Event Coverage
EdizPiemme looking to outsource 3D animation to Indian studios
CANNES: Italy based kids books publisher EdizPiemme plans to create a 3D feature around its popular character Geronimo Stilton and is here at Mipcom Junior looking for European co-production partners. Interestingly the publisher plans to outsource a part of its animation production work to India.
Geronimo Stilton – created by a “secret” author working with EdizPiemme five years ago – has featured in more than 100 titles (128 pages each) which have sold more than 10 million copies in Italy alone. The titles have been translated into 33 languages the world over.
Geronimo is an academic-looking mouse, who, like a kind teacher guides and tutors children through the illustrated book, teaching them everything from how diamonds are created to how a rainbow is formed.
Says International Characters (a company which is helping EdizPiemme’s in its international expansion) Pietro Marietti, “We are looking to produce an animated feature around Geronimo for a global audience, because we believe that the character lends itself very well to animation too.”
He adds, “We plan to co-produce Geronimo with European partners and will outsource part of the work to Asia and probably India if they can give us outstanding 3D quality. India is on our radar because we are aware that a lot of animation production work from Italy and France is already being done there.”
Marietti says the company would like to publish Geronimo in Hindi and is looking to tie up with Indian book distributors for the same. “We are looking to attend the biggest book fair in India,” he says.
With Disney’s Mickey Mouse increasingly scurrying around in India thanks to the launch of the Disney Channel, will we see another mouse also looking for the Indian cheese? Who knows? If Marietti could have his way and he finds the right connection, Geronimo might actually enjoy a lot more than that.
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.
