Animation SA launches survey to help create ecosystem around the industry

As a way of understanding the true potential of the industry, Animation South Africa (ASA) is calling on stakeholders to take part in a survey that will help create an ecosystem around the industry.

“Animation, VFX [visual effects] and gaming have huge potential to contribute to the economy, jobs and the country’s creative capital,” said Chairperson of ASA Nick Cloete in a statement.

“However, any real understanding of that potential or how to reach it has been hampered by a lack of real data about the industry.”

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Information such as the size and value, the number of studios and SMMEs and jobs they’re creating, where and how the industry is succeeding or failing, its educational needs and capacity, skills gaps and training needs, opportunities for export potential, co-productions and foreign servicing, value of locally-held IP (intellectual property) are among the things ASA is in the dark about.

Value of data

The data can help decision-making stakeholders determine the future direction of the sector and fast track opportunities to bring the most value to the industry. It will also serve as a baseline from which to track industry growth in years to come.

“We call on all animation students, professionals, studios and academic institutions offering animation and VFX-related training to take a few minutes to complete this important survey,” ASA’s Deputy Chairperson Isabelle Rorke.

Interested participants can complete the survey on ASA’s website. Afterward, the collected information will undergo anonymisation and aggregation processes. This is done to ensure data privacy, as it removes personally identifiable information. It also involves creating a comprehensive report with valuable insights and analysis. All of this is done while adhering to data protection regulations.

To encourage participation, ASA is offering cash incentives in the form of lucky draws to those who complete the survey. Students could stand to win R1 500, professionals R2 500 while studios and schools R5 000.

The survey should be completed by 16 November.

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The industry’s potential

According to ASA, globally, the animation sector is growing at more than 5% annually and is expected to hit around US$642,5 billion by 2030.

While South Africa was fast becoming globally recognised as a centre of animation, VFX and gaming excellence, “the local sector is not yet achieving this kind of growth or share of the global market”, according to Rorke.

“There has never been a more crucial time for comprehensive data analysis of the sector to ensure our sustainability, growth and global competitiveness, and we are grateful for GIZ’s support in this,” said Rorke.

Earlier this month, ASA hosted the ninth Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town.

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