The Anime India Mumbai convention, that brings together global anime industry leaders, Japanese cultural sensations and the nation’s massive anime fandoms under the same roof, starts today at the NESCO Exhibition Centre. On till August 30, the convention features delegations by anime industry pioneers including Naruto director Hayato Date and Sakamoto Days production team member Ryota Hasegawa, with performances by J-pop acts ASCA and a series of fandom-focused anime simulation experiences. Ahead of the convention, t2ONLINE caught up with Anime India co-founders Mishaal Wanvari and Neha Mehta, for a quick chat on India’s rapidly growing anime culture and the role of fandom-focused experiences in encouraging its growth.
What does the Anime India convention add to India’s anime fandom buzz?
Anime India brings the fandom from the digital world into a real, shared community experience. Fans don’t just watch anime anymore: they cosplay, create fan art, play games, collect
merchandise, discover music, meet creators and build friendships around the stories they love. Our role is to create a platform where this diverse fandom can come together and feel
represented. More importantly, we want to move the conversation from “anime is a niche interest” to “anime is a significant part of India’s youth and pop-culture ecosystem.”
How do you think the anime hype will influence India’s entertainment scene in future?
Anime will influence Indian entertainment at multiple levels—not just as a content category, but as a creative language. We are already seeing its influence in storytelling, visual design, music, gaming, fashion and creator culture. The bigger opportunity is for Indian creators to take inspiration from the anime format and develop original Indian stories for global audiences. I also see greater collaboration between Indian and Japanese studios, broadcasters, gaming companies and creators. India has tremendous creative and technical talent, and anime’s growth can become a catalyst for co-productions, IP development, licensing and new creative businesses.
How significant is fandom-focused event-curation for the commercial success of animated productions?
It is extremely significant because fandom creates longevity for an IP. A successful animated production doesn’t end when someone watches an episode or a film. A strong fandom can drive conversations, repeat viewing, merchandise, gaming, music, collectibles and live experiences. Events give IP owners a direct connection with their audiences. They can understand what fans respond to, create memorable experiences around characters and build communities that continue engaging with the IP long after the original content has been released.For us, the event is therefore not simply a marketing platform it is a fandom-building platform.
What is the most un-missable thing about the Anime India Mumbai convention according to you?
For us , it is the energy of the fans. You can watch anime on your phone or television, but there is something completely different about walking into a venue and seeing thousands of people dressed as their favourite characters, singing along to anime music, discovering new artists, playing games and celebrating the same stories together. To pick one thing, it could be the live fan experiences and the international guests are unmissable. But the real magic is how everything comes together—the cosplay, music, gaming, creators, Japanese culture and, most importantly, the community.
A multitude of anime conventions, expos and cosplay events take place every year. What is special about the Anime India Mumbai convention?
What makes Anime India different is that we are building it as an ecosystem rather than just a convention. We look at anime from multiple perspectives: fandom, content, creators, gaming, music, Japanese culture, business and the future of the industry. We also have a very strong Indo Japan connection at the heart of what we are building. We want Japanese IP owners, studios and creators to understand the Indian audience, while creating opportunities for Indian artists, studios and creators to connect with Japan and the global market. And we are building Anime India with a very clear long-term vision: to create a platform where today’s fan can become tomorrow’s creator, animator, game developer, entrepreneur or IP owner. So while the Mumbai convention is a celebration, it is also part of something much bigger. We want to help build India’s anime and creative economy for the next generation.
