Event Coverage
Indian companies yet to tap the scope of animation on the world scene
Speaking on “Marketing Indian Animation Abroad”, Firdaus Kharas, co-founder, UTV International, delved into what India needs to look at to forge ahead in animation on the international arena.
The Indian presence at international trade fairs where there is a potential for many business deals should be enhanced. “In the past five years it was for the first time that some Indian animation companies exhibited at the NATPE 2001 (National Association of Television Programme Executives) held at Las Vegas in January this year which is a good development,” Kharas noted.
Speaking about the areas that the countries advanced in animation are looking for, Kharas said the area with maximum potential was 2D animation. India should pitch for this segment if it wanted to be noticed in the international animation scenario. Actual animation production is done in 2D which normally required 15,000 to 18,000 drawing and when these put together contributes to a 22-24 minutes animation episode.
Looking at it from the costing perspective, a 22 to 24 minute episode would put you back by $ 200,000 to $250,000 in the US and Canada while in Europe it would be $250,000 to $300,000. A similar project in an Asian country however, would work out to $50,000 to $75,000.
In 2D animation, at the moment most of the pre production is done in the west. India does not really figure in the picture except for a few companies and is competing with countries like China, Philippines and Korea.
The quality of work that comes out from Asia is often below expectations. According to Kharas, the two crucial areas very important for western productions were meeting deadlines and quality of work.
Kharas urged Indian animation firms to participate in international conventions, which is a platform to exhibit what the country has to offer.
Dr V Chandrasekaran, chairman CEO Pentamedia Graphics Ltd, saw a tremendous scope for animation with more television channels opening up. Currently if there are four million hours of programming potential for television alone and if even 10 per cent of these hours are considered for animation programmes for children there is a lot of scope, Chandrasekaran said.
Rajesh Shah, CMD, Rajtaru Videosonic LTD, cited the example of the Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator, done mainly in India to illustrate the work that companies in India were capable of. According to Shah, the industry needed to plan better since many times due to tight schedules, quality was compromised. “The difficulty that we face is producers coming to us at the last minute and asking the work to be completed in a week or fortnight’s time,” he lamented.
Sumati Shridharan, vice-president Pentamedia’s presentation of the future of animation in India with Pentamedia Graphics as a case study had to be wound up abruptly since it came through more as a promo for the company rather than providing any light on the subject at hand, a delegate complained.
Session:Animation:India the New Hub
Moderator:DR V Chandrasekaran, Chairman & CEO,Pentamedia Graphics
Speakers:
Firdaus Kharas, Cofounder, UTV International – Marketing Indian Animation Abroad
Rajesh Shah, MUV Technologies LTD – 3D
Ketan Mehta, Managing Director, Maya Entertainment LTD – Creating Animation Abroad
Sumati Shridharan, Vice-President, Pentamedia Graphics – Future of Animation in India
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.
