Animation Career: Job Profiles, Placements, Salary, Top Recruiters, Abroad

Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

Animation courses are a great choice for you if you want to join the Arts field. Animators can bring characters to life in a changing setting. Animators work in so many fields like entertainment, education and even military flight or battle simulators. Nowadays, 3D animators are in great demand.

As a fresher who has just completed an Animation course, you can earn around Rs. 4 to 5 lakh. But the professionals at the mid-senior level can get approx Rs.6 to 8 lakh.  At the senior level professionals can earn Rs. 10 to 15 lakh.

Average Salary Based on Job Position

You can check the jobs with their average salary in the table below -

Job Profiles

Average CTC (INR)

2D Animator

INR 2 lakh to INR 6 lakh

3D Animator

INR 3 lakh to INR 8 lakh

Character Designer

INR 3 lakh to INR 7 lakh

Storyboard Artist

INR 3 lakh to INR 7lakh

VFX Artist

INR 4 lakh to INR 9 lakh

Technical Animator

INR 4 lakh to INR 9 lakh

Art Director

INR 6 lakh to INR 12 lakh

Animation Director

INR 7 lakh to INR 15 lakh

Note - The salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Top Careers in Animation

You can take a look at the top job options along with their desciption below:

Job Profile

Description

Average CTC (INR)

2D Animator

Creates 2D animations for various media projects.

INR 2 lakh to INR 6 lakh

3D Animator

They are involved in developing 3D animations for films, games, etc.

INR 3 lakh to INR 8 lakh

Character Designer

Responsible for the appearance and personality of characters.

INR 3 lakh to INR 7 lakh

Storyboard Artist

Sketches visual narratives for animations and films.

INR 3 lakh to INR 7 lakh

VFX Artist

Creates digital effects and enhancements for media.

INR 4 lakh to INR 9 lakh

Rigging Artist

Builds the skeletons and controls for 3D characters.

INR 4 lakh to INR 8 lakh

Technical Animator

Focuses on the technical aspects of animation.

INR 4 lakh to INR 9 lakh

Art Director

Oversees the visual style and direction of projects.

INR 6 lakh to INR 12 lakh

Animation Director

Leads animation teams and manages projects.

INR 7 lakh to INR 15 lakh

Specialisation Wise Salary for Animation Graduates in India

You can see the salary for each specialisation in Animation field:

Specialization

Entry-Level (INR)

Mid-Level (INR)

Senior-Level (INR)

2D Animation

INR 2 lakh-4 lakh

INR 3 lakh-5.5 lakh

INR 4.5 lakh-9 lakh

3D Animation

INR 2.5 lakh-5 lakh

INR 3 lakh-6 lakh

INR 6 lakh-12 lakh

Character Design

INR 2.5 lakh-4 lakh

INR 3 lakh-7 lakh

INR 4.5 lakh-10 lakh

Storyboard Artist

INR 2.5 lakh-4.5 lakh

INR 3.6 lakh-6.5 lakh

INR 5 lakh-9 lakh

VFX Artist

INR 3 lakh-5.5 lakh

INR 4.5 lakh-8.5 lakh

INR 6.5 lakh-12 lakh

Rigging Artist

INR 3 lakh-5.5 lakh

INR 4.5 lakh-8 lakh

INR 6.5 lakh-11 lakh

Technical Animator

INR 3 lakh-5.5 lakh

INR 4.5 lakh-8 lakh

INR 6.5 lakh-11 lakh

Art Director

INR 4 lakh-7 lakh

INR 6 lakh-8 lakh

INR 8 lakh-15 lakh

Animation Director

INR 5 lakh-8 lakh

INR 7 lakh-12 lakh

INR 9 lakh-18 lakh

Note: The salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Top Recruiters for Animation Students

You can see the list of top recruiters below:

Top Employment Areas for Animation Graduates

Entertainment

Media Houses

News Channels

Films

Schools

Colleges

You can see the top recruiters for each specialisations below:

Entertainment Recruiters

Circle Creation Entertainment Rockstar Games Viga Entertainment
Walt Disney Crazy Animation Game Berry Labs

Academics Recruiters

Chandigarh University

Lucknow University

Parul University

XLRI

Amity University

Indian Institute of Management

Media Houses Recruiters

NDTV Aaj Tak BBC
India Tv Times Internet News Nation

Private Organisations

Accenture

Cognizant

Infosys

IBM India

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Wipro

Top Animation College for Placements

You can check the list of colleges with high placements below:

Institute

Average Annual Salary in 2023

Bangalore University

INR 6.87 LPA

Gujarat University

INR 5.4 LPA

National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

INR 6.3 LPA

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi

INR 6.6 LPA

Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

INR 3.6 LPA

Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

INR 4.7 LPA

Parul University, Vadodara

INR 5.7 LPA

Amity University, Noida

INR 8.7 LPA

Loyola College, Chennai

INR 9.4 LPA

Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik

INR 5 LPA

Top Indian Cities to Get Lucrative Jobs After Animation

You can see the list of top cities for Animation jobs below: 

City

Job Opportunities

Average Annual Salary

Delhi

Animation Studios, VFX Companies, Schools, etc.

INR 3 lakh- INR 6 lakh

Mumbai

Colleges, Schools, Production Houses, etc.

INR 3 lakh - INR 6 lakh

Pune

VFX Industry, Schools, Colleges, etc.

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 5 lakh

Hyderabad

Colleges, Media Houses, etc.

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 5 lakh

Bangalore

VFX Industry, Schools, Animation Studios, Colleges, etc.

INR 3 lakh- INR 5.5 lakh

Chennai

Photo Studios, VFX Industry, Colleges, etc.

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 6 lakh

Chandigarh

VFX Industry, Schools, Colleges, etc.

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 4.5 lakh

Kolkata

Animation Studios, Colleges, Hospitals, etc

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 5 lakh

Ahmedabad

Private Organisations, Hospitals, VFX Industry, etc.

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 4.5 lakh

Jaipur

Colleges, Media Houses, Private Organisations, etc

INR 2.5 lakh- INR 4.5 lakh

Animation Salary Abroad

You can see the salary of Animation professionals abroad below:

Country

Salary Offered

USA

  • Entry-Level: $40,000 to $60,000 per year
  • Mid-Level: $60,000 to $90,000 per year
  • Senior-Level: $90,000 to $150,000+ per year

United Kingdom

  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): £20,000 to £30,000 per year.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): £30,000 to £50,000 per year.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): £50,000 to £1,00,000 or more per year.

Canada

  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): CAD 40,000 to CAD 60,000 per year.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): CAD 60,000 to CAD 90,000 per year.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): CAD 90,000 to CAD 1,50,000 or more per year.

Germany

  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): €30,000 to €45,000 per year.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): €45,000 to €70,000 per year.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): €70,000 to €1,50,000 or more per year.

Australia

  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): AUD 40,000 to AUD 60,000 per year.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): AUD 60,000 to AUD 90,000 per year.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): AUD 90,000 to AUD 1,50,000 or more per year.

Note - The salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Animation FAQs

Q. Is Animation a good career?

A. Yes, Animation is a promising career. Students, who engage in animation programmes, can go on to work in animation, film, television, advertising, virtual reality, and other industries. Job prospects for animators are growing quickly as a result of the expansion of the entertainment and gaming industries.

Due to the extensive usage of special effects, animation has over time gained a strong foothold in the film, television, and advertising sectors. Full-length animated films are highly sought-after. There are many career opportunities since up to 500 animators may be needed for one animated movie. Both the entertainment and education (e-learning) industries gain from the real-world, financially rewarding, and demanding professional path of animation.

Also Read:

2D/3D Animation Course

Q. Is Animation a lucrative career?

A. Yes. It isn't a traditional corporate job. You can earn high income here. Different job roles have different paths. Each of them will help you learn. Upgrade your skills to stay relevant.

Q. What are the areas of employment for Animators?

A. After completing Animation courses, students can find employment in various industries, including movies, gaming, advertisement, marketing, and retail. The uses of Animation have witnessed an increase in the past few years with expansion in the Media and Entertainment industry. Its usage is, however, not restricted to the entertainment industry, and is widely used in advertisements, architecture, and educational purposes.   

Q. Which are the top recruiters for Animation?

A. Animation industry is a flourishing industry in India. However, candidates need to be highly skilled in the animation field. Given below are the names of a few popular animation companies that hire freshers.

                                                                            Top Recruiters for Animation

Toonz Animation India

Maya Entertainment Ltd, Mumbai

UTV Toonz

Pentamedia Graphics, Chennai

Heart Entertainment Limited, Hyderabad

Crest Animation Studios Ltd, Mumbai

Padmalaya Telefilms

Silvertoon Studio, Mumbai

Jadooworks Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru

Nipuna Services, Chennai

Q. What are the job profiles studying Animation?

A. Students have many options to choose from. Each and every job roles is high paying. You will learn many new things in this field. Once you start, everything becomes possible. See the table below:

Job Profiles

Average Annual Salary in Rs.

3D Modeller

3 Lakh

Animator

3.5 lakh

Flash Animator

3.8 lakh

Stop Motion Animator

3.3 lakh

Video Game Designer

3.9 lakh

Q. Which are the popular Animation colleges in India?

Q: What is 3D Animation?

A: It is currently one of the professions with the quickest growth rates. In India and overseas, there are many wonderful employment chances for animators. Students can work as pre-production visualizers and storyboard artists for hire, or they can become art directors and members of creative teams for networks like Channel [V], MTV, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, as well as for multimedia companies like Tata Interactive and Infosys and production studios like Famous House of Animation, Vaibhav Studio, and Miditech.

Q. How to start a career in Animation?

A. In order to enter into a profession in the field of Animation, the candidates must master various applications such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Premiere, and Autodesk Maya. Candidates with BSc Animation degrees frequently find employment in the animation and multimedia fields all around the nation as game designers and 3D animators for web design, movies, television, and other kinds of interactive media. They can earn an average salary ranging from INR 4 lakh to 6 lakh. 

Table of contents
  • Popular Animation Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Animation Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Popular Animation Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Animation UG Courses
  • Popular Animation PG Courses
View More

Popular Animation Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Animation Colleges in India. Learn more about these Animation colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1.23 L - 3.82 L
4.4 - 4.6 LPA
1 Course
14.4 L
4.0
3 L - 4.5 L
4.6 LPA

Animation Applications open. Apply Now

2.88 L - 6.36 L
4.0

Animation Applications open. Apply Now

83 K - 9.2 L
3.4
89.1 K - 5 L
3.7

Popular Private Animation Colleges in India

23.2 L

Animation Applications open. Apply Now

17 L

Animation Applications open. Apply Now

4.0
5.0
5 Courses
1.4 L - 27.88 L
8.9 L - 17.8 L
3.1
3 Courses
3 L - 5 L
1.0

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Animation. Students interested in pursuing a career on Animation, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

31 Oct ' 25

Last Date for submitting Qualifying Exam result (...

14 Jul ' 25 - 15 Oct ' 25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025 Counselling

25 Oct ' 25 - 30 Apr ' 26

CUCET 2026 Phase 1 Application Form

25 Oct ' 25 - 1 May ' 26

CUCET 2026 Phase 1 Exam

Mar '26

SHIATS Entrance Exam Application Process

TENTATIVE

Apr '26

SHIATS Entrance Exam Application Correction Window

TENTATIVE

Popular Animation Specializations

Following are the most popular Animation Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Popular Animation UG Courses

Following are the most popular Animation UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Animation PG Courses

Following are the most popular Animation PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Answered a month ago

Some of the career options you can choose after completing VFX course from AMR Wings Academy are as follows:

  • Composting Artist
  • Match Moving Artist
  • Pre Visualisation Artist
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  • BG Preparation Artist
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  • Video Editor
  • Graphic Artist
  • UI/ UX Designer
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...Read more

A

Aishwarya Malhotra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

A Fine Arts degree from Chandigarh University opens pathways into animation and graphic design because the programme includes applied art, digital illustration, and visual communication. Many graduates pursue graphic design roles in branding firms, digital agencies, and publishing houses. Others joi

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Amita singh

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 2 months ago

As far as I know, Chandigarh University gives a golden chance to students to study and work in different countries and learn new things, and the university makes possible different programs every year in January and September. I would like to tell you that there are two ways to study abroad from the

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Vijay Thakur

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Faculty members in Chandigarh University's Animation and Multimedia Department are highly professional and very supportive of student's growth. They emphesize learning by doing, so students get guided through practical projects, live simulations, and industry-relevant assignments. The teachers also

...Read more

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Advik

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Honestly, I would say Chandigarh University's Animation and Multimedia department is good, especially for someone serious about building a career in animation. The courses cover all major areaslike modeling, visual effects, performance animation, and ending, so you learn everything step by step. Wha

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Garima Chandel

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Switching to Animation at Chandigarh University is very much possible, even if you're not from a Science or technical stream. The eligibility is open: 10+2 in any stream with 55% marks, so whether you studied commerce, arts, or science, you can apply without issues. The programme is designed in a wa

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Shrey

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Students are engaged in live projects at Chandigarh University. These initiatives serve as practice in the real world. There are projects that students can work on, which are sourced either by the companies or the university. They provide students with the understanding of how this work is carried o

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Richa Sharma

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Many people think that Animation is just about making designs and drawing but it's not this. Many colleges just teaches the basics of Animation but at Chandigarh University, Animation department tries to mix both theory and practical in its teaching. The course is not only focused on using software,

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Ritesh Kumar

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

There is 2D and 3D labs in Animation department at Chandigarh University and the environment is really great. The 2D Animation Lab is where students learn to represent stories through sketching and in-betweens. The lab is filled with computers, tablets, and software like Adobe Animate. Storyboarding

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Tanya

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, Chandigarh University gives many chances for animation students to meet and learn from experts. The department keeps inviting people from the industry to share real knowledge. Recently, students had a session with Mr. BN Vichar, a 3D professional with many years of experience in production and

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Diksha S

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 2 months ago


If Visual Effects excites you, Chandigarh University is one of the best options. The Department of Animation and Multimedia is the largest in the region, with specialised facilities for visual effects training. You'll get hands-on experience in lighting, rendering, motion graphics, roto, compositing

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Aryan Chauhan

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

At Chandigarh University, the average package for Animation graduates depends a lot on the recruiters, and luckily, the department has tie-ups with some big creative studios. Students often get placed at Creo Media, Master Creationz, JS Nexus & Co, Amber Websoft, and App Mec, besides well-known ones

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Vanya Shastri

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Chandigarh University offers a wide range of specialised electives in Animation to help students focus on their areas of interest. In the 2nd and 3rd semesters, students can choose from baskets like Game Design & CG Asset Development, VFX, and Graphic Art & 2D Production. These electives include cou

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Nishant Goutam

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Even if you don't have an art background, you can still join Chandigarh University for Animation. The course usually asks for 10+2 with at least 50% marks or a Diploma in Engineering, Technology, or Architecture with 50% marks. What matters is your interest to learn and practice. Animation involves

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sameer

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

If you want to study 3D animation, Chandigarh University provides a good setup. The 3D Animation Lab is made for hands-on learning. It has high-performance computers and industry software for complete 3D work. Students learn to design models, do rigging, add textures, and finally animate them. Rende

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Dashanpreet Singh

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 2 months ago

Many national and multinational companies recruit students for animation artist, 3D designer, editor positions, etc. Students from Chandigarh University have been placed in companies like Prime Focus World, Wiggle Media, Digitoonz, Speed Records, and Bonker's Art. Some have even gained exposure in

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Preekshit Singh

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Students at Chandigarh University's Animation department are introduced to a wide variety of creative and technical software. They learn Corel Draw for graphic designing, Adobe Premiere and After Effects for video editing and motion graphics, and Maya and 3ds Max for 3D animation and modeling. For s

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Vihana Thakur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Chandigarh University gives a lot of practical exposure in Animation and Multimedia. Students don't just learn theory; they work on live projects like Creating 3D game characters, animated videos, or VFX scenes. The labs have all the latest software like Maya, 3ds Max, Photoshop, and ZBrush, so stu

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Neha Parihar

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, students do get such chances. University has tie-ups with many industry partners, so learners can explore real work while still studying. Some examples are Technicolor, Zee News, Airai Technologies, SmokeTech, Wipro, Publicis Groupe, DSV Global Transport and Logistics, Celoxis, Department of En

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Baali Pandit

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Every academic in the creative stream looks for a good university where they can learn and hone their talent. Chandigarh University is one big name in Punjab for Animation studies. The institute has a separate department for film and visual arts. It is a course that has software but also design, sto

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Baali Pandit

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, Chandigarh University combines imagination with technical depth. Imagine sitting in a design studio, sketching your own character on paper, and then a week later, watching it move in a 3D space using Maya or Blender. That's how CU balances creativity and technology. We are encouraged to paint,

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Creative architects

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

Well, this question is tough to answer, because no Animation specialization that is the best. Every Animation field serves different purposes. Be it VFX, Motion Graphics, Graphic Design, 3D Modeling, or CGI, every field caters to the digital world with a variety of visually appealing content. 

N

Nikita Chauhan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Well, most Diploma and certification courses in Animation are offered based on the merit system. But some degree-level programs in some sub-fields of Animation require entrance exam scores, offered by some top Design colleges, like NIFTS and NIDS. Some top Animation entrance exams are NIFT Entrance,

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A

Atul Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

It depends on the type of course and course level you choose. Animation is a vast field under which you'll get countless types of subfields. And all these subfields offer a variety of courses, according to which the syllabus is designed by each college. So, it's impossible to provide a fixed curricu

...Read more

R

Rashmi Thakur

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Of course, there are so many after 10th Diploma and certification Animation course options available both online and offline. On top of that, most online learning platforms don't even ask for certain qualifications. Some top institute options for you are:

...Read more

R

Rashmi Srivastava

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

The eligibility criteria for Animation courses can be different based on the course type and college. Here are the eligibility criteria for different Animation courses:

  • UG/Diploma/Certification - Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board in any stream.
  • PG/PG Diploma/Advanced Certification - A bac

...Read more

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Animation is a vast field including a bunch of sub-fields like VFX, Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Photoshop, and so on. Under all these sub-fields, you'll find a variety of courses at different levels. Animation courses are offered at every level, including certification, diploma, undergraduate,

...Read more

M

Mohit Datta

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

The entrance exam difficulty level for BDes Graphic Design admissions differs based on the particular exam that you're preparing to appear for. For admission you have exams like UCEED, NIFT Entrance, NID DAT and CUET for admission to top Graphic Design colleges in India offering the BDes course. If

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V

Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

IIT Bombay is the most preferred option for pursuing the animation course.  However, there are many other institutes that provide the animation courses:

  • National Institute of Design (NID)
  • MIT Institute of Design, Pune
  • MAAC Institute
  • ARENA Animation
  • Amity University

Students can expect the best infrastruct

...Read more

D

Damini Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

IIT Bombay has a well established Industial Design Centre providing various UG, PG and Doctoral courses such as BDes, MDes, PhD and other short term courses in design and animation. Candidates interested in pursuing the courses at IIT Bombay must appear for the UCEED or CEED entrance exams to be eli

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D

Damini Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 10

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