Anime India expands to three cities and brings Naruto director to spotlight India’s rising anime scene

The useful part

Under the parenthood of Animation Xpress, Anime India opened its doors just a year ago, with Mumbai hosting its debut. Fans flocked to the new convention, helping it record an attendance of 29,000. Across three days at NESCO, Mumbai, anime wasn't just a form of media that fans consumed on their screens.

How it works

• This is what connects well with the next generation." She also spoke about how this growing interest could help attract Japanese companies to engage in collaborations.
• Hayato Date helped underscore the growing demand for anime in India.
• As the Indian artists work on more projects, they will slowly begin to work with Japanese artists to help enhance the overall quality of each other's animations." We asked Mishaal Wanvari about India's...
• It was worn, drawn, performed, collected and, most of all, debated among a growing community.
• Now, Anime India has returned, expanding to three cities in 2026 with Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

What to take from it

Echoing this sentiment, Ryota Hasegawa also shared his confidence in the potential for collaboration. Shinde, founder and CEO of 88 Pictures, echoed this view during a live interview at Anime India. This year, co-founders Mishaal Wanvari and Neha Mehta have themed the convention around the growing interest in anime across the country.

Example or evidence

• Their vision is to fuel the passionate creative minds in India by connecting them with the global anime industry.
• During an exclusive interview with the co-founders, they shared their perspectives on the growing anime landscape in India.
• Anime is a compilation of stories that have emotions catering to young adults.
• The official programme featured a line-up of industry veterans, including Sakamoto Days producer Ryota Hasegawa and Naruto director Hayato Date.

Details worth keeping

The convention's growth mirrors the changing appetite for anime in India. Neha Mehta said, "The end goal is the demand of consumers. At the end of his insightful conversation with Mishaal Wanvari, he announced that two Naruto movies, Blood Prison and Road to Ninja, would soon be released in India.

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