Introduced alongside the 24FPS Creator Fest, the programs integrate industry practitioners, real world workflows, and specialised tracks across AVGC XR and the Creator Economy
December 24, 2025, the programs were introduced alongside the 24FPS Creator Fest and during MAAC’s 25th anniversary year, marking a significant moment in the institution’s evolution.
The new framework reflects a structured and layered approach to creative learning, designed to enhance employability while responding to the changing demands of the AVGC XR and digital content industries. Career X and Creator X are positioned as integrated academic pathways that combine foundational learning with specialised tracks and advanced career options, offering students clear outcomes aligned with industry expectations.
A defining feature of the initiative is MAAC’s collaboration with 13 industry knowledge partners across post production, gaming, animation studios, content platforms, and technology companies. These partnerships bring industry practitioners directly into the learning ecosystem, ensuring that instruction reflects real world workflows and current professional standards. Confirmed collaborators include Cimpress, the parent company of VistaPrint, PhysicsWallah, Godspeed Gaming, Pocket Films, phantomFX, Rocket Science Animation, Cedge Productions, Pixel and Ratio, Resonance Digital LLP, Nilee Games, Mugafi, and Zebu Animation Studios. Canon has also joined as a knowledge partner, contributing to the Creator X curriculum and learning experience.
The launch comes at a time when demand for skilled professionals across animation, visual effects, gaming, extended reality, and immersive media continues to rise. MAAC’s stated objective is to bridge the gap between academic instruction and industry readiness by embedding practical exposure, specialisation, and practitioner led learning within its academic structure.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sandip Weling, Whole time Director and Chief Business Officer, Global Retail at Aptech Limited, said the creative industry now requires talent that is technically sound, adaptable, and capable of contributing from the outset. He noted that Career X and Creator X have been designed to offer learners clear learning outcomes, deeper specialisation, and exposure to real production environments, while also nurturing originality and storytelling skills that are central to creative professions today.
The programs are structured to deliver hands on, industry relevant learning experiences across select career courses at MAAC. Students begin with their regular career focused course modules, building core skills during the initial phase of their academic journey. Once these fundamentals are in place, eligible and interested students can opt into the Creator X pathway.
Creator X has been positioned as an industry integrated, practitioner led program aimed at preparing the next generation of digital creators for the rapidly evolving Creator Economy. Developed in collaboration with technology partners, content platforms, filmmaker communities, and creator networks, the program equips learners with the skills and exposure needed to ideate, produce, publish, and monetise content across multiple formats.
The curriculum focuses on developing capabilities in short form video, digital comics, AI enabled workflows, and multi platform publishing. Alongside creative and technical skills, learners are also introduced to aspects of branding, monetisation models, intellectual property rights, and responsible content creation. The intent is to ensure that aspiring creators are not only production ready but also equipped to navigate the business and ethical dimensions of the digital ecosystem.
At its core, the new academic structure offers students two distinct learning outcomes. Through Career X, learners continue on a path oriented toward studio based and industry roles within the AVGC XR sector. Alternatively, students with entrepreneurial ambitions or aspirations to build independent creative careers can enrol in the Creator X program, which focuses on creator led pathways and content driven ventures.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Abir Aich, Executive Vice President, Content, Academics and Emerging Technologies at Aptech Limited, said that MAAC has consistently led shifts in creative education in India. He noted that Career X strengthens industry aligned talent for the AVGC XR sector, while Creator X serves as a launchpad for young creators seeking to succeed in the fast growing Creator Economy. Together, he said, the programs form a future ready ecosystem designed to prepare learners for the next decade of digital careers.
As MAAC marks its silver jubilee year, the introduction of Career X and Creator X represents a defining chapter in its institutional journey. The programs reinforce MAAC’s mission to expand opportunities for India’s creative talent base and support the country’s emergence as a global hub for animation, visual effects, gaming, and extended reality.
By emphasising structure, industry alignment, and innovation, MAAC reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing creative professionals who are not only job ready but prepared for long term careers across studios, digital platforms, independent ventures, and entrepreneurial pathways. With these initiatives, the academy continues to position creative education as a foundation for India’s growing role in the global media and entertainment landscape
