The animated animator

ICE PEOPLE

Bill Dennis's eyes light up when you mention of Walt Disney and Kerala. Understandably so "� he worked for Disney for 20 years, and lived in Kerala.

The president of the Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (ASIFA) India, an organisation committed to developing animation both as an art and means of effective communication, is a 30-year animation industry veteran who's bent on developing India as the animation hub of the future.

"India's animation industry is at a crucial point. Most companies are happy with work for hire from abroad which basically means studios abroad outsourcing some backend work to India. The strength lies in producing original content and if we capitalise on that , India can turn into a real powerhouse," he argues. He is appalled when he hears about courses in India that promise to churn out animators in three months.

Dennis joined Disney in 1973 where he began merchandising for the Disney theme parks. He entered the world of animation by accident. "In 1983, Peter Schneider was looking for a vice president for Feature Animation. I spent the next six months trying to find the right man for Schneider and when I almost gave up, Schneider asked why not I take up the job," he recalls.

He resigned from Walt Disney in 1993 and went to Manila to head the overseas studios of Hanna Barbera"�FIL Studios which was making losses. After two and a half years, he sold it for a tidy profit. Then came India in 1999. Friends Ram Mohan and G A Menon enticed him to open an animation studio in India. "I scouted for locations in Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore without success when Menon told me about Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala. Little did I know I would fall in love with the city and Kerala as well," he chuckles. Thus Toonz Animation studios was established at the city's technology park. One of the first original works to be produced was "Tenali Raman."

" We wanted a character who was not considered too sacred, out of respect for religious sentiments. Tenali Raman was a court jester. This meant we could take some latitude with his stories," explains Dennis.

Dennis left Toonz Animation after the sudden demise of its co-founder Menon. In his current role as ASIFA India president, he wants to focus on workshops that collaborate with artists abroad and promote Indian animation work.

He is also in talks with venture capitalists in California on producing animation films in India. Between spending time with his wife and travelling, he loves to tuck into mild south indian food "� and watch 'Tenali Raman,' 'Lion King' and 'Beauty and the Beast.'