Asst. Prof. Bhanu Prakash Busagari is a multidisciplinary design educator, filmmaker, animator, and practice-based researcher with over two decades of experience across animation, filmmaking, visual arts, and design education. His professional journey reflects a unique integration of traditional artistic practices, contemporary animation methodologies, and interdisciplinary design pedagogy.
He is presently serving as Faculty at MIT Institute of Design, Pune, and is pursuing a Practice-Based PhD exploring the intersections of traditional craft practices, material culture, animation, and contemporary storytelling.
Asst. Prof. Bhanu holds a Master’s degree in Animation Film Design from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, and has also undertaken professional training in Live Action Film Direction under the faculty of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. His professional experience spans animation production, filmmaking, concept development, production design, and visual storytelling, with contributions to projects associated with Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, and regional film industries.
He has taught at leading institutions including MIT Institute of Design, School of Design Innovation at Mahindra University, National Institute of Design Andhra Pradesh, Avantika University, and DY Patil International University. His teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning, studio-based pedagogy, interdisciplinary exploration, and reflective creative practice.
In today’s rapidly evolving AI-driven creative landscape Asst. Prof. Bhanu advocates for the continued relevance of hand-skill-based creative practices. He believes that disciplines such as stop-motion animation cultivate patience, sustained observation, critical thinking, material sensitivity, and cognitive development, enabling students to engage more deeply with the creative process.
A significant aspect of his practice involves exploring traditional Indian craft forms as contemporary storytelling mediums. He has been actively investigating the use of Kondapalli toy craft traditions as a foundation for stop-motion animation, contributing to the discourse on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), cultural preservation, and practice-based research.
His selected works include Will with Wings (2023), Amamma Cheppe Neethi Kathalu (2024), 10 Days (2021), and Untitled Painting (2019). His stop-motion film Will with Wings received the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival Award and the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar International Film Festival Award. His contributions have also been recognized through the Pride of NID Award and the ASIFA India Award of Excellence.
Asst. Prof. Bhanu believes animation is a universal medium that empowers individuals to communicate meaningful stories through diverse materials, visual languages, and creative processes.
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