Event Coverage
Bali makes it big at 2nd Mipcom Jr Licensing Challenge
CANNES: Organised in association with License Magazine (US), the second Mipcom Junior licensing challenge witnessed some great ideas and concepts being pitched.
Of the thirty five shows entered, five made it to the finals and were presented to the jury on the closing day of Mipcom Junior. The jury comprised Fisher Price SVP for Licensing and New Business, Stan Clutton, ABC Consumer Publishing and consumer sales GM Grahame Grassby, Spin Master founder Ronan Harary, Alternative Branding CEO Alexander Mayaud and Al Ovadia Associates President Al Ovadia. The pitch was moderated by deputy managing director of Children’s programming for BBC Worldwide Helen Mc Aleer.
Each of the selected entries had fabulous concepts and characters that lent well to licensing and merchandise. While Lavinia’s World’s OOshes was a charming rainbow tinted universe with elements of nature forming the cutest of characters, BRB media’s Khudayama was an oriental stylised tale of Karma and was targeted at teenagers.
Wearing a flux deluxe T-shirt with a plush haversack, Meera Santoro’s Flux Deluxewas sophisticated, chic and full of style. Located on a tropical urban beach in the heart of the wildest city on earth, Santoro’s series was a strong contender. Bali, a story of a cute lovable urban puppy dog and his relationship with his father however stole the show and won over the jury.
Created by France based Planet Nemo Animation, Bali is themed around a kid’s life in the city and has been adapted from a book property with over 18 titles published in French.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com’s sister concern Animation ‘xpress, Planet Nemo Animation chief Fredric R said, “It’s a great platform to be on and its even greater feeling to win. We have already cut a few deals and now with this victory we expect some more spotlight on Bali.”
License magazine managing editor Joyce Ann Cooney said, “We have worked with Mipcom Junior to develop an international jury of stalwarts from this field ranging from professionals from the toy industry to retail experts to broadcasting.”
“While judging the licensing potential of a brand one has to keep in mind, that licensing sensibilities differ from territory to territory and not only at a global level but also within the US. Wile shortlisting the final five for the jury to judge from, I kept in mind certain criteria such as freshness, uniqueness and innovation,” she added.
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.
