Discussion with R.K. Lalmani

R.K. Lalmani achieved his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1997.  He works as an editor at the Manipur Film Development Corporation and he was a participant in the Animation Workshop in Manipur (Feb 25-17 March 2012)

Why was Tapta chosen as the story for the animation film?
‘Tapta’ is synonymous for some imaginary being children of the Meitei community are made afraid about in order to help them go to sleep and to stop crying.

Were you able to “see” the film in your mind before you started to work on it?
Yes, it is simple, funny, interesting, straight and absorbing.

Did you consider that the importance of including a tribal perspective in the animation project?
Definitely. The folk story of Tapta had been there before the advent of Hinduism in Manipur. There were lots of similarities between the plain people and the hills people in ancient time. There were lots of communities in different parts of the state both in the hills and the valley. And each area had unique style and tradition. Representation of tribal perspective is difficult to assess as there are more than 26 distinctive ethnic communities. Inclusion of hill area as a location with some adventure there surely brings the essence of being tribal in a broad sense. On top of that, tribal people should put extra effort to preserve the tradition including folk stories and culture to avoid extinction.

Did you think of how others would view the fact that there was no tribal participation or involvement in the project?
Prospective Tribal film makers/ animators should be identified and groomed. Mere invitation won’t attract them. The aesthetic gap between the tribal and the others is a big barrier for the tribal people to come forward. The tribal people are too attached with their area/villages as the community environment is their only world and comfort zone. So, they should be invented and explored. It’s always a problem. Extra effort is required to boost their confidence outside their comfort zones. Some people with spears in a hilly area will denote involvement of tribal people. To be particular about a tribe needs extensive research work which the youths of today have little knowledge about. Extra effort is called for to bring them to the common environment.

Who is going to complete the animation film from Manipur?
If there is a will there is a way.

What is the underlying point of the “Tapta” story?
Different perspectives of different people somewhat in the line of Rashomon. But it is told comically. The simple and straight forward narration of Tapta may probably be a yummy starter before a heavy professional meal of animation. Definitely a treat for children.

How does it translate across cultures? How will it be understood and received by people who are not from Manipur?
Still there is no definite structure of Tapta. It is an imaginary creature especially use in a form of narrative lullaby. So, every culture can relate to Tapta. Even the tiger as well as the thief have their own imagination about Tapta. It is very universal where one can play with one’s own imagination. The Manipuriness is only a means to narrate the story.

Did you consider how to represent the contemporary situation in Manipur in the animation film project?
It’ll be damn disturbing. Because the contemporary situation (law, order, political, social etc.) is too gloomy and dark. Literally, power cut is rampant. It can be an art animation film. But contemporary situations in aesthetics and sports are the only silver linings.

How did your performance in the workshop compare with the rest of the group?
So and so.

Will you be able to complete the animation film all by yourself?
Yes, with financial and colleagues’ assistance.

Discussion with Rahul Laishram

Rahul Laishram is a Post Graduate student of Animation at  the National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad.  He was also a resource person for the Animation Workshop in Manipur (Feb 25-17 March 2012)


Why was "Tapta" chosen as the story for the animation film?
It was chosen mainly for its popularity.

Were you able to “see” the film in your mind before you started to work on it?
I was already working on a comic book version of the folktale. Therefore, the sequences were pretty much clear in my head. It was the treatment that remained flexible in my mind.

Did you consider the importance of including a tribal perspective in the animation project?
I did consider the importance of it but then it can be said that we haven't deviated much from it. If we are talking about the treatment, then yes, we could have been given more time to research a bit more on it.

Did you think of how others would view the fact that there was no tribal participation or involvement in the project?
It depends on what kind of "others" are there. Personally, I felt that the mediums used for the announcement of the workshop were not very efficient. Also, it's up to the individual to be interested in animation. We can't pull anyone into doing it. This might also prove that the number of interested people in animation are quite less.

Who is going to complete the animation film from Manipur?
Dr. R.K. Joykumar Singh has taken the responsibility to complete the film with his team of animators.

What is the underlying point of the “Tapta” story?
The story highlights the fact that fear is imaginary. The fear which is inflicted by the mere thought of how "Tapta" would be, carries the story forward in a series of events.

How does it translate across cultures? How will it be understood and received by people who are not from Manipur?
It's a lighthearted story that will cut across cultures. The suspense in the beginning and the unfolding of events will be quite entertaining for children.

Did you consider how to represent the contemporary situation in Manipur in the animation film project?
I did consider to represent the contemporary situation of Manipur but then, as it was a folktale animation film project and not an "adapted from folktale" project, it would have been unfair to have forced it in. There are possibilities though for future adaptations.

How did your performance in the workshop compare with the rest of the group?
I luckily got to finish the promo in a short period of time. My efficiency levels have increased in the workshop from before and I feel quite prepared for situations like these.

Will you be able to complete the animation film all by yourself?
Since, I am not the director, I can't. Potentially, yes.

Press Release 17 March 2012

The Animation Workshop held at the Manipur Film Development Corporation Complex in Imphal, in Manipur, over the past three weeks concluded today with a Valedictory Function at 5.30pm.  The Chief Guest was Shri  R.K. Nimai Singh IAS (the Commissioner of Art and Culture, Manipur).  Certificates were presented to the participants of the workshop that volunteered their time to begin production of a short animated folktale from their state.  

The welcome address and Key Note was given by Dr. R.K. Joykumar Singh, artist, animation expert and local coordinator.  Dr. Joykumar gave a brief history of animation and he observed the magic of the dynamic artwork.  Dr. R.K. Nimai Singh went on to say that as the participants were young – between the ages of 20-30, they could expect a long life in production.  He further encouraged the group by speaking of his hope for animation done in Manipur to receive national and international exposure. 

Tara Douglas gave an audio visual presentation, sharing the activities of the workshop with the visitors.
She reminded the audience that the objective of the workshop had been to explore Manipuri culture through the medium of animation as an alternative approach to the focus on commercial production prevalent in India.  She also mentioned a tendency these days to see animation in terms of the software used to create it, revealing her thought that it would be great if the team maintain their own folk art style in the short film. 

The President of the Manipur Film Development Corporation, Dr K. Sobita Devi spoke  of her enthusiasm for this first workshop initiative, also mentioning that  support  would be found for the completion of the film and for future projects to promote animation in Manipur.    

The highlight of the event was the screening of the animated promo for the short film “Tapta”.  The promo is available here.

The Animation Workshop in Manipur was supported by the Government Department of Art and Culture (Manipur), the Manipur Film Development Corporation, the Adivasi Arts Trust and the Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust.   

Press Release 16 March 2012

On the penultimate day of the Animation Workshop in Manipur that has been taking place over the past three weeks, things are really coming to life.  A group of young artists and animation enthusiasts from the Meitei community based in Imphal have used the time provided by the Manipur Film Development Corporation and the facilities, including a constant power supply, to develop a folktale from their own tradition for a short animation film.  It has been a time consuming process that began with script writing and storyboarding.  The storyboard is an essential part of any animation film production as it confirms the shots that will make up the film and it also shows whether the story is getting communicated well; a storyboard looks rather like a comic book with each frame adding to the sequence of action.

Characters were designed by young Yamnam Sapha Wangam Apanthoi M. (Swam) and they have been hand painted and scanned for computer manipulation using various 2D software.  The advantage of having a team is that elements of the film can be animated simultaneously by different people.  The actions defined by setting keyframes are the rendered and passed onto the compositor, who will assemble the scenes using After Effects software.  Rahul Laishram has been working hard to assemble the multilayered scenes chosen for the trailer that the team is planning to show at the valedictory session tomorrow.  They are hoping that the Commissioner of Art and Culture, Dr. R.K. Nimai Singh will be suitable enthused at their efforts during the workshop to be able to sanction support for the completion of the short production, anticipated to take a further six months.

Visitors have been dropping in out of curiosity to see the developments for themselves. Today the team was visited by Oinam Doren, a documentary film maker from Manipur who has recently returned from Mumbai.  Doren has made a film recently “Songs of Mashangva” featuring Thangkul folk blues musician Rewben Mashangva that received the prize for best ethnographic film at the National Awards in Delhi in 2011.   
“They make so many films here in Manipur, but they are very mainstream productions with romance and action.  One film received the President’s Award recently.  It was called “Phijigi Mani” (My Only Gem).  That was a good one.  It had some romance too but the content also had depth.  It was about Manipuris who leave their home state to find work and then get married and settled outside. It made me feel quite emotional”, he admits.  Doren  has a few projects that he is working on, including a documentary that he wants to make about the headhunters of Nagaland, but it is very tough to find financial support to make artistic films and hard hitting documentaries the world over. 

The Animation Workshop in Manipur has been possible through the Government Department of Art and Culture (Manipur), the Manipur Film Development Corporation and the UK based Adivasi Arts Trust. 

Press Release 15 March 2012

Animation, once regarded as an obscure, labour intensive art form is about quantity in the present global scenario of capitalism. This has led to a booming animation industry in India dominated by outsourced commercial animation from Western countries. Factors that attract foreign entertainment companies to India include prevalence of English which makes it easier for communication, good studios equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software and most of all, reduced rates of pay, estimated at 6-15 times less than salaries in the US.

Along with job opportunities, the current trend has also brought a mainstream sensibility for cartoons that is by now the standard expectation of young viewers in India. But animation can also be used for revitalizing folk art styles and indigenous culture in remote areas where young people are losing touch with their oral traditions. A three week long Animation Workshop running since 25 February 2012 at the Manipur Film Development Corporation in Imphal is providing the opportunity for young artists to explore animation as a tool to revitalize their folklore. The initiative of engaging a local group for pre-production of a short animated folktale from Manipur was proposed by the UK based Adivasi Arts Trust, a charitable organisation that has conducted similar workshops to introduce animation for storytelling in Nagaland, Sikkim and in Central India. In Manipur this cultural animation project has received support from the Government of Manipur, Department of Art and Culture.

The participants of the workshop are all from the Meitei community. At the start they chose a humorous folktale and over the past three weeks they have set about adapting it for a short animation film. Characters have been designed with reference to the artwork of the ancient illustrated manuscripts and the team wants to maintain a hand-made look for the film regardless of the animation software they use during the production. With the workshop concluding in two days time, the team is preparing a presentation of their work for the Commissioner of Art and Culture, Dr. R.K. Nimai, with the hope of attracting further support for completing the five minute long film.

Rates of production of a half an hour animated programme in US and Canada are said to range from $250,000-400,000; in the Philippines the estimated range is from $100,000-120,000 and in India at $80,000-100,000. Budget discussions have been held in the workshop to calculate how much it would cost to produce a short film  in Manipur, where the rates are significantly less than in the animation centres of Mumbai and Bangalore, where salaries for animators range from 20,000 – 35,000 per month. In the United Kingdom, the recommended rates of pay for freelance 3D animation in 2009-2010 was £178- 232 per day; In remote Manipur where the pace of life is considerably slower, 8,000 INR per month is accepted as an adequate starting salary for an animator.

Press Release 14 March 2012

Production of a short animated folktale from Manipur has begun at the Manipur Film Development Corporation in Imphal.  The initiative was started in a three week long Animation Workshop from 25 February and concluding on Saturday.  The event has been supported by the Government Department of Art and Culture, in response to finding new ways of preserving the cultural heritage of Manipur and promoting it to a wider audience.    

Although it will be just five minutes long, the production team of workshop participants, all with some prior experience in art, design or animation software, are beginning to feel that it is like a feature film.  The story seemed simple at first in its oral form, but to translate it into the medium of animation is quite another matter. Over a hundred shots are required to convey the story in an entertaining, dynamic way, exemplified in the hilarious climax that takes place when the “Thief” character has the ride of his life enacting rodeo stunts on the back of a tiger that he has foolishly mistaken for a horse.   All this will have to be animated frame by frame.  At present the preferred technique is 2D cut-out animation using software to manipulate puppets. 

Naturally the characters have voices too, and today the team turned their attention to sound, with the aim of recording dialogues for the story in three languages – Manipuri, Hindi and English.  Fortunately the Manipur Film Development Corporation has a professional sound recording studio, and R.K. Lalmani is adept at using the multi-track digital recording system.  Lalmani works at the Corporation and he is a film enthusiast who has made a few films himself. 

With no female participants in the workshop, Haobam Sandhyarani Devi (Sandhyarani), a teacher with some experience in acting has volunteered to provide the voice of the “Mother”  - who is at her wits end and finally invents the “Tapta” to silence her screaming child.   A. Rishi Sharma (Rishi) also dropped in to find out more about plans for the musical track.  He has his own recording studio close by and has offered to compose a musical track once the animatic has been completed, as it will give an accurate idea of the pace and action of the film.  He also has an extensive collection of sound effects for creating ambience, realism and mood. 

Sephin Alexander has taken time away from the preproduction module of his animation course at National Institute of Design to get some practical experience in preproduction in Manipur.  This includes assembling the animatic – a sequence of storyboard sketches that also incorporate some basic animation to convey the action and identify the final animation requirements.  Rahul Laishram, also from the National Institute of Design, is composing and animating a test sequence of the film that will be the opening shot – that of a traditional Meitei house, one stormy night.  Both are exploring ways of simulating rain using software and there are several useful tutorials available online to refer to:  

How to make rain in After Effects:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dz09RuP65s
(quite an amusing video on how to make a bright scene dark with rain)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvGQtvo7Be4
(good information on creating basic rain in After Effects)

Example of lightening and rain created in After Effects:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOLVXK1Yk4A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMxcBWVplp8&feature=related

The workshop is collaboration with the UK based Adivasi Arts Trust, a charitable organisation that promotes awareness of indigenous art and culture.  

 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.