Kerala, India -- Interestingly, an Indian animation film has already made it to the Oscars. "The Legend of Buddha" is the Indian entry in the animated film category for the 2005 Oscar awards.
The 90-minute film by director S.S. Phalke uses latest animation technology to take the story of the Buddha to the world stage.
Four hundred artists at Kingdom Animasia, Pentamedia's subsidiary in Manila, made 200,000 sketches for the film at a cost of about $1.5 million. The sketches were supported by 1,000 3D animated backgrounds created by artists in Chennai.
The art is by T. Thirugnyanam, Pentamedia's art technologist.
It was produced at Pentamedia's studios in India, Singapore and the Philippines in association with the Singapore government and its Economic Development Board.
Eleven films have qualified for this year's award.
In competition are three films from Walt Disney, including one Pixar production, three films from DreamWorks, two from Warner Bros, one from Paramount Pictures, and one from Maxmedia of South Korea.
"The Legend of Buddha" faces a formidable pack that includes "Polar Express", "Shrek 2", "Shark Tale", "The Incredibles" and "Teacher's Pet".
The film, expected to gross at least $12 million, has been released selectively in theatres in some Indian metros since September.
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This documentary by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin and narrated by Richard Gere, tells the story of the Buddha's life, a journey especially relevant to our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion. It features the work of some of the world's greatest artists and sculptors, who across two millenia, have depicted the Buddha's life in art rich in beauty and complexity.
Hear insights into the ancient narrative by contemporary Buddhists, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet W.S. Merwin and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Join the conversation and learn more about meditation, the history of Buddhism, and how to incorporate the Buddha's teachings on compassion and mindfulness into daily life.
72eUnfortunately I grew up in an era where men especially were not susopped to have feelings. If you cried you were a sissy (never figured out what the literal translation of the word was). You were expected to live up to other's expectations, not yours. As a result a lot of us became addicted to one mind-altering chemical or another to ease the pain that developed over all those years of self-loathing. For myself living in this mind-altered state, I could not see outside myself and realize the real suffering of my fellow man, whether he or she was orphaned in some far-away corner of Africa or homeless on the streets of my home town. To my good fortune, my addiction brought me into a real relationship with God and through Him I found a way out. Now being aware of myself and the creation God made in me, I have in turn become aware of the plight of those around me and in our world. Dying was my greatest fear as a child and an adult. The mystery of death is the root of my fear. As a child I was afraid of what was going to happen next with my mother and father. Would I be ignored, criticized, beaten or praised? Now that I have gotten past most of the harm done by that environment, I am more aware and less afraid of the world I live in. I doubt the most hardened criminal, when faced with death, would dare be so arrogant. I live life with a daily reprieve from my addiction. I pray for those who suffer from illness, starvation, loneliness, abuse, and spiritual malady. For me, I have been fortunate and by the Grace of God not had to endure the suffering experienced by many. So my goal is to contribute to others less fortunate and share my experience, strength and hope to the suffering men, women, and children of this world.
Theresa,8bKuS4FJ9
244God bless you Bill, thank you for your words. I was diagnosed with an auto-immune diesase 5 years ago and have been forced to face my own mortality numerous times since then. Along the way I lost my faith, I thought that God had forgotten me. But through His grace, patience and love, like the prodigal son (daughter) I returned. I now live in the glory and ever presence of His love and mercy. I see life in a very different way to what I did before. My illness is now a blessing I would not be the person I am today without it.
The Laws of The Sun
