Event Coverage
Mipcom Junior 2005 to highlight international youth programming trends
MUMBAI: The 13th edition of Mipcom Junior, which takes place from 15–16 October 2005 at Cannes will offer an international window for youth programming.
Not surprisingly, content that will be showcased at the event will be dominated by animation.
485 companies have registered for Mipcom Junior. This represents an 18 per cent increase as compared to 2004 which saw 417 companies participating. Over 900 participants from 52 countries will be present, carrying in all more than 830 programmes of which 462 shows are new. As many as 623 shows will be in the animation genre.
Attendees at the event can also enjoy an exclusive sneak preview of the animation film Skyland. This will be screened during the closing night party, sponsored by France 2.
Mipcom Junior 2005 will also present six conferences focussing on topics such as licensing, merchandising, financing and trends in the international youth programming arena.
For the first time on 15 October, Mipcom Junior will explore the topic New Screen Horizons: Selling Kids Content Beyond the Tube. The conference is organised in partnership with the Canadian trade publication, KidScreen Magazine, and will allow participants to explore alternative broadcasting routes, as well as offering insight into what key buyers are looking for in the audiovisual, mobile, VOD and in-flight entertainment industries.
The audience measurement specialist Mediametrie/Eurodata, will contribute their considerable expertise to a panel in which key statistics and international trends in youth programming will be discussed on the 15 October. This new session will give participants unique data in relation to children’s TV programming worldwide.
In-depth focus on Licensing and Merchandising: Three conferences will take an in-depth look at the licensing and merchandising sector. On 16 October, Mipcom Junior will organise a MatchMaking Breakfast, in association with the French consultancy agency, Kazachock, to create an opportunity for professionals and specialists from the sector to network and forge new partnerships.
During the workshop Strategies for Successful Licensing, organised by The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), participants will be given advice from leading experts, to help them understand more clearly how the licensing and merchandising world operates.
Launched for the first time last year in association with the leading US trade publication, Licence! Magazine, the Mipcom Junior Licensing Challenge has become a key event at the market. Following a pre-selection process led by Licence! Magazine Editor-in-Chief Joyceann Cooney and a jury chaired by BBC Worldwide deputy MD children’s Helen McAleer will evaluate various non-aired projects selected on the basis of their strong potential for licensing and merchandising exploitation.
The jury, which is predominantly toy manufacturers and broadcasters, will offer the selected programme producers practical solutions so they can finalise successful deals on ancillary products. Last year’s winners, BRB Internacional (Spain) / Synergy Media (Korea) will explain how winning the award benefitted their project which has been signed to Cartoon Networks US among many other distributors.
In addition Mipcom Junior in collaboration with KidScreen Magazine will organise the debate Balancing Both Sides of the Funding Equation. Producers and broadcasters will share their experiences surrounding the inherent difficulties in securing financing for youth programming. The debate will also explore potential solutions.
Reed Midem director television Paul Johnson says, “2005 is a special year for us. Having all the Mipcom Junior programmes digitally available will allow buyers to screen even more programmes under the best possible conditions.”
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.
