India’s Anime & Manga Scene Gets a Crunchy Upgrade

By Pickle April 30, 2025

From sketchbooks to Tokyo—WAM! is turbocharging India’s IP creators with the power of Crunchyroll.

Anime is no longer just a Japanese export—it’s officially India’s next big creative frontier. With the launch of WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest), the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and MEAI have created a first-of-its-kind platform to elevate Indian talent in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay.

Now, as WAM! culminates at WAVES 2025, excitement is peaking. Finalists from 11 Indian cities will compete for the ultimate spotlight—and for the newly announced Creator Development Grants by Crunchyroll, WAM!’s title sponsor. Winners in both student and professional categories stand to win up to INR 50,000, along with mentoring and the chance to represent Team India at Anime Japan 2026, the world’s biggest anime expo.

In a space often dominated by international IPs, WAM! is flipping the script—encouraging young Indians to create original storyworlds that resonate globally. With WAVES 2025 championing the message “Create in India, Create for the World,” this initiative is a timely jolt of energy for India’s pop-culture creators, giving them tools, visibility, and international launchpads.