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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”.
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
The Trinidadian animated f ilm
pr oducer of the popular series
Krik Krak Anansi hopes in time to
establ ish the Animae Caribe brand
as the Caribbean’s Animation
Festival and attract international
attention.