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Published on July 27, 2007

The partners are the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) and the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA).

The cartoons produced by local animation houses will air Mondays-Thursdays from 5.10-5.30pm, starting on September 17.

"MCOT is part of the country's support to help promote the software and animation industry by encouraging these businesses to compete with international rivals," Wasan Paileeklee, president of MCOT, said yesterday.

Avudh Ploysongsang, president of Sipa, said the animation market last year was worth about Bt4 billion, of which 90 per cent came from local firms and 10 per cent from international players.

Sipa hopes to push the digital content market up to Bt6 billion next year by promoting local digital and animation businesses in overseas markets.

"We see that Thai animation and digital content producers have the potential to turn out high-quality products and services to support both international and domestic markets," Avudh said.

Lak Taechawanchai, chairman of the TACGA, said the association had prepared four Thai cartoons for MCOT -"Spooky Imaginary Friend", "Bloody Bunny", "Fuzzy Adventure" and "Fruity Town".

He said the collaboration represented the first step for the government and broadcast networks in supporting local digital content companies to create products and services initially for the domestic market, and then the international market.

The association plans to conduct a cartoon road show to more than 500 schools nationwide in the first year.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation