Un-TTAPing Caribbean Potential
Trinidad & Tobago Animation Production Factory assembles the region’s future stars.
For the past twenty years, the Caribbean has been honing its skills in animation and digital media. The fruits of this labor are flourishing, as the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival (now in its 21st year) continue to be the catalysts for the growth of the industry. As an extension to the University’s animation program, TTAP Factory (Trinidad & Tobago Animation Production Factory) is a groundbreaking hub partly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. TTAP is where the best technology, ongoing skills upgrades, and international industry connections, create the perfect environment for international studios to connect and do business. With over 300 graduates passing through its BFA program, the country has seen the development of several small studios that have secured international contracts for animation and game art. TTAP Factory supports and facilitate production by providing workforce, access to infrastructure and management to ensure timely and professional delivery.
A Network of Industry Experts
Top executive consultants, Wendy Fitzwilliam and Joan Vogelesang, whose combined experience in the Caribbean and Vogelesang’s expertise in the global animation industry, have been critical additions to the team. “The TTAP factory provides the perfect blueprint for building the animation sector in emerging economies,” says Vogelesang. “Backed by the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the facility provides a steady flow of trained students in all fields of animation production, an incubator facility for new entrepreneurs and a state of the art facility set in a glorious conservation park in a country with a wonderful climate. It’s all a great formula for success.” Led by animation ambassador for the region and senior lecturer, Camille Selvon Abrahams, the project is expert driven and student led. This model prepares students for the world of work by integrating “learning while doing,” where suitable students are thrown into real-life studio experiences and acquire credits for doing so, and once they finish the program successfully, they can be easily integrated into the work force. TTAP Factory is a competitive and sustainable business model. It is radical in its concept and is a strategy that is being looked at by other animation markets in their infancy in Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the world. Partnerships have already been formed with well-established organizations like Toon Boom Harmony and CelAction. Over the years, several key relationships have been formulated. These world-renowned experts in the field, which include LAIKA’s Brad Shiff and WETA Digital’s Sidney Kombo (and his Third-Pole mentorship program), give the workforce access to much sought-after industry standard training. As Carina Cockburn, IDB’s Country Representative in Trinidad and Tobago points out, “Ultimately, we would like to see the evolution of TTAP Factory as a sustainable and competitive model that facilitates creative and business collaborations for the sector.” Being the first funded outsourcing studio in the Caribbean, TTAP Factory is positioned to be a pioneering and successful business model that can be replicated throughout the world. It is a one-stop shop for animation services in 3D and 2D animation, game art, VR and AR experiences and emerging digital services. Responding to the latest industry demands and trends, the training program is fluid and open to new technologies. The educated workforce and innate creativity of Trinidad and Tobago, in the context of the global industry, means that cultural nuances will be easily transferred to international projects. The aim is to create an enabling work environment for international and local clients: Working closely with state organizations, TTAP Factory will facilitate access to tax incentives and rebates and other solutions to create maximum benefit for our clients. We look forward to hearing from you as we invite you to #OutsourceInSunshine and #AnimateInSunshine. See the full launch at animaecaribe.com/ official-launch-of-the-ttap-factory/ info@ ttapfactory.com.