Last September, Crest Animation Studios? first CGI animated 3D film, Alpha and Omega, opened in over 2,000 screens in the US and Canada. When the credits rolled with over 250 Indian names, it gave A K Madhavan, CEO, Crest Animation Studios India, goosebumps, for this was the first animation film out of India made for a global audience. Co-produced by Lionsgate, a leading Hollywood distributor, Alpha and Omega is the first of three films Crest is making for Lionsgate. It was shortlisted for the Oscar, and Alpha and Omega has grossed about $50 million (Rs 225 crore) at the box office worldwide. On the eve of its India release (February 4) by Fox Star Studios, Madhavan speaks to FE on the state of the animation film industry in India and the need to scale up on skills to become a global player. Excerpts:

How difficult was it to realise your dream to produce an animation film for a global audience?

It was an enjoyable ride, though we had our ups and downs. What?s interesting is when we signed a three-picture deal with Lionsgate, we knew we would be the first Indian firm to handle a 3D movie for Hollywood. When we got a wide release in the US?the movie ran for 12 weeks?it justified all the hard work that had gone in. The 250 Indian names that come on the credits at the end gave me goosebumps the first time I was at the hall. It was a huge challenge to maintain quality, time and cost.

It?s opening in India this week. Where else are you taking the film?

After India, we have many more places to go. It?s yet to open in Australia and South America. Till date it has grossed $50 million at the box office and with DVD, licensing, satellite rights, etc, we should cross the $100 million mark.

You are at $50 million; would it be possible to double the amount?

When the DVD was launched in the US in December, it sold three lakh units in the first week. We have got respectable returns, and for a first film that?s a wonderful feeling.

Are you already onto the next film?

The second film with Lionsgate is on the floors. The script to screen the 3D film should see a next year-end release. It takes about two-three years to make an animation film.

Besides Lionsgate, are you in talks with any other American studio?

We are talking to other large distributors. We have also delivered a DVD, a direct-to-video film for Universal.

In India, does Indian-made animation films work?

The Indian market needs to be developed. As for stories, we are staying away from mythology and concentrating on action and comedy. Indian kids don?t relate to animals or mythology?they like the Ben Ten kind of cartoons.

Are you getting the type of skillsets you want for animation?

Unfortunately, there aren?t enough universities and academic programmes to upgrade skills.The government needs to take the initiative to build an infrastructure around the animation industry. It?s a capital intensive business, to build a project for a global market is expensive. For our film, we didn?t get all the skillsets we needed in India, we had to engage some talent from the US. We lack the skillsets in character design, capital is a problem and talent is improving slowly. It will take five-seven years more for the animation market to mature.