Anime, VFX, and Gaming: The Creative Surge of India

By Pickle May 2, 2025

The panellists predicted that by 2025, AI would have changed gameplay customisation and immersive stories, positioning India as a worldwide gaming hotspot.

On the first day of WAVES 2025, India’s first ever global media and entertainment summit, the Jio World Convention Centre was alive with creative energy. The expanding importance of India in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) industry, which combines cultural storytelling with state-of-the-art innovation, was highlighted during breakout sessions on gaming, visual effects (VFX), and anime.

The specialists offered a vivid picture of India’s creative rise, showcasing everything from the interactive frontiers of gaming to the cinematic magic of visual effects and the emotional pull of anime.

Industry heavyweights from Japan and India discussed the rapid ascent of anime and its expanding fanbase in India during a jam-packed session called Anime Ascending: Unlocking Global Potential in Storytelling, Fandom & Industry Growth. Members of the panel, including Munjal Shroff of FICCI’s AVGC-XR Forum, Makoto Kimura of Blue Rights, Atsuo Nakayama of Re Entertainment, Anu Sikka of Jiostar, and Hideo Katsumata of The Anime Times Company, were moderated by Shroff.

Makoto Tezka stated, “Anime’s roots lie in manga culture,” describing how the medium went from being rooted in Japan’s comic traditions to being a worldwide success.

When asked about their intentions, Hideo Katsumata said, “We’re exploring ways to blend cultures to connect with Indian audiences.” This meant that Japanese animation would incorporate elements of Indian culture. By describing India as a “promising market” for establishing commercial and cultural links, Atsuo Nakayama brought attention to the country’s economic potential.

Anu Sikka highlighted the emotional relevance of anime by sharing insights from Jiostar’s research on Indian youth. She emphasised that the show’s appeal to Indian children stems from its cultural relatability, a trend that she attributed to program patterns. According to Makoto Kimura, anime is becoming more popular all over the world, and India is quickly becoming a major hub for both fans and creators.

Visionary Effects: Creating Film Continuities

Session moderator Akhauri P. Sinha of Framestore India dove into the science and art of visual effects in the Visionaries Behind the Screen VFX presentation. Srinivas Mohan (Baahubali, 2.0), Sandeep Kamal (Independent VFX Supervisor), and Jaykar Arudra (DNEG) were on a panel that talked about how visual effects may improve storytelling.

“India is going to be a VFX powerhouse,” asserted Jaykar Arudra, who gave WAVES the credit for making this vision a reality. Visual effects, he emphasised, aren’t merely for show; they’re about “story integrity,” which is fuelled by careful planning and study. Technology, according to Srinivas Mohan, is a “game-changer” that, when combined with creative vision, allows for world-class images. Sandeep Kamal made the observation that “clear vision” is the key to fulfilling timelines and quality, and that economical, high-quality VFX technologies have democratised greatness.

Embracing the Future of Gaming in India

Jeremy Lim (GFR Fund), Vinay Bansal (Inflection Point Ventures), Nihansh Bhat (KRAFTON India), and Anuj Tandon (Bitkraft Venture) were among the venture capitalists who gathered for the New Arcade: VC’s Perspective on Gaming’s New Frontier session, which was presided over by Yologram Style’s Aditya Mani. The panel lauded the rich storytelling tradition in India, which is inspiring new forms of interactive media.

When asked about India’s innovative prowess, Jeremy Lim remarked, “India has a unique ability to scale bold models that haven’t worked elsewhere.” Indian studios are at the forefront of the gaming industry’s trend towards merging with film, digital fashion, and traditional media, as discussed on the panel. Success depended on adapting experiences to local customs and habits, which brought up the topic of localisation again and again.

The panellists anticipated that by 2025, AI will have revolutionised personalisation of gameplay and the creation of immersive storylines, establishing India as a leading gaming hub on a global scale.

A Creative Sparkler: WAVES 2025

There was an air of hope, teamwork, and drive during the breakout sessions. As a cultural powerhouse with a rich history of storytelling and cutting-edge technology, India is well-positioned to take the lead in the anime, visual effects, and gaming industries. The capacity to scale ambitious ideas is what distinguishes India, as Jeremy Lim so eloquently stated. India’s creative supremacy on the world stage will be launched at WAVES 2025, which is more than just a summit.