From Superman to Garfield: Four scenarios regarding the effects of industry 4.0 on animation companies

Abstract

The animation industry is currently undergoing significant transformations fueled by technological advancements. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, the Internet of Things, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and Blockchain are reshaping the animation industry's value chain. This paper explores the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on various stages of the animation industry's value chain, including conceptualization, pre-production, production, post-production, distribution, and consumption. Through a combination of literature review and semi-structured interviews, the paper identifies key capabilities of Industry 4.0 technologies in the animation industry. Subsequently, experts from different countries were engaged to validate and evaluate these capabilities, scoring them based on their importance and effectiveness in production and marketing activities. Analysis of data from 60 experts resulted in the identification of the most critical capabilities, which were categorized into four groups based on their relation to either the production or marketing of animation products. Furthermore, the analysis of questionnaires enabled the development of four scenarios depicting the potential future trajectories of animation companies based on their adoption of Industry 4.0 capabilities. The paper delves deeper into each scenario, elucidating their underlying factors and characteristics. Ultimately, it is predicted that companies leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies for both production and marketing activities will emerge as the leaders of the animation industry. This paper offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the animation sector and provides a roadmap for companies seeking to harness the potential of Industry 4.0 advancements for sustained leadership and success.