SINGAPORE: One of the world's leading animation schools is investing S$2.8 million (US$1.8 million) to set up a campus here in September 2008.

It is also receiving support from Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB).

The Sheridan College from Canada boasts many students who have gone on to work for major animation studios such as LucasFilms, Pixar and Disney.

When it comes to computer graphics or CG, there is more than meets the eye.

With a worldwide shortage of CG artists, many are looking at tapping talent from Asia.

And that is where the Sheridan College comes in.

"There is raw talent here and we're taking that talent and honing their skills so that they... (are) able to work here and abroad," said Angela Stukator, Associate Dean, Sheridan College, Canada.

And from the real world to the virtual, many showed up at the CG Overdrive exhibition not just to meet these stormtroopers but also to check out the massive recruitment drive by top studios like LucasFilms.

To promote the CG industry, organisers have been holding workshops.

And CG experts say even though the industry is not fully developed here, thanks to the internet they believe Asian CG artists will rise up faster than expected.

"There're a lot of people like that in the industry that are sharing information like crazy. You can go online to find tutorials and if they want to know how to do something, they can probably search it on the net and find out how things were done," said Paul Hormis, CG Artist, Spiderman & The Punisher.

There are currently 80 animation and games companies in Singapore with some 1,000 professionals in the field. - CNA/yy