Event Coverage
Licensing takes center stage during the Mipcom conference programme
MUMBAI: The conference programme at Mipcom, the world’s leading audiovisual content market, will turn its focus on the dynamic industry of licensing & merchandising (L&M), in partnership with Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) and License! Magazine.
On Tuesday, 18 October, keynote presentations will be given by two leaders in the field as they share their insight into the growing link between the world of audiovisual content and licensing.
In recognition of his professional career, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products (United States) Dan Romanelli – will be the recipient of Mipcom’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2005. Romanelli will speak about his remarkable success in guiding his influential company towards an estimated $50 billion L&M business.
He will also be sharing his insight on the trends over the past two decades and telling us what to expect, and if any will recur, in the future, states an official release.
Romanelli adds, “The whole world is becoming wireless. We are now our own individual networks, which gives the consumer much more power. And it’s so immediate. Today, L&M requires the ability to reach out wirelessly to somebody who is walking past your product; and get them to buy it there and then.” Additionally, Romanelli will discuss the four P’s: Property, People, Product and Performance at his Super Tuesday keynote.
The second Licensing Keynote, president of Lucasfilm Licensing (United States) Howard Roffman, will present Star Wars, the world’s most successfully branded production, as a case study in how L&M has developed in the entertainment industry during the period in which these six films have been released internationally. He has presided over one of the most successful L&M campaigns the entertainment industry has ever seen. “George [Lucas] wanted to tell his principal story through movies, and he’s done that now,” Roffman said. “But he’s created such a rich universe in the process that he knows there’s more to tell. He now wants to move into pure entertainment.”
Director of the Television Division at Reed Midem Paul Johnson, stated, “We’re delighted to have not one but two of the most prominent players in the L&M arena keynote this Mipcom. L&M has always been present at our markets but has taken on added importance as we strive to create more value for all our global clients in partnership with LIMA.”
The L&M track within the Mipcom conferences is presented in three parts, TV to Book and Book to TV (part 1) in partnership with the London Book Fair. Part 2 which focuses on Games to TV, and Part 3 focusing on how to make the most of your brand.
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.
