Event Coverage
Animation high on Frames’ agenda
MUMBAI: The Indian animation industry is currently growing at the CAGR of 30 per cent. Kids channels are likely to explode with more players and result in quick growth and big revenues, as nearly one third of India’s population is below the age of 15. There are tremendous business opportunities in the areas of co-production, content acquisition and sales, licensing, merchandising etc with Indian animation and Game Production houses.
Keeping this scenario in mind, FICCI Frames has an entire track dedicated to animation and gaming.
Indian Animation Sector lately is receiving attention span of the world. The industry, so far, troubled with high investments, lack of trained manpower and stiff competition from Asian counterparts, has suddenly become the center of attraction for mature markets like US and Canada.
The various sessions scheduled are:
CO-production in Animation: A win- win Game
Project and Schedule Management in Animation & Gaming
Marketing & Distribution of Animated Content & Games
Master Class I: Script Writing for Animation
Master Class II: Making of SFX Movie
Top honchos from animation sector like Electronic Arts, Asia president Jon Nierman, Stewart & Wall Entertainment, Australia’s Richard Stewart, DI Group, LLC, USA’s Craig Mumma, VES, USA co-chair and director Tim McGovern, Electronic Arts GM- Asean Christopher Thompson, Cinnamon, UK’s Chris Rice, Toon Boom Animations Inc, Canada CEO Joan Vogelesang and Electronic Arts Music, Asia director- market research and development Michael McCabe amongst others will discuss the nuances of this very promising sector.
To recognise the excellence in the animation industry, FICCI has instituted, FICCI BAF (Best Animated FRAMES) awards. BAF Awards has received global attention and acceptance with participation from countries like UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Hong Kong, Australia, Egypt, France, Italy, Thailand, Korea etc. The awards will be presented by none other than Barrie Osborne, Producer – Lord of the Rings, Matrix, Face off etc.
With its commitment to develop the Indian Animation Industry, FICCI strongly believes that soon Indian Studios would churn out their own properties to be distributed in the Global Market. As per Industry estimates the global animation industry is expected to boom to $ 70 billion by 2005. India is currently getting a small share of the huge animation pie, which is estimated to grow around $1.57 billion by 2005.
“If you think that’s enough, you ain’t seen nothing”, promises FICCI officials.
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.
