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Export who stepped up recently to help publicise the festival and bring people together to share in the concept for growth through animation and film. Though certainly a move in the right direction, animation unquestionably has a long way to go in the region. Launching a career in animation is difficult in the Caribbean, although Abrahams notes that some headway has been made recently. Animation was not available in the Caribbean previously therefore was not an option considered when seeking viable career opportunities. Abrahams is pleased that this segment of the creative industries is “slowly becoming acceptable, but is not there yet.” The lecturer in Animation Diploma for the University of Trinidad and Tobago states that parents still express concern when their children persist in animation as a course of study, “many remain unsure about the reality of the profession.” The Trinidadian observes that her dual- island country is culturally focused on “oil and gas, not art” making the industry a “difficult sell”. Krik Krak Anansi hopes in time to establ ish the Animae Caribe brand as the Caribbean’s Animation Festival and attract international attention. The Trinidadian animated f ilm pr oducer of the popular series

The response to digital media has been warm however and the love for the emerging field made it impossible to ignore. Gradually the art form is becoming more acceptable. “There is an increase in use of animation, in advertising on television, animated music videos and there are more pilot projects.” Referencing the notable online series Cabbie Chronicles produced by Jamaican Alison Latchman, Abrahams says the success of projects like these are a “good sign” and she is confident that in few years much more will follow. In order for the industry to develop, Abrahams observes that education and training will be vitally important and she has already made a substantial contribution towards establishing this. Digital Media will be introduced to the Caribbean Examinations Council syllabi in September 2013 and the CAPE course will provide students with competencies for practical application in segments including video, sound and animation. The festival founder worked on initiating this curriculum addition with a diverse regional team and hopes students will capitalise on the opportunity. The University of Trinidad and Tobago Diploma in Digital Media Studies – Animation that Abrahams teaches will commence offering this discipline as an Undergraduate Degree as of next year. Abraham also noted that institutions such as the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) in Jamaica and the Errol Barrow Centre of Creative Imagination (EBCCI) in Barbados provided excellent resources for education and training in this area. While many think of humour in association with animation, Abrahams declares that building the festival for the past decade has been no laughing matter. “It has not been easy,” she says and the founder describes the first 3 years of Animae Caribe as “unadulterated hell,” an emotional journey of blood, sweat and a great deal of tears. The festival has received some support and into its sixth year, local government recognized the potential providing additional support, “Animation is highly diverse and is poised to provide viable, sustainable careers in entertainment, medicine, product design, architecture and e-publishing through interactive animated books. The government of Trinidad and Tobago noted this and invested in the festival as well as the art.”

CARICOM and the British Council “came on board” and Abrahams noted it became easier to secure assistance once the potential for diversification

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