Arena Animation Celebrates Three Decades of Excellence in Creative Education

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, 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."

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.