Ministry of ICT in collaboration with Malfinis Studios Make Strides in Developing the Animation Industry In Grenada

Left to right: Toonboom Associate Level Certified  Grenadian Animators
   Back -Erisha Franklyn,Dylon Young, Yuri Marryshow ,Daneisha Bain, 
Front -Nesha Richardson , Jada Joseph,  Roger joseph 

​Animation, a colorful and fast rising media art form with vast reaches globally…from cartoons like Avatar, Teen Titans GO , The Boondocks and animated digital visual FX films like Batman versus Superman just to name a few, it’s no surprise that Animation is a globally accepted medium and a billion dollar industry. Studios from around the world are popping up to take the wild animation ride.

The Grenada Ministry of ICT is one of those entities within the OECS making a positive impact on the development of the Industry in the Caribbean Region.

The Ministry of ICT through the CARCIP contracted Malfinis Film and Animation Studio Inc, the Authorized Training Center for Toonboom Animation in the region and one of the first Authorized Certiport Testing Centres for Toonboom Animation Software globally to deliver the training.

The 2 D Animation Training Solution is structured to deal with the realities of small island states with limited economies but unlimited creative talent.  Through the Ministry of ICT, 25 young artists were trained in Grenada during the latter half of 2016 up to April 2017.

The Ministry of ICT through  the CARCIP Project  provided the training space, equipment and software  needed to facilitate Malfinis’ six (6) month training solution in Toonboom Harmony and Story Board Pro. Twenty-five (25) students in all were trained and now have acquired the knowledge of a new and “in demand” creative skill . While some students look to further their career in animation in their own time, and at their desired pace having completed the training, seven (7) of those trainees went on to pursue their Toonboom certification,earning them industry recognition as animators globally, they also became the FIRST EVER trainees globally to benefit from the Certiport Certification process.  Certiport is a Globally recognised Certification Platform and is now fully responsible for executing certification tests and awarding professional certification to successful applicants on behalf of Toonboom Animation Inc. Certiport operates via their global network of Authorised Testing Centers.

Malfinis Film and Animation Studios Inc. is currently part of that global community of Certiport Testing Centres responsible for Saint Lucia and Grenada

 Certiport Proctor, Malfinis’s Studio Manager and Senior Trainer Tevin Loctar had high praise for the seven certified Grenadian Animators and Commented that these 7 young artists were focused  and serious about creating a career for themselves in animation and he looks forward to great things from them in the future.

When asked about his experience as the trainer in Grenada Francis Butcher- Senior animator and trainer at Malfinis Film and Animation Studio had this to say, “it was a challenge. Introducing a new creative technology and training platform to the trainees was a bit of a task, but they grasped the knowledge over time and managed to succeed at gaining a new and in demand skill.”

 Milton Branford, Managing Director of Malfinis also expressed his satisfaction with the end result, saying  “It was an enjoyable journey made with the trainees and it was a pleasure working along with CARCIP , the Ministry of ICT and the Grenadian Government. The satisfaction of seeing these trainees develop from limited to Zero knowledge of the software, to having a working knowledge and the ability in the end to create animations using Toonboom Harmony was outstanding.”  
 
The CARCIP program coordinator Ms. Alice Bain reinforced the need to reduce the unemployment rate in Grenada and stated that the ultimate result of the training should be employment whether self employed or within a company. The Ministry of ICT strongly supports this stance and is currently  working on a partnership with Banana Shak studio, branch of Malfinis in Grenada to transition the students straight into a paid internship opportunity with potential for long term employment, 

Interested individuals are invited to call the CARCIP office at 440-7011 to register to do an aptitude test  to be selected as part of the second cohort of trainees starting in June 2017.

We can be sure that this is just the beginning, there are much greater things that await the Caribbean’s growing interest and immersion into the global animation creative melting pot …and without a doubt Grenada Ministry of ICT ,the Grenadian animators and Malfinis Film and Animation Studio Inc  will be there every step of the way.

Contributors:
​Ms Alice Bain - CARCIP program coordinator - Grenada
Mr Dyllan Devaux - Artist,Animator, Writer - Saint Lucia