Event Coverage
Wavemaker India and ABP Group shine bright at Goafest ’24
Mumbai: The vibrant city of Mumbai played host to the day 1 of Goafest 2024, where the atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the winners of the prestigious Media ABBYs and Publisher ABBYs were unveiled. This year’s Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show, once again raised the bar, attracting an astounding 3,506 entries from 273 companies.
In the realm of Media ABBYs, 65 illustrious metals were bestowed upon deserving recipients, setting the stage for a night of celebration and recognition. Leading the charge was Wavemaker India, capturing hearts and minds with a remarkable tally of 98 points and 16 metals, earning the coveted title of Media Agency Specialist of the Year. Among their impressive wins were four Golds, notably for their outstanding campaigns for Cadbury, including the captivating ‘#erasevday’ and the innovative ‘#NothingUniversity’.
Not to be outdone, Initiative Media secured a commendable second place with 48 points and 8 metals, showcasing their prowess with campaigns such as ‘Yippee! Create Magic – Plastic to Parks’ for Sunfeast Yippee! and the thought-provoking ‘Missing Elephants: Provocative Creativity shaking Humanity’ for Amazon Prime Video.
However, stealing the spotlight and clinching the Grand Prix was Essence Mediacom, a triumph fueled by their groundbreaking campaign for Airtel 5G Plus titled ‘Ultimate Fans: Look Maa! I am on TV’. Their stellar performance, garnering 42 points and 6 metals, underscored their commitment to innovation and creativity in the digital age.
Rounding out the top ranks were stalwarts Mindshare and Publicis Media, each claiming their share of the limelight with impressive campaigns and a collective total of 12 metals.
Day one of Goafest and the Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show also saw ABP Pvt Ltd emerge as the Publisher of the Year – its second successive victory – with five metals that included gold, two silver, and two bronze.
The Hindu Group stood second with a gold, a silver, and three merits. Jagran Prakashan Ltd – the runner-up to the Publisher of the Year 2022 – came third with two bronze metals and two merits to its name.
As the curtains draw on Day 1 of Goafest 2024, the stage is set for yet another exhilarating day of festivities, as the industry comes together to celebrate creativity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
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.
