We have high budget Sallahdin but I have not seen it on TV though.

it's still under production ma. and it will be aired in middle-east before malaysia.

I agree with you LeechFever...
That is why I'm making my mind towards "Cost for 20 Minutes 2D Animation?"

In my opinion, if our 3D can't even come near to Final Fantasy, refer to the character design and realistic (well 3D is about realistic!) it is shame to call ourself "success".

I think most producer go for 3D because it sound "more advance" and "impressive" for the high rank officer whom they ask funds from.

And because it is a software integrated...
Where as, software = easy... LOL

I even never watch the official trailer...
I just found out about it while doing my research about animation industry in Malaysia.

I thought it was HALTED!?

Sallahdin looks quite good from the trailer (though why only target ten to twelve years old according to site? With lots of drowning people dying somemore in the trailer).

Only concern I have is that it somehow involves religions..u know..the cross vs crescent thing though I have to see the whole thing first. And some of the character cast also looks...odd. especially the dude with goatee and braid hair.

If I am not mistaken, Sallahdin is based on the King sallahudin who defeated Western occupation in Jerusalem and there is a movie about it: Kingdom of Heaven.

The last I heard is the project was haulted and Young Jump were hired to help and was debated in the Parliament for wasted a few millions on a 10 minutes trailer.

Misconception about 3D and it is not just for the fancy software, it is not specifically meant for realistic, Gorilaz mtv is the proof, try not to make foolish assumptions based on shallow experience or you thought those are 2D? A famous Japanese cartoonist too have adopted 3D for 2D effect, why? Because it saves time and a lot easier to animate compare to frame by frame, interactive animation in vector format uses 2D for its light file size where 3D is too heavy.

I like to see your animation that managed to surpass those who have failed someday and proof to others you are right.

This post has been edited by 3dassets: Sep 19 2010, 09:21 PM

Well, that's what shallow experience like me thought of 3D.
That's I guess represent what the audience expect when we say 3D... Realistic?

Saladin the animated series is alive and well. It is on the road to completion. I can't say more right now.

I've seen many people talk about "quality". Malaysian 3D animation is <"quality" than Pixar etc. In my experience working with the Malaysian animation industry, "quality" is hard to define. There is no official standard for "quality", even tho we all think there is one. No organisation in the world is qualified to define this "quality" because it is a combination of multiple factors such as 'story', 'character design', concept, etc.

Producing animation is not cheap. I have met local animators who have skimped meals, slept in their offices for a meagre return from local broadcasters. We have a very small domestic market which means most animation projects are aiming for international distribution, but it's not easy. Only a handful of studios have done so like Animasia or Inspidea. The government thru MDeC also have beefed up its expertise - some of these people are well regarded globally for their contribution to the industry. Of course they work under the radar, and most of you only see their efforts when they're done.

There's more I can talk about but suffice to say for an average international 2D animation the price can be anywhere from USD 50k per episode to USD 100k. 3D animations can cost even more, except in China where they can do everything cheap at the expense of how it looks...

Not expecting >quality than Pixar lah . Malaysia 3D like "upin and lupin" is quite ok but the problem lies at the plot. Too often they use kampung theme and jokes that are either lame or I don't really get. and empty plot in between that seems to just wanna drag on to fill time like Naruto infamous 2 years filler except this one in 30 minutes interval. For now, I really think Malaysia animation should concentrate on plot as it is the main part that drives viewer than how beautiful it is. That's why I say 2D first before 3D because it seems like we are given a race car without proper training to even drive a normal car.

Did the recruitment too are under the radar? Sallahdin were under the radar before, Malaysia's pioneer video game too are under the radar and I was in it and it never will see the light because it was buried.

haha..selamat hari raya Pai... (sorry mod for OOT ) heard you guys dah nak pindah dah dr old klang... send my regards to all of Animasians k?... rindu sumer kat korang nieeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been awhile.

My proposal are halfway done...

I want to ask again from you guys here...

How long does it takes to produce that 20 minutes of 2D animation, Japanese style, not US style.

Minimum 100k for Pre-production and Animation all together. This does not include Editing. Without any materials finalized, the cost is still a a big question. If you have a Director or a Producer discuss with them first. The cost also varies depending on your employees output level and skill. The longer it takes for your animators to finish it the more you will need to pay. This does not include the retake peroid where your animators need to do amendments which will consume time also.

In short no one can give you a definite amount. It can even go up to 150k or more if things get worse. It depends on your team and their capabilties to deliver. I have met companies that cough up 20k to do a 10 min animation but at the end of that road they could not even sell it because it was pure garbage. If your going to do 2D animation, do it the right way and get the right guys to help you on it.

This post has been edited by meetxj9: Oct 4 2010, 04:53 PM

Let me reveal some information in my proposal so you can understand my situation.

It is a "concept" of Malaysian 2D animation, story resolve in Malaysia, about our unique culture and 1 Malaysia which adapt Japanese animation drawing style in characterization.

It will have 14 episodes which each episode is estimated around 20 minutes.

Funding so far, is applying from the government with some support from several high rank Dato recommendation.
So, I can almost say... money is not a problem but of course must be realistic figure in the eye of these Dato and the gov officer.
The figure in my mind now to complete these is RM1.5 mil which I think the most figure they will give us.
With some hope and prayer, I hope we get the funding soon.

The main purpose of this project is not just profit but to bring our animators out from their hideout since the audience fancy Japanese animation so much. We show we can do it too. Maybe my thinking is wrong, but that's my opinion.

I did not plan to establish a company to produce the animation because I totally won't know how to run any media company.
The only experience I have is only running a small firm with construction as core business and I'm still running the company until now.

I plan to out source to a studio or capable person to complete this.
We only have storyline for the whole 14 episodes, character concept design, the structure and also pilot episode storyboard with no script at all and no layout, no dope sheet, or whatever since they only want to see CONCEPT.

I am based in Sarawak and I can say we don't have any resources at all for production here. So do any capable person won't come to Sarawak for this job right?
To go to KL just for scouting, without anything in hand (the funding award) it's quite impossible for the studio animation to be serious on our visit.
They might think me and my team is just a joke since we're young? (I'm 22 and my team member they are only 19-20 years old.)

But thing change if we bring along the award letter and show the boss.

By phone is just so not professional doesn't it? Worst, they just take us easy or think us as a prank call. I've been in this situation...

By just assuming 1.5 mil and hope it will be enough... or we reduce the episodes... if it's not enough...

Now I am making the project progress report on how long the time for the whole project to be finish.

meetxj9, if you know some contact for the preproduction... kindly share with me since you the animator itself...

But still this project is only at proposal stage.

I dare not give you any contacts to any studios here. Every studio i have ever been in is a sweatshop and quality really differs depending on the staff they have at the moment. Advice, get your own studio up and running and handle the entire thing yourself, i know its difficult but you will not have a choice. If you want to save money in the long run and not have to worry about the cost of equipment and rent then you will have to get proper freelancers to help you out. This ofcourse only happens when Pre-production is done.

Doing it in sarawak it not a good idea since animators there are almost non existent. And animators here don't go to sarawak cause of low employment gains. As said before, get your stuff done first with money in hand then approach the animators for help. Even i dare not do any pre production work for you yet since nothing is confirm. And studios are even more difficult to handle if you source it out to them without proir knowledge to how Pre production is done. They can easily overcharge you if they believe you have no experiance in the matter.

This post has been edited by meetxj9: Oct 5 2010, 03:06 AM

I wonder, not to insult but does the gov still fund projects recommended by Dato rather than experienced individual? Those who are in the industry are queuing with their proposals and production house including publishers already got cheated with similar story.

For such funding, the proposal must include the out source companies involved and majority must be Bumiputra, if it is through proper channel but you are not the right candidate to receive this award in the first place, being 22 with 1.5 mil is a lure. Those who were cheated in the past thought gov money is free and no liability if failed.

From my experiance and logics the goverment will not fund an ANIME project. It has already gotten a bad rep here and the only way money will ever come in is that you have connections with a DATO. Or you take out a loan and go with it. If you check out the winners for the MDEC funds you can see that their projects are somewhat for children and they will never dare venture further then that because of rules.

And if you do get it, you will bind to finish it or ELSE.

This post has been edited by meetxj9: Oct 5 2010, 07:00 PM

Precisely why I say funding from government is always not good thing. Besides, it's tax payer money we are talking about, and people will start scrutinizing why on earth are they used to fund "anime"? At the end of it all, they will be expecting something in return either for their election campaign or just to please general masses and you be sacrificing quite a lot in terms of promoting Malaysia animation vs pleasing political master. These government ain't gonna help you unless the return is significant. Look at GLC companies, you know what I mean. Either get a loan, other sponsor or try ur luck overseas then come back once you have enough resource. Even if you have to make another "Paddlepop Adventure", "Koko crunch" or "Cheezydale" is better than getting bog down by Malaysia own government and stuck with another kampung boy plot for the rest of your life.

However that's just my thought on the matter and not personal experience. More on what I observed, hear and other people's opinion (even from a professor overseas on NOT to get funds from government when doing business. Most Malaysia business are guilty of that but because of policy and you know what, most businessmen don't have a choice but to band with government to earn quick bucks). If you are steadfast on getting funding from government, just be prepare that nothing is that simple.

This post has been edited by LeechFever: Oct 5 2010, 07:34 PM

Not that i don't want to give these guys hope, its a good thing what they are doing. But bare in mind i have met my fare share of talented Anime/ Manga artist and such. All of which draw pretty good and better then most. If getting funds were that easy these guys would be rolling in cash now.

Take my advice TS, don't expect anything and you won't be dissapointed. There are plenty of other ways to get your work out besides pandering to the government or overbudgeting your work. I have my ideas but they still required a decent capital to start and its much easier.

This post has been edited by meetxj9: Oct 5 2010, 08:06 PM

Allow me to ask this.
Who should I hire to run a studio animation which capable to run my own project from pre-production until post production?

Are you capable to do the pre-production works including the dubbing?

My knowledge on pre-production is nothing more than a theory I read in a book about publishing traditional animation I found in my Uni library.
The real world, I don't know and no contacts at all to ask how they're doing.

Actually, in Malaysia...
For an unknown people like me to even apply a fund as low as RM10K without "surat sokongan" from any YB or Dato, it's hardly for your application to be process and approved at all.

The Dato role is nothing more than making our application being process. The result still depends on the value of proposition in the proposal.

What I've learn so far from my working experience, the shady side of business is we just not need to "know how" but also need to "know who" if you get what I mean.


Actually, they still.
Why I strongly believe this is when someone I know not so close, already got his fund.
According to him, they have some quota to achieve to execute the Rancangan Kewangan Malaysia.
It actually not targeted only for animation but generally for TV content and animation is eligible for application since they are indeed one of TV content.
And I've verified this with the officer in charge in those government body.

To be exact we are under MSC, MEDC, or SKMM.
These bodies offer funding for animation but offer different terms and conditions.

This is just another leap stone before we become independence(financially) hopefully.

Personally I never know how the feeling of being bonded to government.

And like you said, most businessmen doesn't have choice to get the bucks because we can't get it anywhere else.
But there's term and condition and there's always higher people than the high rank officer which "take care" you.

If I can find any angel investor here, I wouldn't even approach government for funding.

It's not an easy way.
Sometimes I think that I am crazy enough to even think to start this kind of project.
I always think that this is not gonna work.
I always realize that this is almost near to impossible.

But...

Let's try, I said to my team.
The only thing we shall lost is some sweat, time, and flight tickets.
But we earn experience from it, maybe we can make use it for something else later days.

Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to co-operate with you.

When I mean businessman do not have choice but to bond with government to earn quick bucks, I do not mean they cannot get funding elsewhere. Malaysian government can own business. And they can make policy. What does that equate to? Policy to make ur business rich which is what we are currently facing now. Like Proton, you can set a policy in a way to make competition almost non-existence by increase import duty and forced merger. Thus earning quick bucks because if you ally with government, they misuse that power to make profit. If you are not with them, you are exposed to market vulnerability due to monopoly and against government owned/or having shares in that company. This lead to a halt in progress. It does not seem much now as the government has yet the brain to understand anything about "Anime", but it will eventually happen. It's what happening in China as well. Get a shady company to sponsor an animation, you get ciplak quality like "Astro Plan". And government now is as shady as it is.

Businessmen actually DO have choice of getting loan from somewhere else. They are just too greedy and impatient to get it (no offense). Most I know only follow the same formula in Malaysia: Get Dato/Minister/Politician involved, you are set for life, of course that also mean support them or you lose your source. Most personal business failed because some politician hick decide to award contract to his relative's company. Once you are in, it's hard to get out.

But enough about business and politics. It's admirable to have big ambition, but start small first, perhaps like 5 min animation and screen it on Nickolodean, advertisement or something, then slowly gather money and start big. Or start a manga industry to encourage malaysian fanbase. Thus far only one company I know have started it. However, I do not know that Dato enough. Perhaps he has interest in anime as well to make it work.....maybe.

Well, good luck . If your story concept is good, I will support.

This post has been edited by LeechFever: Oct 5 2010, 09:26 PM