Youths to get seed money to start up animation business

A new scheme has been initiated to help young and talented people who lack funding to kickstart their animation and creative content business.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis initiated the scheme with RM2mil funding.

Speaking at the launch of the MSC Malaysia Creative Innovation Centre and Incubation Centre set up in Kuala Lumpur Sentral yesterday, he told Kuala Lumpur Sentral Sdn Bhd (KLSSB) and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) to hold a showcase for young creators of animation and multimedia content to show off their stuff.

He said the showcase could be held once or twice a year to enable them to show their products for the production, media and telecommunication industries.

“Buyers in the market, service providers and industry players can come to the showcase.

“A panel of independent assessors will then identity for my ministry and MDeC the young entrepreneurs who have quality products, and potential buyers will be given seed money to kickstart their business.

“Many young creative talents lack money and need a leg up to develop their products. We will need between RM50,000 and RM100,000 to create one module or animation production. After the buyers buy their products, they will be able to stand on their own two feet,” Jamaludin said.

The e-content grant, he said, was one initiative to help realise the Government’s aim to make animation and creative content a thriving industry because it had huge potential.

The MSC Malaysia Creative Innovation Centre and Incubation Centre at Kuala Lumpur Sentral would focus primarily on creative content development, including the production of games, animation and visual effects.

It was also announced that Kuala Lumpur Sentral’s status as a (first) MSC Malaysia Cybercentre, awarded in 2006, had been extended to 2010.

Jamaludin said the centre was set up because the Government did not want the Malaysian Animation Creative Content Centre launched in 2007 confined in Cyberjaya but to replicate the centre nationwide for wider reach.

“Young people might not be encouraged to go all the way to Cyberjaya. Hence, the Government must be prepared to change in line with the industry and world practices,” he said.