Bangladeshi animation is a new form of visual arts experiencing a rapid growth. The animation industry employs about 12,000 people in Bangladesh. Most of the animations produced are for outsourced projects from western developed nations. Animation projects related to social awareness programs and TV advertisement purposes are another market, and a few animation studios produce animated shorts and feature films.[1] There are some animation festivals that annually take place in Bangladesh, most prominently the International Animation and Cartoon Festival.

History

edit

Bangladeshi animation traces its origin in the 1980s when the National Institute of Mass Communications started to offer courses on animation. The first major animation project in Bangladesh was a cartoon series titled Meena, developed as part of some social awareness programs in partnership with UNICEF.[2] Meena was first released in 1993 and became a household name across Bangladeshi children.[3] In 2000, another animated television series was released titled The Adventures of Montu Miah which became hugely popular within a short time. In 2013, the first edition of International Animation Cartoon Festival Bangladesh, the only major animated film festival in Bangladesh, took place at the Shishu Academy.[4] The production of the first Bangladeshi animated feature film, titled The Dreamstage, began in 2013 which is set to release in mid-2014.[5]

Magic Puppet Studio is one of the major private animation studio in Bangladesh which was established in 2015 [www.mpvfx.com] . Cartoon Bangladesh has started its journey since 2008. ToonBangla, a prominent Bangladeshi animation studio was founded in 2005. In 2010, Ogniroth Studio was founded which later became one of the major animation studios in the country.[6]

In 2019, Deepto TV & Cycore Studios produced an animated short film named Tomorrow. It became very popular after its release.[7]

In 2021, Komon TV founder Js Mahedi created an animated series titled 'Boka Bagh O Chalak Horin.' This animated series gained popularity shortly after its release."[8]

In 2023, Null Station produced the first animated web series named XD Bros. It is set to release in August 2023. It generated major hype among the youth of Bangladesh.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ Rob Reynolds (18 February 2014). Bangladesh animation industry growing. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Al Jazeera English.
  2. ^ "Meena is for all". UNICEF. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Meena and UNICEF". UNICEF. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  4. ^ "3-day animation fest features local, foreign cartoons". New Age. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  5. ^ "'The Dreamstage' to be BD's first animated feature film". Banglanews24.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Exclusive enterprising entrepreneurs". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Animation film 'Tomorrow' premieres on Deepto TV - Art & Culture - observerbd.com". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  8. ^ "Boka Bagh o Chalak Horin". IMDb Bangladesh Animation Popularity Ascending. October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  9. ^ "এই তরুণদের হাত ধরে আসছে ত্রিমাত্রিক অ্যানিমেটেড ওয়েব সিরিজ". Prothomalo.com. May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.

Cartoon Bangladesh produced "Jomider O Dakater Golpo", an animation film.