Mumbai: Arena Animation, a pioneer in animation, gaming, visual effects, and digital media education and a training brand of Aptech Limited, has launched its Academic Advisory Board in Mumbai, marking a significant step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration in India’s AVGC-XR and creative sectors.
The initiative by Arena Animation was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with seven industry professionals, underscoring the brand’s commitment to integrating real-world expertise into the academic journeys of its learners.
Introduced alongside the new academic season, Arena Animation aims to ensure that students gain realistic, relevant, and future-ready knowledge aligned with evolving industry expectations.
Designed as a periodic engagement, the Academic Advisory Board at Arena Animation will play a crucial role in mentoring students, validating curriculum frameworks, and introducing the latest tools, technologies, and workflows into the learning experience.
Also Read: Arena Animation Launches IP Creation and Storytelling in Animation Program with Vaibhav Studios
The board comprises Jayakumar, Founder, KYNZO Media Group; P C Sanath, Co-founder, Firefly Creative Studio; Naveen Paul, Founder and Creative Head, NYVFXWAALA; Prateek Sethi, Founder and Creative Director, Trip Creative Services; Pradipto Sengupta, Head of CFX, DreamWorks Animation; Jayanti Mahapatra, Creative-Tech People Leader; and Rituparna Sarkar, Founder & Creative Director, Visual Sarkarsm and Co-founder, Animators Guild India, along with key internal stakeholders.
Together, they bring deep expertise across VFX, design, creative direction, intellectual property, and emerging technologies, providing students at Arena Animation with a comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape.
This initiative aligns closely with Arena Animation’s core philosophy, “Learn from the Leader,” empowering students to gain first-hand exposure to industry practices.
The board will contribute insights on emerging trends, skill requirements, and the future of the AVGC-XR sector—inputs that will play a key role in shaping programs at Arena Animation in line with evolving industry needs.
The engagement will include periodic interventions, mentorship sessions, and curriculum alignment.
Commenting on the development, Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer, Global Retail Business, Aptech Limited, and Brand Custodian, Arena Animation, said, “At Arena Animation, our priority has always been to stay closely aligned with the evolving needs of the industry. The Academic Advisory Board is a natural extension of this vision.
By bringing together some of the finest minds from across the media and entertainment ecosystem, we aim to ensure that our curriculum remains relevant, forward-looking, and validated by industry experts. This initiative is about maximising value for our students through direct access to industry insights, practices, and expectations.”
He further added, “The ‘Learn from the Leader’ philosophy is not just a campaign for us. It is a commitment. Through this Academic Advisory Board, we are embedding industry expertise directly into the learning journey.
Students will benefit from periodic interactions, practical exposure, and insights into how the industry is evolving. This initiative will serve as a strong differentiator for Arena Animation and further strengthen our positioning as a career-focused, industry-driven education brand.”
The initiative is set to strengthen Arena Animation’s industry-first positioning while reinforcing its commitment to building a future-ready talent pool equipped with the right skills, exposure, and confidence required to succeed in the rapidly growing creative economy.
