I have been in this industry from the moment I started working and as depressing as it sounds, it is really a tough market. Let me show you how tough the market is...
How do you rate this animation?
This is the quality of the animation industry in our country. I would say the work is almost on par with industrial standards but with only a small fraction of the budget. Then I wonder, why are we not able to make our animation industry bloom.
I list the problem to be as follows:
If we create a local scene, it does not appeal to the international market. If we create a different culture, we will receive brickbats saying that we have very surface understanding of the different culture.
eg. Malaysians creating scenes and animation of the life of Eskimos in the North Pole
While the animation can be top notch, what we really lack is the script. Animators do forget that creating an appeal to the work is very much dependent on a good script and proper voice talent.
Insufficient financing. This is the most dire part of animation industry. There definitely cannot be moving of mountains if there is no manpower to move even an anthill.
My Rant
I am not ashamed to say that my company, an animation studio is probably alive and still creating animation because of government grants. We are not able to survive merely base on purchase of licenses and buy up from television stations.
It is difficult to maintain a good team of animators, script writers, recording studio and other supporting personnel if we lack the funds.
I am lucky to have a team that stood by me through thick and thin. I also dare to say that these individuals have experienced the bitter with me going through months without their pay but held on with the hope that we will see better days ahead.
I am considered a seasoned player in this industry in Malaysia, and if I face such an insurmountable task, imagine what new animators would face. I can fully understand why so many studios have come to set up their support system in Malaysia because they have the work and the contract to pay salaries. These animators produce work which are no lesser in quality to their western counterpart in fact much cheaper.
Whilst I am struggling with a perennial problem plaguing this industry I am looking at how the blockchain can help animators like myself. Cryptokitties seem like a good idea. I really don't understand how digital cats have such an appeal to the extent that they costs more than the real ones.
If the kitty above sells for $115,000 I think we can all resign from this industry and do digital cat breeding.
Creating New Intellectual Properties
I am thinking how the blockchain can help me and I am going along the lines of having super warriors that represent each crytocurrency. Just like how Captain Planet captured the hearts of many youngsters...well, if you don't belong to my age group maybe this will help you understand.
If a group of teenager can summon a super human being and with a good moral embedded in the theme, I think there is some marketability in it.
I am open to ideas, tell me how blockchain can help the creative industry.
Here is a basic idea that I am toying with....5 ninja warriors (baby animals) and they all represent a type of crypto and the benefit that the crypto brings. For instance a baby whale dressed in a ninja suit but with a stamp of 'Steem' on its tummy.
Something like the above.
If all else fails, perhaps I will start getting licenses to sell comics online for a nominal fee.
