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Toei animation’s ‘Ayakashi’ receives nominations for three film festivals
MUMBAI: Toei Animation‘s popular animated series Ayakashi has been nominated for an animation award at three European film festivals.The announcement was made by it was announced by Toei Animation Co., Ltd Director of the International Department Kanji Kazahaya. Ayakashi has been selected for competition in the following categories: ” 31st Annecy International Animation Film Festival ‘07-TV series category |
Ayakashi is the an animated TV series that weaves three classic Japanese horror stories, The Yotsuya Kaidan, The Tenshu Tales, and Bakeneko Tale, with cutting edge animation technique. The high target series attracted a maximum rating of 5.0 percent and an average rating of 3.5 percent during its broadcast on Fuji TV‘s midnight timeslot in 2006. |
“We are deeply honoured to be among the nominees at three major European film festivals,” said Kazahaya. “These nominations are truly a reflection of the talents and dedication of everyone on the Ayakashi production team.” With headquarters in Tokyo and sales offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Paris, Toei Animation ranks among the world‘s most prolific animation production studios. Toei Animation‘s operations include animation development and production, and worldwide marketing and program licensing. |
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
