Event Coverage
Disney to launch channel for preschoolers in Latin America
MUMBAI: Disney and ESPN Media Networks Latin America have announced the launch of their new Playhouse Disney Channel in Latin America.
The 24-hour channel will have programming especially designed for preschoolers aged 2 to 5 years.
Playhouse Disney will join Disney channel and Jetix cable channels that claim to have presence in 19 countries across Latin America.
Furthermore, the chanel will be offered in the basic subscription package offered by Cablevisión, Multicanal and Teledigital from 1 June. The Walt Disney Company Latin America president and Disney Media Networks (Latin America) GM Diego Lerner said, “With this (Playhouse Disney), we provide a special place on our screen for children aged 2 to 5. We want them to have their own space to learn, play and be entertained by their favourite characters, available 24 hours a day.” On broadcast in Argentina, Lerner added, “We are pleased to make our entry in Argentina with this new channel through some of the most important MSOs in this region namely Cablevisión, Multicanal and Teledigital. Now, this will help us reach their three million subscribers in Argentina.” The channel will have three feeds in Latin America: the North feed (Caribbean countries, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela), the South feed (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru), and the Brazil feed. While the North feed and the South feed will be in Spanish, the Brazil feed will be in Portuguese. Playhouse Disney is a learning-based channel with music, stories, learning segments about nature, the English language and the development of motor skills, among others. It includes all-time preschoolers‘ favourites and new animated and live-action series.
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.
