How to become a Cartoonist in India
Are you searching for career options available for cartoonist in India? Do you wish to start your career as a cartoonist? Check this article to get details regarding the career prospects, job description, educational qualification and skills required to become a cartoonist. Also, find the best cartoonist and animation colleges in India to pursue cartooning courses.
Cartoonists are professionals who use their creativity, sketching and drawing skills to express an idea in the form of cartoons, sketches and drawings. In general, cartoons are one of the powerful tools used by the media to deliver the breaking news, a current event or a social issue in a satirical or a witty manner. Cartoonists have a lot of opportunities in the creative fields like print media, television and advertising companies. If you wish to showcase your creativity and cartooning skills to the outside world, then go ahead and become a cartoonist. Do you want to know how to become a cartoonist in India? Follow this article and get more details regarding the cartoonist job in India.Cartoonist-Job profile
Cartoonist is a creative job which provides an excellent platform for those who possess drawing skills and little humour sense to shout out their ideas in the form of cartoons or sketches. Cartoons have the potential to spread a strong message to the public at an easy go and hence the newspapers and magazines have a separate cartooning column to address the political news, sports news, short stories and the trending topics. The main role of a cartoonist is to convert an idea into cartoons or animated images. Depending upon the requirements of the clients, the cartoonists must be able to create cartoons, caricatures, storyboards, animation images and comic strips. Motion cartoonists are also called as animators and they have a major role in the creation of animation series, cartoon shows and comic stories. Not only print media, the television media, gaming companies and advertising agencies also have its doors wide open for the cartoonists. Their job also includes the creation of model drawings, illustrations and the addition of background layouts, special effects and colour patterns for animation projects.Cartoonist-Eligibility criteria
There are no restrictions on age and education to become a cartoonist in India. But to shine as a cartoonist, one must possess special skills in drawing or illustration. In this digital era, the software has overtaken the freehand sketching techniques. So, having extra knowledge of graphic design, multimedia or any illustration software is an added advantage for a person to excel in their career as a cartoonist.List of cartooning and animation courses
As mentioned earlier, there is no restriction on formal education for cartoonists. But if you wish to become a cartoonist with rich knowledge on designing, drawing, animation or cartooning, then after your higher secondary examination, you can pursue any of the following courses to start your career as a cartoonist with high skills. To explore the art, one can also take the online courses available for cartoonists.
UG courses
PG courses
Diploma courses
Post Graduate Diploma courses
Certificate coursesTop institutes in India that offer courses for cartoonists
Indian Institute of Cartoonists(IIC) is one of the renowned institutes established to promote the art of cartooning in India. Other than IIC, some popular institutions in India also provide education in cartooning, fine arts, drawing, painting, graphic designing, animation and multimedia. Some of the best Indian Institutes that offer cartooning, animation and designing courses for cartoonists are mentioned below.Skills required for a cartoonist
Cartoonist-Career Opportunities
Cartoonists generally have employment opportunities in publishing houses, newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies, TV and Film industry. Similar to print media, the digital media also provides a room for cartoonists to showcase their creativity. A lot of game development companies, cartoon companies, online blogs and digital magazine websites also recruit cartoonists. Some of the popular companies that recruit cartoon specialists are Cartoon Network, the Indian Express, Sun Animation, Times of India, Ernst and Young, UTV Toonz, Amar Chitra Katha, etc.
Cartoonists who wish to work independently can start their career as a freelancer and work for media and animation industry. The self-employed cartoonists can start their own blog, website or business pages in social media and upload their sketches or cartoons. They can also create designs for T-shirts, gifts and greeting cards. The cartoonists who have strong animation knowledge and graphic designing skills can start a Youtube channel and upload animation videos. Cartoonist-Salary
The salary of a cartoonist varies depending upon the nature of work, type of work and the client or the company one works for. The starting salary of a cartoonist usually ranges between Rs 10,000 and Rs. 15,000 per month. The salary keeps increasing based on the experience and talent of an individual. Cartoonists who work for animation feature film making companies usually get higher pay when compared to the ones who work for print media. The earnings are considerable for cartoonists who work as freelancers. One can prosper as a cartoonist and reach greater heights if he/she has strong creativity, visualization skills and drawing skills.Conclusion
Cartooning is a gifted skill. Not everyone will possess special skills like drawing and creativity. Through cartoons, one can educate as well as entertain the readers or audience. All those who possess the necessary skills for a cartoonist can positively start their career as a cartoonist.
Step forward, display your cartooning work along with your innovation and carve your name in the cartooning field like the legendary Indian cartoonist RK Laxman. Happy Cartooning!
Very encouraging and focusing article by the author for many who have a leaning towards drawing and creativity. This article will help people with a creative mind with love for cartoons, colours and something new reach and find their goal.
Everyone knows that children loves cartoons and the best way to create an impact on children is through cartoon.
Any company which sell products especially meant for children can surely take the help of cartoons to advertise their product to catch the attention of children easily.