Animation in India is still in the nascent stage but with huge growth potential in the domestic market the discipline has a good future in the country, British author and animation studies teacher Chris Webster has said.

"In India, animation is still in its infancy. There is a lot of scope here, but growth will take time. India needs to make serious efforts in terms of education and setting up of infrastructure," said Webster.

He appreciated the work going on in India in the field of animation but felt India has a long way to go.

The author of the book Animation: The Mechanics of Motion and head of the animation department of the University of the West of England in Bristol, Webster was in Kolkata to speak at an animation symposium organised by Aptech Ltd.

He said animation is not about the present, but about the future. "The industry will grow, but we don't know how far it will go.

"When I started my career, there weren't specialised computers and software available but today students can make use of them", he said.

When asked about the applications of animation, he said: "Animation is not just about fun, frolic and entertainment. It has wide social and educational relevance also. It can be used everywhere."

With a projected growth rate of 24 per cent, the Indian animation industry can to grow to $869 million by 2010, a NASSCOM report recently said.

Foreign companies are now outsourcing animation jobs to India because of cheap and efficient manpower available here.

Although animation is new to India, filmmakers in Bollywood have taken full-length animation movies seriously. Ace filmmaker Karan Johar will soon be releasing an animation film, Koochie Koochie Hota Hai, a remake of his debut hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.