MAAC Announces Its Academic Advisory Board

Feb 19, 2008


Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), India’s leading 3D Animation & Visual Effects training academy, offering various courses in computer graphics, animation & visual effects have recently formed an Academic Advisory Board consisting of stalwarts from the industry. The board is represented by Ms. Shelly Page, European Representative – DreamWorks Animation; Mr. Sanjiv Waerkar, Creative Director – UTV; Mr. Chietan Jain, Entrepreneur (Information technology); Mr. Nilesh Sardesai, CG Director – Prana Studios; Mr. Sanjot Sonalkar, Creative Director – Pixion Studios.

The advisory Board is an external forum which is available to the core academic team of MAAC to brainstorm and decide course up-gradations & additions, training techniques and standardization, research and development, etc. The Board will also facilitate alignment of studio requirements with course curriculum on a constant basis so that the students are made production ready when they complete the course. The formation of an Academic Advisory Board will help MAAC to further diversify its course offerings to students & will also help them to introduce the latest technology available in the industry worldwide.

Speaking on this Mr. Jasmeet Singh, Director-Academics MAAC said “The appointment of an external academic advisory board will help us to widen our education horizon for the students and will also have a lot of international perspective to our curriculum. The composition of the board is done in a manner in which there is suitable representation given to Animation, VFX, Gaming production, Technology know-how and International perspective. The inputs from all the stalwarts will really help our students to go the next level.”

Commenting on this Mr. Ronald D’mello, MD MEL said that, “The animation, gaming and VFX production industry is growing at a rapid pace and to keep up to the level of expectation that the studios have from us we need to constantly upgrade our courses. The appointment of academic advisory board comes as an overall strengthening of the processes of MAAC in rolling out production ready talent.”

According to Mr. Sanjot Sonalkar the member of Academic Advisory Board “We are happy to be part of the Academic Advisory Board of MAAC as we can now be involved in the grooming of the talent that we would hire in our studios. It is a very progressive initiative MAAC has embarked on to bring the studios and institutions together to develop talent which is the dire need of the industry today”.

“I am very excited about joining the MAACAcademic Advisory Board and look forward to sharing my experiences of excellent practice at the leading animation and VFX schools around Europe, Canada and the USA. The entire sector in India can benefit from innovation and inspiration provided by talented new graduates.”

MAAC, is the education division of Maya Entertainment Limited, and is the pioneer of 3D animation and visual effects education in India. It presently operates in nearly 60 centres and has provided services to more than 30000 students in India, Nepal, Middle East and Sri Lanka. It has an exclusive association with The University of Cambridge, London to validate its diploma courses. The institute has pioneered animation training in the country and has also taken initiatives for the growth and development of the industry by promoting young talents through events like 24 FPS Animation Awards – an annual event conceptualized by MAAC that helps in identifying potential talents in animation in the country. MEL is owned by a group of investors including Enam Securities, Intel Capital and Bhukhanvala Holdings.(India PR)