Doodles, Destinations, and a Dash of the Oscars: In conversation with Akshit Kumar
Meet Akshit Kumar, a passionate storyteller and animator hailing from Patna, Bihar. Currently in his fourth year at NID, Ahmedabad, studying Animation Film Design, Akshit has already made waves in the industry by winning the highly coveted Student Academy Award in the Alternative/Experimental category for his animated short film ‘bonVoyage pour monVoyage.
His journey, rooted in his love for drawing and storytelling, has been shaped by his desire to experiment with various creative mediums. Despite his humility as a student, Akshit’s work has received international recognition, marking him as an emerging talent in the world of animation and visual storytelling.
“I was always interested in drawing,” he reflects. “As a kid, I would finish drawing copies in less than a week and trouble my parents to buy me new ones.” Growing up in a joint family, Akshit often found himself drawing with his siblings, a habit that stayed with him.
Recognized as the ‘art kid’ in school, he was frequently asked to design bulletin boards, draw diagrams for classmates, and participate in competitions. His love for storytelling naturally blended with his passion for art, guiding his career choice. “When the time finally came where I had to choose my career, I just went ahead with what I liked doing the most—drawing and telling stories.”
Akshit’s love for animation blossomed during his foundation year at NID, where he was exposed to the incredible work of his peers and seniors. “It was not just about creating cartoons; it was so much more”.
The medium has no bounds, and I love the freedom it provides in terms of storytelling. You can just go wild.
His first real taste of animation came when he helped a senior with a light animation project, holding the camera and observing the magic unfold. “That was the day I decided to pursue animation.”
NID’s strong emphasis on peer learning significantly shaped Akshit’s development as an artist. “The crowd at NID is very passionate about what they do. When you’re surrounded by like-minded people, you try to do your best and hone your skills by practicing your craft as much as you can.”
Akshit draws inspiration from several animators, including Nina Sabnani, Rohit Karandadi, Samuel Patthey, and Isabel Herguera. “Their experimentation with mediums and travelogues has really influenced me.”
Recently, Akshit was awarded the prestigious Student Academy Award in the Alternative/Experimental category for his animated travelogue ‘bonVoyage pour monVoyage.’
The film, which translates to “best wishes for my trip,” is a deeply personal project that depicts Akshit’s travel experiences across various Indian cities in 2023.
This is a very personal film that not only showcases what I saw but also conveys my emotions—happiness, loneliness, achievement, and a sense of belonging. It’s a celebration of our culture and heritage, and the joy of traveling.
The film was titled while he took his first solo trip to Kolkata. “The title is just me wishing myself a happy journey, as a self-assurance that everything will be alright. Bon voyage, Akshit!”
The journey began on New Year’s Day 2023, with a resolution to visit ten cities. Though he managed to explore eight, he gathered a treasure trove of experiences. “I collected images, tickets, and even flowers from various places. By the end of it, I knew a photo album wasn’t enough.”
I had to create something different, not just for myself but for others to experience what I did.
The process behind ‘bonVoyage pour monVoyage’ was anything but conventional. “Honestly, there was no structured pre-production. I would wake up in the morning, look at a page of my journal, and decide to animate it that day.”
I just wanted to create some sketchbook animations and while doing that I realized that all the pages of my journal can come alive and form a story. There was no real plan, but after about 10 pages, I realized I was creating a travelogue of my entire journey.
His travel sketches and photographs were scanned, forming the background for his animations, which were primarily created using Adobe Photoshop. Some sequences were animated on top of photographs, adding texture and life to each moment.
The production challenges were many, with motivation being the biggest hurdle. “Since I was the only person involved in the filmmaking process, it got burdensome at times. In those moments, I’d take a break for a day or two and come back refreshed.” Akshit also learned valuable lessons about scheduling and project management. “Excel sheets became the most important part of this project!”
Sound design played a crucial role in recreating the atmosphere of Akshit’s journey. “I tried to use the actual sounds I recorded while traveling, and if I didn’t have the right ones, I’d layer different sounds until it felt right.” His aim was to recreate the raw, real-world environment of Indian streets, markets, and railways.
Now that ‘bonVoyage pour monVoyage’ has gained international recognition, Akshit says,“Honestly, I had never expected this to happen. I can’t put it into proper words, but it feels amazing. Seeing my short film celebrated at such big festivals makes me so happy and grateful. I’m more motivated and confident to make more films and put them out into the world.”
Support from his family, friends, and mentors played a vital role in pushing him forward. “My parents have always been supportive, which is rare, especially coming from a place where creative fields aren’t usually seen as a viable career option.” He also credits his peers and mentors at NID for their encouragement.
“I remember showing the first 30 seconds of my film to Ajay (my faculty) and Upamanyu (mentor and friend), and they said it was promising. At that time, I didn’t take it too seriously, but their support pushed me to finish the project.”he adds.
Reflecting on the experience, Akshit describes the process as a major learning opportunity. “I’ve become more aware of myself as a filmmaker, what kinds of stories I want to tell, and what my capabilities are as a director.”
Looking ahead, Akshit plans to explore sponsorships and collaborations as he moves beyond college. He hasn’t yet delved into securing funding but is focused on building his portfolio and reaching out to studios. “It’s a big world, and right now I’m still working on my portfolio. The plan is to send it to a lot of studios and sponsors and see what happens (fingers crossed).”
For aspiring animators, his advice is clear: “Do not doubt yourself. Believe in your craft and your vision, and don’t be scared to put your work out into the world. Animation filmmaking is tough, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
As for the future, Akshit’s goals include collaborating with like-minded creatives and continuing to explore new avenues. “I want to create more short films that delve into my Bihari roots, blending Indian folk art with my filmmaking while continuously experimenting and exploring new creative avenues.”
Akshit Kumar
bonVoyage pour monVoyage