would like to share this opportunity for Cebu to shine in the field of animation because we believe in the creativity of the Cebuanos,” he added.
“We’re really here to tap the talent of Cebuanos and provide an opportunity for them to work with us,” de Guzman said.
Toon City Academy-Cebu has already started accepting applications.
Because the studio has a big client base, Toon City’s presence in Cebu will help provide job opportunities for Cebu-based anmators, according to Toon City Academy Cebu president Mario Panganiban.
He clarified that Toon City will be bringing jobs and would not compete with local studios because they would need more people to cope with the big projects given to them. TCA Cebu will provide training for animators to the level and quality required by the major global entertainment companies, he said. (JOB)