Businesses across every industry in Bangladesh are now hopping on to the animation wagon. They are sold to its simplicity, effectiveness and high Return on Investments, the demand for quality, purposeful and result driven animation videos are higher than ever. This highly promising industry however, despite being in its infancy, is not new in Bangladesh. Having been in stunted growth for decades, the infrastructure for this industry is still a work in progress. In 2018, animators are in high demand. Numerous online resources, and local courses are available to aspiring animator. Although, more and more businesses are starting to see its potential as a viable marketing tool, the industry has had a rather slow journey into prominence. Even now, firms are struggling logistically to source resources and talent to meet the increasing demands of the local market in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi animation goes way back to the 1980s when the National Institute of Mass Communications began offering courses to train people on animation. In Bangladesh, Meena, part of a UNICEF project, took every household by storm in the nineties as a cartoon show aired on public television. The character and the show was created as an educational tool for the masses, and the results were tremendous. The show, although set in Bangladesh and created for a Bangladeshi audience, would go on to be aired in multiple countries in South Asia. In 2000, another animated television series was released titled ‘The Adventures of Montu Miah’ which became hugely popular within a short time. Despite being few and far between, works of animation pushed boundaries for the industry, and repeatedly set new standards.

In 2013, the first edition of International Animation Cartoon Festival Bangladesh, the only major animated film festival in Bangladesh, took place at the Shishu Academy The production of the first Bangladeshi animated feature film, titled The Dreamstage, began in 2013 which is set to release in mid-2014. In 2018, another feature animated TV show ‘Chacha Bahinir Ajob Kahini’ is expected to be released, by Maverick Studios. Animators of Bangladeshi origins have also gone on to work in Award winning blockbusters, from Avengers to Hotel Transylvania. There are countless other achievements that Bangladeshi animators have achieved and surpassed, but are underappreciated, and have flown below the radar over the years. But times are changing.

Persevering through the decades with hunger, the demand and the talent, animators and studios are now gradually being recognized by marketers in Bangladesh. Here are some of the key players of the industry right now, making their impact through not only creating high quality animation, but also helping develop the market through offering a variety of animation courses, ranging from VFX to Motion graphics.

Maverick Studios

One of the biggest names in the marketing agency industry, Maverick Studios has carved out a niche for itself with award winning campaigns for numerous brands. Since starting out in 2010, Maverick has created a wide range of corporate videos, promotional videos, animations, charity videos, and training videos for leading clients like Unilever, HSBC, Coca Cola and Citibank. Maverick diversified their core competencies, and spun off their wings into seperate entities: Strategeek (now X Solutions) for digital marketing; Ice9 Interactive for IT solutions; and ShopUp for f-commerce, and more. Maverick has played a crucial role in helping develop the animation industry of Bangladesh in the recent years, with its animation courses on MVRK Lair. They have built an inclusive community of visual artists, who through their training programs in VFX and Rotoscoping, apply their expertise in a variety of national and international projects. Maverick Studios are currently on the verge of making history with a vivid, colorful, and international quality animated TV show called ‘Chacha Bahinir Ajob Kahini’. With a vast, detailed world, enthralling narrative, and quirky, loveable character design. A trailer for the show is available on Youtube, and it is currently being crowdfunded by Bangladeshis all over the world. If it comes to fruition, it will be a gigantic leap for the Bangladeshi animation industry.

Mighty Punch Studios

One of the most reputed animation studios, specializing in cartoon style 2D animation and comic book artwork; Mighty Punch studios have been operating since 2013. They are highly sought out for a distinct, vibrant and colorful personality in their work, with well thought out character design, and engrossing world building. They are the team behind the highly popular Bangladeshi superhero comic book Shabash.

Cycore Studios

Animation is a tech based industry, driven by innovation in process and design, creating more and more engaging forms of content. Cycore is one of the leading Animation service provider in bangladesh, with a successful training program which has churned out over 170 graduates as of 2017. Their services are highly sought out for their expertise in motion capture, 3D architecture, and VFX. Their portfolio boasts services for some of the most high profile MNCs in Bangladesh.

Chalkdust Studio

Chalkdust studio took social media with storm last year with a trailer for their upcoming sci fi epic, Invasion. A story about an alien invasion in Bangladesh captured in tasteful special effects, and VFX, with a model of space ships not very unlike that of its western counterparts. Chalkdust studio is renowned for specializing in 2D, 3D animation, VFX, motion graphics. With a diverse team of art directors, animators and creatives with experience in different industries.

Dreamer Donkey

One of the oldest entries in the list, Dreamer Donkey is an animation firm that specializes in 2D, animation, concept design, motion graphics, art direction, and also in comic book art. Dreamer Donkey, through diversified streams of content strives to combine classical elements of Bengali culture, with the modern and post modern.

Ogniroth Studios

Ogniroth Studios has been one of the most reputed names in Bangladesh animation scene, garnering worldwide fame being featured on Al Jazeera for creating animated content for the world, but with a touch of Bangladeshi folk cultural elements. December 2016, Ogniroth Academy came into being going on to morph themselves into one of the most sought out, knowledge platforms of the industry, offering three month courses on Modeling, VFX, and more.

EndingScene Studio

Despite being a relative newcomer in the Industry, led by a team of self taught animators who were business graduates: Endingscene Studio now boasts a thriving portfolio. With a skilled team of 25 visual artists creating 2D and 3D animation, Frame animation, 3D modeling, storyboards, promotional video along with in-house sound mixing and voice overs to create crisp, vibrant and target oriented animated content. Animated videos are a relatively new concept that has been thought of solely affordable for MNC’s and corporate firms. Endingscene hopes to change that by creating a variety of affordable packages for Small Businesses, Startups, and e-commerce firms. The types of video content include:

Explainer videos: Created to educate and engage target audiences with the use of eye catching animation, reinforced with a brief, crisp and to the point script explaining how your business adds value to your customers. Explainers are very useful when launching new products or services.

3D/2D Animation: With multiple wings of a dedicated in-house team with experience in local and international projects, Ending Scene creates high quality, result driven animated content, with thorough research on target audiences and the industry to create relevance, generate engagement and maximize brand recall.

Corporate videos: Narrate your journey, celebrate your team, highlight your services and products with corporate videos. Align your stakeholders with your company timeline and portfolio with an added personal (and visual) touch.