In fact, many of the gaming and animation studios have decided to either move from other cities to Pune or to set up their expansion projects here. After IT and auto, it is probably time for animation and gaming industry to grow many folds in Pune. What the IT industry achieved in 11 years in Pune — five billion dollar business per year — the animation and gaming industry is expected to achieve it in six years, say industry experts.

The latest addition to boost this boom is the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) which has started talking to some of the industrialists to encourage them to reserve some special economic zones (SEZ) for animation and gaming industry.

In less than a year, Pune has emerged as a serious gaming and animation industry hub with about 30 companies and studios dealing in special effects and animation. Adding to it is a string of training academies mushrooming in the city. The latest announcement by the Information & Broadcasting Secretary of setting up a government training institute in the city could well set the pitch for the industry to grow.

According to Deshmukh, who runs a company called Tool Box, Pune has more work than Mumbai related to animation and special effects. “Presently, at least three studios in Pune are working on independent animated films. For gaming industry too, there are many outsourced projects in the city,” he said. It is cheaper to make animated films in India. For example, in the US it costs around $4 lakh to make 30-minutes animated film, while in India the cost comes down to $60,000.