Event Coverage
Case made for use of streaming media, digital intermediates
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MUMBAI: At today’s convention on technology for information, media and entertainment industry at Powai, technical experts held forth on the rapid development of technology and how television was benefiting from it. Discreet’s Aby Mathew said that the company was into content creation like 3D Animation, high end graphics for broadcasters. Clients include NDTV, Sony, ESPN, CNN, Fox. |
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“We have come a long way from the 1960’s when computer graphics first started. Now there is talk of digital characters replacing humans. At Discreet our job is to help clients realise their vision. In the post production phase colour grading is the latest technology. This enables the filmmaker to colour correct the film. We will be launching a new software at next month’s NAB. This will treat film like a non linear video session,” Mathew said.  He further added that other components used include editing. This covers offline, online finishing, long format conform. Then there is visual effects which consists of composition, image manipulation, surrealism. The part that he dwelt on the most was digital intermediates which are selective digital posts within the celluloid process pipe. It is digital image data used for intermediate processing of film imagery, prior to final output and distribution. “We are lucky as they have been around since the early 1990’s. The processing offers greater creative control – non-linear editing, visual effects, synthetic imagery, color grading, multi- mastering.” He pointed out that the digital intermediate process would expand as post-production requirements drive the increasing use of digital imagery. First the section of the film wanted for treatment is taken out. After scanning you insert CGI images etc. Then the images are composited and finished. After this the final colour grading takes place and it goes back to the lab and from there back on to celluloid. The facility allows for both hi-def and low-def. Today this process is easier as the digital to celluloid process has quickened over the years. It also allows for manipulation and management of large volumes of data. New art design is possible like in The Matrix,, Lord Of The Rings (LOTR). More importantly film restoration is possible. Frame by frame clean ups are possible. Another advantage to the digital intermediate process is that high resolution scanning has gotten cheaper. It allows the user to make changes at any time and also create multiple versions. It also helps save costs. There is n9o need for crowd multiplication, blue/green screen, sets, locations and re-releases. Millenium Films’ Raj Tilak spoke about streaming media. It is real time access to video, audio content. This is played back by a client player. The content is processed by a specialized media server application. Research has found that 43 per cent of net users use streaming media for downloading clips. A possible problem is that due to download you have to wait. Also the downloaded content can be redistributed by the downloader, thus leading to piracy problems. He also mentioned Video Lan which is an operating system frame. It can transcode a high bit rate file on demand for any medium. He said that revenues accrued from streaming media would go up to 20.6 billion in 2004. |
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.
