Event Coverage
Localisation of content is key to tasting success in kids entertainment: MIPJUNIOR
CANNES: The animation industry globally is going through a renaissance period, wherein we get to see many success stories from not just the larger well known studios like Walt Disney, DHX Media and DreamWorks Animation, but also smaller mushrooming studios who believe in creating content that is true to the roots of the country of their origin, but still hold great promise in the global front.
In a session at MIPJUNIOR 2015, this was precisely what was closely looked at. Titled – ‘How to make it in the global market, the session saw a mix of content creators who are involved in not only creating original content but also taking the IP ahead into various other touch points and giving their IPs a 360 degree presence.
The most pertinent question today is: How do you evolve from a local independent producer into a highly-influential studio developing global-appeal animation brands across multiple platforms This aspirational and practical workshop attempted in providing actionable takeaways for some of the successful producers.
Moderating the panel was Christophe Erbes, a consultant for kids media. He was accompanied by panelists Henry Becket from Ideas at Work, a studio outfit of UK, with Victor Migel from Anima Kichent and Nazli Guney Uysal from Dusyeri Animation Studio.
Becket had a few interesting stats to share to kick off proceedings, when he stated that 1 of 100 concepts actually make it to the pilot stage, 1 of those then go onto become a series and further on 1 of those 100 series gets a multi-season deal and 1 of the popular children’s property then gains the status of a brand.
Uysal, on the other hand, shared the journey of her studio, which in the last seven years has grown to become a 90 man strong team providing 360 degree solutions for not just their own properties but for their clients as well.
”We began with the idea of creating original content to fill the void, which was present in the Turkish broadcast space and that is precisely what we achieved through our stories and characters,” Uysal said. On the question of overcoming resistance from kids’ broadcasters for local content, she added, ”We did face a tough time initially, but when the public broadcaster was looking to promote locally created content, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands and what followed is other kids broadcasters lining up to license our content for their channels.”
This is precisely what the Indian kids entertainment space needs to take inspiration from as currently with a publishing house, licensing arm and two animation studios, Dusyeri Animation Studio is enjoying revenue flows to the tune of a few million dollars annually.
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.
