The tsunami tragedy that hit India on December 26, was quite uncanny for Raj Rajeha, the co-promoter of the US based animation studio, Heartwood Studios.
Barely six months ago he did an animation on how tsunami in Lake Tahoe in Tahoe city in the US could cause destruction. The request for animation came from a private company that wanted to inform the local administration of the danger of two faultlines in the lake.
Simulating natural disasters, accidents and plane crashes are part of Raheja's job as a leading forensic animator based in San Francisco. But so is entertainment.
In September 2004, Heartwood Studios, the company that Raheja runs with Tim Wadhawan, used animation to create the house of the famous office comic strip character Dilbert.
"Dilbert's creator Scott Adams allowed us to create an energy efficient house for the legendary character. The house was designed on the basis of the suggestions sent by millions of Dilbert fans," says Raheja.
Raheja was in India to set up a small studio. Heartwood Studio has taken over a small and struggling animation company based in Noida, which will work as an outsourcing centre for the US. "The company will soon be known as Heartwood Studios in India," says Raheja.
Ideally, Raheja wants to bring forensic animation to India. "But the idea will take time to grow roots in India. Even in the US, forensic animation is small with a handful of players in the business."
It's not the money but the satisfaction that forensic work gives, feels Raheja who recreated two major airplane crashes in the last two years. The animated films offered vital clues to the reasons of the crashes and their impact. He also simulated road accidents and helped design new layouts for some crossings in the US.
What gives Raheja's animation skill an edge is his training as an architect from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi. In the US, Heartwood is working on computer graphics effects for a feature film and a television producer to create an Atomic City series that will spoof the James Bond films.
Back in India, Heartwood would like to develop the entertainment business. Raheja feels it will not be easy. "Breaking into the Bollywood circuit is an uphill task". But he's willing to return to India in eight months to see that he accomplishes it.
