Event Coverage
MIPCOM: Singapore brings fresh content for global market
MUMBAI: Asia’s film and television industry has seen strong growth, rising prominence, and international recognition for its talent and content in the past year. Singapore’s newly-formed Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) was established to keep pace with the growth in Asia and the rest of the world, further harnessing the opportunities arising from media convergence to spur new innovations in media and technology.
This year, IMDA brings fresh content from Asia for the global market to MIPCOM 2016, leading a delegation of 14 Singapore media companies and presenting over 650 hours of compelling Asian stories across more than 40 titles. Launched on 1 October 2016 following the restructuring of the Info-communications Development Authority (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA), IMDA will create a robust ecosystem to support innovation, transformation, and creation of content for business and for the community.
Some key announcements include:
Singapore-based August Media Holdings announced a licensing agreement with Epigram Books to adapt internationally-acclaimed children’s book series Sherlock Sam for television and film, with the TV programme currently scheduled for 2018. The Adventures of Sherlock Sam will be available at the MIPCOM trade market.
One Animation (Oddbods, Insectibles) announced that it is continuing its rapid expansion with the hiring of animation industry heavyweight and producer, John McKenna, as studio head. McKenna, whose career has seen him set up and lead studios for Disney, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, will oversee current productions as well as the development of new multiplatform properties.
International trade partners at MIPCOM can network with the Singapore delegation during Singapore Hour, taking place today, 17 October, 4pm – 5pm at the Singapore Pavilion (P-1.C16, P-1.D15).
This year, Singapore’s IMDA lead a delegation of 14 Singapore media companies to MIPCOM 2016, presenting over 650 hours of compelling Asian stories across more than 40 titles. The companies represented range from animation and factual content producers such as One Animation, Monstrou Studio and ActiveTV Asia; to content distributors like Sunrise Entertainment and Ying Group.
Over the past year, the Asian film and television industry has seen strong growth, rising prominence, and international recognition for its talent and content. The newly-formed IMDA was established to keep pace with the growth in Asia and the rest of the world, further harnessing the opportunities arising from media convergence to spur new innovations in media and technology.
Capturing the Asian voice; fresh Asian-themed content
Barangay 143 is an original animated series about a lost youngster in search of a father, and how he finds an unlikely family in a team of misfits. Set against the action-packed world of street basketball, this story on love and family is co-produced by August Media Holdings (Singapore) and Synergy88 Entertainment Media Inc (Philippines), and is slated to be completed in 2017. Barangay 143 will be available for distribution in both English and Tagalog.
Two coastlines, two visions, one big adventure! An iconic race across the Land of the Morning Calm, Going Koastal features two adventurous hosts as they trek 2,413km along the coastline of South Korea, discovering the diverse cultures, foods, festivals and geography along the peninsula. This travel series is being developed by IO Creative (Singapore) and Mountain TV (Korea), and has already gained interest from international broadcasters around the world.
Anticipated titles to look forward to in 2017 and beyond; gearing up for exciting content & formats
The Adventures of Sherlock Sam follows the mystery-solving exploits of smart, observant, food-loving, 10-year-old, Samuel Tan Cher Lock – Singapore’s greatest kid (a.k.a. Sherlock Sam). Singapore-based August Media Holdings announced last week a licensing agreement with Singapore publisher Epigram Books to adapt the award-winning children’s book for TV and Film, and the series will be available in 2018, starting with three languages – English, Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia.
Look at My Wedding is a fresh lifestyle programme looking at everything it takes to make a good wedding memorable. Look at My Wedding features exotic destinations include Bali, Byron Bay, Perth, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Jakarta, and is slated to be completed in 2017 by TVS Asia and Sunrise Entertainment.
Salam Ramadhan UK & Salam Ramadhan Korea follows the lives of Muslims living in the United Kingdom and Korea, and how they observe Ramadhan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. The brand new info-edutainment series presents the narratives of individuals from these local communities in an engaging and entertaining fashion, and is expected to be completed in 2017. Both series are produced by Monstrou Studio, in association with Clover Sky.
Exciting Genres & Formats; offering refreshing perspective & innovative storytelling
The Big Idea is a feature documentary with a focus on the new innovations and advances in science and technology happening at breakneck speed. Distributed by Singapore’s national broadcaster, Mediacorp, it attempts to distil the very technologies we believe have the potential to impact our lives.
Combining motoring insights with charismatic high-profile celebrities from across Asia, Celebrity Car Wars is a new highly-entertaining reality series by ActiveTV Asia. Each hour-long episode follows the journeys of the guest celebrities as they are coached and cajoled by experts and put through challenges – while leaving viewers with motoring knowledge in an animated and entertaining manner.
In Big Food, host Greta Georges discovers what it takes to make, manage and move massive amounts of food. This larger-than-life television series, produced by The Moving Visuals Co., will see her travelling the globe in search of the giants of the catering world – from a paella competition in Spain, a free kitchen feeding 80,000 people a day in Punjab, to a wedding for 1,400 guests in Singapore!
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.
