Animation: The next big step for Trinidad and Tobago

Original Article posted in the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

As many industries continue to feel the brunt of the pandemic, the animation sector is showing promise as a major economic booster for Trinidad and Tobago.

Leslie Ann Wills-Caton, general manager and film commissioner of the TT Film Co Ltd (FilmTT) – a state agency established to develop the film and audio-visual sector – said the possibilities for animation are endless and the company has been working with creators since 2006 to push the sector forward.

“Animation is and has always been the next big step,” she told Business Day. She said there are possibilities for creators in a wide range of areas related to animation, including audiovisual and content creation locally, regionally, and internationally.

Wills-Caton said the pandemic has only served to bolster the marketing and attention for animation around the world. “People realised that we should have really been working with creators (and) creating content.

“Music videos now have animation, local commercials are using (it) more than they would have done in the past because it is one of the only content creation platforms where you can work within the confines of your home/office.”

She said FilmTT is working with the National Export Facilitation Organisation (ExportTT), which generates export growth and diversification in the non-energy goods and service sectors, in facilitating a few animation companies to attend a conference which will help them to work with international companies.

Wills-Caton said FilmTT currently has nine animation companies listed in its production database and includes animators, editors, graphic designers, computer graphic artists and computer-generated imagery (CGI) animators.

She said FilmTT is encouraging others to reach out and join its network. “As much as possible, we capture the information and when people reach out asking for animators we are able to recommend from that database.”

She said when people think of animation, they think of cartoons, but it is much more than that. “There are green screen techs, visual effects (VFX), think of the credits at the end of Black Panther. There are so many different things that can support all forms of the economy.

“Even as a teaching platform, it can (help create) cultural awareness…animation has always been the next level.”

She said it is one of those film or content creation areas that have not been fully recognised in terms of the value it can offer.

She said the company supports, as much as possible, several animation-type companies. She said she has sat in on classes at the University of TT (UTT), which has an animation programme and provided insight for students on the possibilities of the industry. FilmTT supports UTTs Toon Market which features the work of animation students during their two-year programme, including short films, stop motion animation, traditional two dimensional (2D) and 3D animation.

FilmTT has also supported Animae Caribe, a non-governmental organisation that works collaboratively with creators in animation, gaming, and technology, for several years. “It has always been our mandate to support (creators).

“Over the last few years we would have been able to give more money (to Animae Caribe), but things have been a bit constrained recently. We supported last year and the intention is to support as much as we can this year.”

She said TT needs to continue pushing an animation brand and hopes animators can have the opportunity to work with live-action professionals, including filmmakers.

“It boils down to awareness…The awareness is lacking. Once the awareness is there, we can get investors and fill the industry.”

She said she is aware of the challenges creators have in being paid fairly, which can be a deterrent to entering the sector. Animators can get a fixed salary when working with a studio, but freelancers have a harder time. “When you’re hiring someone to work on your project, you will look at your budget. Internationally, you have your budget and you pay based on a scale. It’s the other way around locally.

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