An enthusiastic and creative animator, and owner of a production company, Sumit is providing top-notch digital content services and striving for expansion in  the gaming sector. He started his journey as an animator and lecturer which was not his primary goal in life. He believes in grabbing every opportunity that comes his way, learning from it, and keeps moving towards his actual goal.

Sumit Sabharwal is a Co-founder and Project Manager at 13 Particles Studio in Chandigarh. He is particularly fond of Character  Modelling which is also his area of specialisation.

Sumit was born and raised in Dehradun, where he completed his education. He has  12 years of expertise in the field of animation, including time spent in a variety of roles as an animator at several animation studios and as an assistant professor at a university.

During his childhood, Sumit recalls, he used to spend a lot of time playing video and computer games. He was so much into gaming that he had a collection of more than 500 games on his computer. He says that his animation journey started when he was an eighth-grader. His passion for video and PC games was also fueled when his brother gifted him a PlayStation 1 gaming console. Subsequently, he became interested in animation and game development.

Sumit also shares how during earlier times, people had less access to online information, social media, and YouTube. Identifying his interest, Sumit’s brother helped him find a college where he could learn Animation. He came across MAAC India and got Sumit admitted to the institute which helped kick start his animation journey. Thereafter, he did his BA in 3D Animation and Visual Effects which lasted for three years. Sumit also pursued some certificates like Diploma in CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), AutoDesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max.

Sumit recollects participating in his college event called National Students’ Meet which was held in Mumbai annually. The event gave students exposure to industry experts which lasted for five days.

After completing his degree in Animation, the real struggle began when Sumit had to find a job and settle in his career. He appeared for some interviews in Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Dehradun. Before he could land up a full-time job, he learned about the production process spanning six months in Delhi. After a period of wait and struggle during his job search, Sumit found a job in his hometown, Dehradun and joined it. On that note, he advises people to grab every opportunity that comes their way, and pursue it even if it doesn’t align with their goals. Sumit emphasises focusing more on learning, rather than just running behind money.

While working, Sumit kept applying for other positions. Soon, he got a call from Chandigarh University, and he resigned from his Dehradun position. There, Sumit had to teach a couple of batches and got more exposure at the institute. He was asked to take a demo class for senior students and he got through with confidence and knowledge about the subject. Not only this, Sumit was also recognized with the Best Teacher Award, which he credits to his students. He has always focused on learning and has never expected anything in return. His turning point came when he was asked to become a coordinator besides being an Assistant Professor at the university. Sumit’s stint at the Chandigarh University lasted seven years.

As a hustler, Sumit, alongside his teaching profession, launched a startup with a couple of students. Just before he was thinking of resigning, an email popped up. Sumit got to know that he had again been selected for the Best Teacher Award. He realised that destiny wants him to delay his plans.

Sumit always desired to become a 3D artist in a studio, but was not getting the opportunity because of lack of experience. But destiny had something else in store for him. After gaining a wealth of experience, Sumit co-founded a company called 13 Particles and became its project manager as well.

Delving deeper into 13 Particles, Sumit shares that it is a 3D gaming company. He sheds light on animation which comprises 2D, 3D, and VFX. Sumit adds that the colour tones used in VFX include green and blue, generally seen in movies. The company also deals in AR, VR, Architecture, Product Modelling, etc. They also rebuilt the game ‘Counter Strike’ which was featured on platforms like Reddit. Sumit also shares the story behind naming the company ‘13 Particles.’ Ironically, they also started with a team of 13 members. The venture also supports and guides artists by all means.

Drawing a comparison between education and experience, Sumit replies that education clearly has an advantage over experience. He thinks experience comes from learning and education. He encourages everyone, regardless of age, to learn at every stage of life.

When asked who his role models are, Sumit says he draws inspiration from everyone and everything, including animals, to learn new aspects of life. He adds that he learns from the accomplishments and failures of others. Therefore, he thinks that his inspiration comes from everyone who enters his life. To name a person, Sumit names Steve Jobs, who serves as his inspiration.

Sumit also draws inspiration from the movie ‘Lucy’ which holds the message of spreading knowledge and helping others without expecting anything in return. He also feels motivated by the movie Dangal and its title track.

Regarding his future plans, Sumit states that he wants to grow his company and would look into additional VFX and multimedia areas. He continues by saying that his company plans to host seminars and workshops to address all the issues of aspiring new animators and VFX artists.

Sumit believes in the ideology, “Knowledge breeds creation, and therefore a constructive thought accompanied by action leads to its fulfilment in the material world.” On that note, he advises people to be practical and positive, and follow their passion so that they never get bored of their work.

“Try to solve the situation, and not complicate it”, is another learning Sumit shares with us, highlighting that one should talk about the solution rather than discussing the problem. “Make mistakes and learn from them”, is another lesson he talks about.

Sumit believes that aspiring game designers and animators must overcome their own limitations, innovate in their work, pursue creativity, maintain a constant state of learning, and understand that patience is the key to success. He also talks about the importance of having a portfolio in the field of animation. Sumit advises people to first strengthen their roots, just like a bamboo tree, and know that animation is all about practicals and bringing characters to life.