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Detailing matters

Dhimant Vyas

It is about a man and his art, about Dhimant Vyas and Claymation, about a passion that sets a clay hummingbird aflutter.

A workshop, conducted for the students of MAAC in New Delhi the other day, provided a window to Dhimant's exciting world of animation that encompasses immense toil and perseverance. Addressing the gathering of young enthusiasts, the highly acclaimed animation film designer threw light on the technicalities of the field and emphasised the need to have intense concentration and focus to make every single move effortless on screen. Dhimant's flawless craft has brought into the world of animation the concept of Claymation — breathing life into clay moulds. Numerous fingertips work in tandem to give both finesse and finish to the on-screen miniature brick houses, the barns, the giggling flowers and the toothy grin of a sheep. The event vividly displayed the varied nature of animatronics and Dhimant, having won accolades for his work in Taare Zameen Par and Shaun the Sheep, shared his experience with those present. He presented his work — both on-screen and behind it — and significantly dwelt on the need to develop an open, optimistic approach which can test an artist's patience. Taare Zameen Par's title track incorporates Claymation, whereby clay models, ranging from petals to splinters behind the rocket, were cast out, and using overhead lights and cameras, the movements were manually directed. Almost a dozen and more slides facilitate to make that one second of uninterrupted striking movie.

“To become an animation artist keep your eyes open and watch everyone's movement, action, posture,” he said. Presenting videos of his team designing backstage along with the clippings of his animation art, Dhimant motivated the gathering. “An animation artist never sleeps. He always thinks about the character and the script.”

DISHA POKHRIYAL

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