Event Coverage
Optimystix to pitch ‘Nirvana’ at Mipcom
MUMBAI: Indian production house Optimystix is gearing up for Mipcom in a big way. The event is an occasion for the company to meet members of the Sparks Network, a global conglomerate of 14 production houses.
Optimystix director Sanjiv Sharma however insists that he has a lot more on his sleeve. “Of course, Mipcom will be the location of one of the six annual meetings with the Sparks Network where we share creatives in the business. But we have two other highlights in our agenda.”
Elaborating he says, “One will be seeking affiliations and associations with production houses and networks across the globe for adapting international formats. I think Mipcom is a great place to get introduced to international trends in the world of television.”
“The other highlight,” he says, “will be to pitch our home-grown format Nirvana to international broadcasters.”
Sharma says that Nirvana was rated as one of the top five formats in Mipcom 2006. “Presently through the Sparks network, Nirvana is being used in several territories including the US, France, Finland by international broadcasters. We hope to engage in active dialogues with more international broadcasters for spreading Nirvana across the globe,” he says.
Apart from Nirvana, Optimystix will pitch two more home-grown formats ideated by his in-house creative team. “This year, since India is the ‘Country of honour‘, I think there will be a high visibility for Indian media houses. We are in talks with Ficci officials about deciding what value we can add to the Indian contingent for Mipcom. Since it is a government led initiative, international broadcast networks will definitely look at the event more seriously than ever before,” he says.
Optimystix has already produced format shows – Kisme Kitna Hai Dum, Khuljaa Sim Sim and Indian Idol – all of which have been adaptations from international formats.
Sharma believes that their experience in handling such formats will give them an edge over others. “With a proven expertise on adapting these formats, I think we will be the preferred distribution partners and production partners for international networks to be their local partners in India,” Sharma says.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
