Buoyed by outsourced demand for content creation services from countries like the US and Japan, the Philippine animation industry has come a long way since the 1970s. Now as the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) lends its support to the 10th e-services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition, a government-led ICT/BPO trade platform in the Philippines, ACPI does so in a bid to carve a niche for the Filipino brand of animation by advocating Creative Process Outsourcing (CPO).
Long held as a premier destination for voice-based BPO, the Philippines drives towards the recognition of the CPO that stems from the desire of the local industry for non-voice leadership expertise.
ACPI is advocating to various agencies and organizations that the Philippines should claim CPO given the Filipinos’ inherent talent in designing anything from print materials to animation to product modeling, etc.
Several creative industries can be taken under the arms of CPO. These include animation and game development industries, music and sound engineering, advertising, film, industrial design, architecture, comics, photography, publishing, and even those that fall under corporate communication such as writing and conceptualization.
Animation has been an enduring highlight for e-services visitors under its creative services session track. One of ACPI’s members, Cutting Edge Productions, even bagged the e-services awards 2009 special citation for milestone achievement in Philippine animation industry for the film “Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia” (“Wanderer in the land of Elementalia”).
Lower costs, consistent quality and speed in delivering output, English proficiency, and the ability to comprehend concepts and storylines are among the strengths of the local industry that provides around 5,000 jobs to local animators, as well as generating $110M worth of revenues for 2009.
Such milestones serve to boost ACPI towards reaching greater heights. “We want our own brand of animation,” said ACPI president Weng Bagadion. “If one is familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the Filipino industry has matured to a point where we are now seeking for self-actualization.”
This year, as ACPI celebrates its year-long 10th anniversary, it hosted a panel discussion at the recently concluded e-services 2010. The panel is headed by former ACPI president Grace Dimaranan; Ranulf Goss, president of Game Developers Association of the Philippines; and Cheryl Feliciano of October 80 Publications.
ACPI also hosted an animation track composed of two topics. Marla Rausch, CEO of Animation Vertigo, Inc. discussed new technology in animation development like the motion capture technology that her company is utilizing and proud of. On the other hand, Nelson “Blog” Caliguia, Jr., explained his personal process on original storyboard development for animation. Caliguia is the 2007 and 2009 grand prize winner of Animahenasyon, the country’s biggest animation festival and ACPI’s flagship project.
ACPI is a 55-member non-profit organization that specializes in full 2D and 3D animation as well as pre- and post-production services that include layouting, web design, and mobile applications among others. In collaboration with educational institutions like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), it also provides e-learning modules, training regulations, and assessment tools for schools that want to provide animation training.
e-Services is an annual trade show and conference that gathers together the best and the brightest ICT/BPO industry movers and thought-leaders under one high-class venue. Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, e-services partner agencies include the Board of Investments (BOI), the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), the Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG), and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).
e-services 2010 was held last February 8-9 at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. It is also participated by the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), the Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc. (MTIAPI), and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP).
