Press Release 13 March 2012

A group of young people in Manipur have been inspired to turn one of their favourite folktales into a short animation film.  They have taken the opportunity to share ideas, research the folk art styles of Manipur and to work out how they will use their diverse talents, during an experimental three week long Animation Workshop organised by the Manipur Film Development Corporation, with the UK based Adivasi Arts Trust.

Tara Douglas, the Secretary of the Adivasi Arts Trust is guiding the participants through the animation film making process, with reference to her previous experience of tribal animation in Nagaland, Sikkim and Central India.  Tara has brought along an interesting collection of short animation films for the daily screenings so that the Manipuri team will have exposure to new styles and techniques.  Several animation films have already been made in Manipur, including animated folktales. (“Uchek Lameidong”, Kekoo Lotpi Pebet” and “KabuiKei-Oiba” are three).  Robindro Meitei has worked on the latter, but this time the team want to try something different: They want to keep an organic “hand-made” look for their film “Tapta”. 

Two Post Graduate animation students from the National Institute of Design have also come along to help the participants through the preproduction phase that includes writing a script, drawing a storyboard and assembling an animatic.  Of the two, Sephin Alexander is keeping an overall picture of the film by creating the animatic – a blueprint of the film that will also include some minimal animation. Meanwhile Rahul Laishram is focusing on the minute details of scene composition for the first truly animated sequence in the film, to establish the visual style.  

Several in the team are adept at colouring artwork in Photoshop while others are ready to animate the 2D cut out puppets using Flash software.   Three years ago, Robindro Meitei took a course to learn how to animate using Flash software and he admits to “knowing a few tricks” - it is captivating to watch him bring the Tiger to life – creeping furtively and springing into action. 

Kiranjit Sharma has the immense patience to design trees embellished with intricate patterns in ink.  The younger members of the team, Khundrakpam Kemarun and Keidam Karunjeet Singh, are also adding to the stock of artwork by designing the smallest of details for the scenes.  Mushrooms, orchids and the Ngarubak (a basket for keeping dried fish) that hangs above the fire in the kitchen will all reaffirm that it is a tale from Manipur.  With only four more days to go before the conclusion of the workshop, the team is pressed for time to prepare a presentation for the Commissioner of Art and Culture, Dr. R.K. Nimai on Saturday afternoon, as it is hoped that they will be able to secure additional funding support to work for a further period to complete the film.