The Animation & More (AM) Summit and Anime India, organised by AnimationXpress, wrapped up on a spectacular note. Over three days, the summit and the anime convention became a thriving hub for global creators, industry leaders, and anime enthusiasts, offering an inspiring showcase of artistry, craft, and the business of animation.
This year’s AM Summit delivered a dynamic mix of thought-leadership panels, behind-the-scenes showcases, talent spotlights, and networking opportunities, all culminating in the prestigious ANN Awards, which celebrated excellence in animation across India and Asia. The event not only highlighted the cultural and creative power of animation but also fostered meaningful collaborations across the global ecosystem.
The summit was graced by renowned names such as Death Note and Attack on Titan director Tetsurō Araki, The Pokémon Company corporate officer Susumu Fukunaga, Malaysian animation veteran Hassan Muthalib and Avex Pictures president Hideo Katsumata. Additionally, speakers from Warner Bros. Discovery, Muse Asia, JioStar, TMS Entertainment, SPNI, Malaysia’s Nymey International, JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), and several other animation studios brought diverse global and regional perspectives to the stage.
The debut edition of Anime India emerged as one of the fastest growing pop-culture celebrations in the sub-continent. The Japanese-focused cultural festival together featured cosplay, singing Ayidol, karaoke and gaming contests with more than 1,200 participants taking part and putting up delightful performances.
As AM Summit & Anime India came to a close, the event left behind an inspiring legacy of dialogue, discovery, and recognition, reaffirming its place as the ultimate destination for animation in India.
The event was presented by Anime Times and Toyota. It was co-powered by Yotta. The gold partners were 88 Pictures, ARK, Maxon, Epic Games, and Unreal Engine, while silver partners included Redington, Autodesk, and Zebu Animation Studios. Datsi joined as the talent development partner, with Fujifilm and Sony YAY! as associate partners. PlayStation served as the official gaming partner, while Powerkids Entertainment supported as the lanyards and badges partner.
Adding further value to the summit, Shinchan: Spicy Kasukabe Dancers in India came on board as the delegate bag partner, Bright Outdoor Media as Outdoor Partner, and Jetro and MDEC as Country Partners. Industry support came from Captain Raaj, Huion, IICT, Toonz Media Group, Toonsutra, and XP Pen. The festival partner was DigiCon6 Asia, and the education partners included Atlas (ISDI), Arena FC College, Cosmos Creative Academy, Dr. DY Patil School of Design, Frameboxx 2.0, ITM Skills University, Incube 8, KES College, MAAC, RJ College, Prime Focus Academy, Thakur College, MIT Art Design & Technology University, Mithibai College, Tron Education, Srajan College of Design, Veda Institute, Whistling Woods International, and ZICA.
Here is what the partners have to say about the convention:
Anime Times
“It was truly an honour for Anime Times to be part of Anime India this year. The passion and love from Indian anime fans truly inspired us, which made the whole experience unforgettable! Having director Araki with us for the talk panel made it even more special, creating memories we will treasure.
We believe this is just the start of many more exciting exchanges and opportunities between Japan and India through anime.
And to all the wonderful fans in India, let’s keep spreading the joy of anime together and create even more amazing moments!”
Carmond Infinity
“We received valuable feedback from industry professionals, and winning the Ann Awards for Captain Raaj was a big push for us. The event gave us confidence that the industry is reviving, and the genuine inputs from international participants were especially encouraging. Our session on the official transmedia launch of Captain Raaj, along with the new game reveal, was met with great response. It was wonderful to see such wide participation, big thanks to the AnimationXpress team for making this possible.”
Jetro
“Attending the ANM Summit was an incredibly fruitful experience for us at Jetro. The event provided ample networking opportunities with key players in the content industry, allowing us to forge meaningful connections with our counterparts. We are dedicated to facilitating the exchange between the content industries of India and Japan, and this summit was a significant step in that direction.
The presentations at the event were not only informative but also gave us valuable insights into the nuances of India’s content landscape. We now have a much deeper understanding of the trends, challenges, and opportunities within the Indian market.
Regarding Anime India, the growth of this year’s event in just one year is truly commendable. It has grown tremendously in scale, from the number of exhibitors to the size of the audience.
The performances by all the Japanese artists were brilliant. It’s also fantastic that Anime India brought the director of Attack on Titan and the president of Avex to India.
We believe that such collaborative platforms are essential for fostering innovation and creativity across borders, and we are excited about the potential of future events. We look forward to participating in similar events in the future and strengthening our ties even further.”
XPPen
“Anime India felt like a snapshot of where India’s creative economy is headed— fans, artists, studios, educators, and brands collaborating in real time. Our biggest takeaway was the sheer hunger for professional tools and learning pathways, especially among students and young creators. Events like this close the gap between aspiration and execution: you discover, test, and create—all in one place. For Xppen India, it reaffirmed our commitment to enabling creators with accessible, industry grade drawing displays and training so more ideas can move from sketch to screen.”
Powerkids Entertainment
“We’re beaming with pride seeing how much our characters are loved by the young audience! The footfall at our booth was awesome. Huge thanks to the entire Powerkids team for their hard work and dedication and to AnimationXpress India for these fantastic awards. And to our young fans for their unwavering support!”
The overwhelming support from partners, the participation of international visionaries, and the enthusiasm of fans and creators alike underscored the event’s role as a catalyst for innovation, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
As the curtains fall on this year’s edition, the event leaves behind a powerful legacy of inspiration and opportunity, setting the stage for an even more impactful gathering in the future.”
