~
Marks three decades of nurturing creative talent, shaping industry-ready
professionals, and contributing to India's growing AVGC-XR ecosystem~
National,
June 24, 2026 : Arena Animation,
a pioneer in animation, gaming, visual effects, and digital media education and
a training brand of Aptech Limited is
commemorating 30 years of excellence in creative training and skill
development. Since its inception in 1996, the brand has played a pivotal role
in shaping careers across Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Gaming, Digital
Content Creation, AR/VR, Multimedia, and related creative disciplines,
empowering over 5 lakh students worldwide to pursue opportunities in the global
creative economy.
The
milestone marks three decades of Arena Animation's commitment to nurturing
talent, driving innovation, and building a skilled workforce for the rapidly
evolving AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended
Reality) sector. Today, as India emerges as a global hub for digital content
creation and creative technologies, Arena Animation continues to strengthen its
position as a leading talent development partner for the industry.
Over
the years, Arena Animation has expanded its footprint having over 210 centres
across 100+ cities & towns globally, building one of the country's largest
creative education networks. Backed by Aptech Limited's 40-year legacy in
education and skilling, the brand has consistently evolved its curriculum to
align with emerging technologies, industry requirements, and changing career
aspirations. Recently, Arena also successfully launched its Academic
Advisory Board in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards strengthening
industry-academia collaboration in India’s AVGC-XR and creative sectors. At
Arena Animation, staying aligned with evolving industry needs has always been a
priority. Guided by the philosophy of "Learn from the Leader,”
Arena believes students learn best from professionals who are actively shaping
the industry. The Academic Advisory Board has been established to bring
this expertise directly into the learning journey, ensuring curriculum remains
relevant, future-focused, and validated by leading industry practitioners.
Interestingly,
while Indian studios have traditionally served as production partners for
global projects, the success of homegrown IPs such as The Legend of Hanuman and
the global reception of Netflix's Kurukshetra signal a significant shift in the
industry. With audiences increasingly embracing diverse, locally rooted
stories, demand for original content across genres continues to grow.
Recognising this opportunity, Arena Animation is expanding its focus beyond
skill development to nurture the next generation of creators, storytellers, and
entrepreneurs. Through initiatives such as Arena Animation Originals, students
and alumni are encouraged to conceptualise, develop, and showcase original
intellectual properties, fostering innovation, creative entrepreneurship, and
participation in the rapidly growing creator and orange economies.
Arena
Animation's alumni have gone on to make significant contributions across
leading studios, production houses, gaming companies, broadcasters, and digital
content organisations, including DNEG, Rockstar Games, Zebu Animation, Green
Gold Animation, ILM, NYVFXWALA, Network18, Digitoonz, and many others. Several
alumni have been credited on internationally acclaimed and Oscar-nominated
film projects, while others have distinguished themselves at prestigious
platforms such as the IndiaSkills Competition and proudly represented
India at the WorldSkills Competition. Many have also received
recognition and accolades from state governments and dignitaries, including
Chief Ministers, for their outstanding achievements in the creative sectors.
Their success stories stand as a powerful testament to the brand's focus on
industry-aligned learning and career excellence.
Speaking on the
occasion, Mr. Sandip Weling, Whole-time Director & Chief Business
Officer, Aptech Limited said, “As Arena Animation celebrates 30 years,
we take immense pride in the impact our students, alumni, faculty, franchise
partners, and industry collaborators have created together. This milestone is
not merely a celebration of our legacy but a reaffirmation of our commitment to
the future. As the creative economy continues to expand, our focus remains on
empowering aspiring creators with industry-relevant skills, fostering
innovation, and enabling them to become creators, storytellers, entrepreneurs,
and leaders in the global AVGC-XR ecosystem."
Mr.
Shajan Samuel, Sr Vice President & National Sales Head- Arena Animation,
said, “India's AVGC-XR sector is poised for
significant growth, supported by increasing global demand for content,
technological advancements, and policy support. With its strong legacy,
extensive industry network, and future-focused learning ecosystem, Arena
Animation remains committed to playing a meaningful role in building the next
generation of creative professionals and contributing to India's emergence as a
global creative powerhouse.”
As
part of its 30-year celebrations, Arena Animation is launching a series of
initiatives aimed at strengthening engagement with students, alumni, industry
partners, and the wider creative community. These include alumni engagement,
industry outreach initiatives across multiple cities. The initiative aligns
with growing industry demand for homegrown content, original IPs, and
creator-led businesses, while leveraging advancements in Gen AI, virtual
production, immersive technologies, digital content creation, and
next-generation media workflows.
ABOUT
ARENA ANIMATION
With
30 years of excellence in creative education, Arena Animation is a
pioneer and global leader in Media & Entertainment training. Since its
inception in 1996, Arena Animation has trained over 4 lakh students worldwide
through its extensive network of centres. Arena Animation is one of Aptech’s
marquee training brands, backed by Aptech’s 40-year legacy in education
and skilling.
Aligned
with evolving industry trends, Arena Animation continues to stay ahead with a
strong focus on IP creation, the creator economy, and the growing orange
economy. It offers industry-relevant programs in Animation, VFX, Gaming,
Digital, AR/VR, and Multimedia, empowering students with the skills required to
succeed in the global creative landscape.
Backed
by expert faculty, global collaborations, and cutting-edge tools, Arena
students have been placed in leading studios and companies such as DNEG,
Rockstar Games, Zebu Animation, Green Gold Animation, ILM, NY VFXWALA,
Network18, Digitoonz, and more. For further information, please visit:
For
further information, please visit: https://www.arenaanimation.in/
PRESS
CONTACT
Srinidhi
Iyer, Corporate Communications, Aptech Limited
srinidhi.iyer@aptech.co.in