Uncharted Field of Cartoon Making

Ever since Television started in Nepal, cartoon had always been obtaining space. What Nepal grew up is with Mina and Moomin for sure. Although the history of Tom and Jerry dates back to 1940 when William Hanna and Joseph Barbera began the series; Nepal has not yet been able to make any significant production even after 80 years in this sector.

The charm of animation globally can be understood as Oscar has kept one separate category for Animation industry itself. Globally, a huge success - animation industry has never been attempted in Nepal.

Advancement in technologies has been letting production of these animated stuffs beautifully. Although, the initiation of animation were made with the target of children below the age of nine, it has now been target beyond the age itself. India has been grabbing opportunity being co producer in lot of the branded production in the mean time. Rising production costs, high brand competition, less national level supportive policies, insecurity over career, absence of organized knowledge has been troubling animation industry globally - letting few reputed brand enjoy the entire global market. The size of global animation industry was more than 244 billion USD back then in 2016 itself, where the major market were from United States, Japan, Canada, China, France, Britain, Germany along with Korea.

Expensive to learn, absence of professional course, and lack of secured investment over capital and career has been one reason why cartoon industry never got initiated in Nepal. Neither could any production house think over it, leaving the happening practices; nor could any IT firms think over it leaving their coding jobs. The products of animation industry have never been able to create notable results in Nepal. Although, few efforts and works over 2D and 3D cartoons can actually be seen during political campaigns for social media campaigns; the sustainability ends with the end of campaign as a whole.

The basic primary challenge that makes cartoon industry unsecured in Nepal is the competition across. Kids would still prefer Motu Patlu, and getting over Motu Patlu indeed would remain a challenge. Also, Nepal does not have it's own comic series of its own. While Ninja Turtle, Alladin had remained popular comic series, that took the hype back then; where as in context of Nepal - Nepalese comic season is never anything huge. Had Twake Production been motivated towards constructive animation, they would definitely obtain the charm; but their negative motives took them to the end. Meanwhile, Twake production's hype in short period of time should have been a lesson that Nepal actually requires animation of it's own stories - be that political or non political.

The scope of animation in Nepal should not be minimized. Be that schools, or kid shows, or 3D pictures - the mass children would always be the potential target. What Nepal grew up was with Nepali dubbed Mina cartoon or Moomin, for the later generation. So, those y-generation youths today still remember their past through Moomin. Today's kids have wider access; they do have access to International channels along with YouTube too. However, with the unified efforts of schools - the potential can always be created. Didn't Aviation Museum got huge popularity through support of schools?

Also, making use of technologies, the popularity can be obtained abroad as well. Dispora's kids can be separate source of attention. Just that the story should me meaningful and well targeted. Starting up the series can be troublesome with huge risk; but one can always start with something simple and small. When Akbar Birbal was hit in India, when animated Krishna's story was popular in India - we do have our own characters here. Be that Gautam Buddha, or Junga Bahadur Rana; be that Prithivi Narayan Shah, or King Janak - Nepal always have wonderful characters. Just that the stories has to be build up to make it inspirational and meaningful, equally interesting with proper presentation. And, any historical incident could be a story always.

Rather than developing our own what we would attempt would only be Nepali Dubbing of Motu Patlu, which would barely gain any attention, rather ask for reason – why watch Nepali dubbed than the Hindi original? Cartoons in Nepal should not be restricted to those in Newspapers, as an image in this era. Support from national level, motivation from TV Networks and production houses and exercise of fresh talented minds can create next prospect in Nepal for sure. 

Published in The Rising Nepal's Friday Supplement of August 10, 2018.