Event Coverage
Filmart offers glimpse into digital future
HONG KONG: The future is now. If there was one overriding theme at this year’s Entertainment Expo that was creating the maximum buzz it is without doubt multi-media convergence.
Not only was it extensively on display at Filmart but there was also a musical display and two events that were focused on the digital entertainment industry.
Filmart had a separate platform devoted exclusively to digital entertainment companies from across the region that are developing content across a range of platforms including film, TV, Internet, mobile and of course gaming. The Digital Entertainment Pavilion had 30 exhibitors from Hong Kong alone showcasing cutting edge technology from 2D to 3D that boggled the mind. Exhibitors included special effects houses, games developers and animation producers.
The Philippines, whose animation industry has been doing outsourcing work for major Western productions for over 20 years, made their presence felt for the first time this year through the Animation Council of the Philippines.
For India though, it was a virtual no-show. A pity considering the kind of interest India is generating from across the region for the work that has been coming out of Indian animation boutiques over the last couple of years. Conversations Indiantelevision.com had with a number of exhibitors highlighted two main areas of interest as far as India is concerned – project work outsourcing to India and because of the high levels of technical expertise at competitive rates that Indian animators bring to the table.
The final day of Filmart was almost entirely devoted to digital entertainment. There was the ‘Symposium on Cross-Media and Cross-Business Development.’ It was also a day when the Hong Kong Digital Excellence Awards were announced.
Thursday’s action was a follow-up to the ‘Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum’ held Wednesday. The focus of the forum was ‘Creative Collaboration in the Digital Entertainment Values Chain.’ Speakers included Jun Tang, president of the Shenzhen, China-based Shanda Interactive, and Michael Hedges, Oscar winning recording mixer for the last of the Lord of the Rings trilogy The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
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.
