The Rise Of Anime In India: Good News For The Indian Animation Industry?

Just 10 years ago, if you told anyone that an anime movie would be one of the highest-grossing movies in India, nobody would believe you. But as it stands now, the landscape for what’s possible for anime and animation in India has changed. The new Kimetsu no Yaiba Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie grossed more than 88 crore rupees ($10 million) in Indian markets, proving to be a huge success as one of the most successful foreign movies to ever be screened in India. Not only that, but the Chainsaw Man Reze Arc movie also grossed over 5 crore rupees in India, highlighting that anime is still a niche community in India. One thing’s for certain, the market for animation in India has certainly grown, but what does it spell for our own indigenous animation industry? Well, let us try to dissect the growing trend of anime in India and see if the Indian animation industry can profit from this meteoric rise or not. 

How Did The Anime India Market Grow?

The India anime market wasn’t built in a day, nor was it an overnight trend that took the market by storm. The market was built over decades, and people’s openness to anime has certainly varied with time. Back in 1993, Japanese and Indian animators collaborated to produce the epic mythological film, ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama.’ It is considered by many to be one of the greatest adaptations of the legendary tale of Lord Rama. 

Children in the 1990s and 2000s grew up watching anime shows on television, including Dragon Ball, Beyblade, Bakugan, Doraemon, Shin Chan, Perman, Ninja Hattori, Pokémon, etc. These went on to become some of the most famous anime in India as a result of their popularity amongst Indian audiences. However, this was only the beginning of the rise of anime in India. 

When cheap internet became available to most people in India, it allowed audiences to explore more diverse types of content. It was around 2016 that the anime India trend started to really get traction. Some of the most popular anime in India, such as Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece, gained widespread popularity in Indian markets at this time. 

This was a slow, but steady wave that helped seep the anime culture deep into India’s entertainment industry. The recent COVID-19 pandemic locked people in their homes, and people started to explore anime even more. You can say that the pandemic was the trigger for the explosive growth of popular anime in India. 

Most Popular Anime In India: The Secret To Their Success

If you aren’t familiar with anime terminology, then you might not have heard the word ‘Shonen.’ It is a key demographic of anime consumers that generally includes young teenage boys. Most of the popular anime in India and the world fall into this category. Highly commercially successful franchises like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Jujutsu Kaisen, Black Clover, etc., fall into the shonen demographic/genre. 

While Indian cartoons generally focus on themes like comedy, childlike innocence, humor, and exaggerated features and expressions, anime tends to break away from these stereotypes. Demon Slayer, a wildly successful anime, which had one of the highest grossing anime movies in India, is a mixed bag of emotions. It deals with a brother trying to protect his sister and fighting demons along the way.

This plays with the traditional Indian entertainment stereotype of protecting and loving our family and friends while also triggering the dopamine receptors in the young and energetic population. They enjoy the explosive action sequences and also appreciate the bonds the characters share with each other. Apart from that, one of the major catalysts behind the rise of anime in India is the sheer diversity in genres. 

There are comedic anime series like Gintama, philosophical and dark shows like Attack on Titan, a combination of comedy and action like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, a myriad of mysteries like Death Note, and a political action thriller like Code Geass. If you think about it, the anime India trend has gained popularity solely because of the diversity of genres in this medium. Not even Bollywood can compare with the sheer diversity nowadays.

Scope Of Becoming An Animator In India

Nobody knows better than you that the Indian job market is not exactly the most stress-free. Most parents would not be very happy if their children wanted to become an illustrator or an animator when they grow up. However, the scope of anime in India, and the scope of the Indian animation industry, is definitely not bleak. 

The film industry, gaming and E-sports industry, OTT and streaming industry, and the ed-tech industry are in constant need of talented animators. Usually, these animators have a lot of workload on their shoulders, and proportionally, their salaries are also very high. Indian animators have also worked on several foreign projects, including anime and Hollywood projects, which makes it a lucrative career option for many people. 

Technical directors, 3D layout artists, and real-time animators are considered to be well-paid professionals in today’s artistic scene. Animation courses in India are also performing decently, even though they could be performing much better if there were more societal support. If you want to become a successful animator and contribute to the growth of the Indian animation industry, then you can contact us to get animation assignment help. 

Anime Vs Indian Cartoons: Can We Compete With Them?

This meteoric rise of the India anime trends, coupled with the releases of two of the highest grossing anime movies in India, gives rise to an important question: Can Indian cartoons compete with Japanese animated productions? Let us try to understand the stark differences between Japan’s bustling anime releases and the fledgling Indian animation industry. 

Differentiating Factor	Indian Cartoons	Japanese Anime
Target Demographic	Famous Indian cartoons like Chhota Bheem and Motu Patlu are exclusively aimed towards children.	Different anime shows target different demographics. There are shows for teenagers, children, and adults.
Animation Quality and Techniques	Indian cartoons utilise 3D animation more often. 2D animation, when used, is highly simplistic, mostly because of budget constraints.	Japanese anime uses 2D animation and Sakuga techniques to make the scenes flow smoothly. 3D computer-generated imagery is used sparingly in over-complicated scenes.
Visual Appeal	Indian cartoons tend to have a plain visual template with no striking moments of high-quality animation. Once again, the budget might be the issue.	The rise of anime in India is partially because of high-effort, striking sequences that have a visual appeal that live-action projects don’t have.
Storytelling and Thematic Appeal	Indian cartoons are generally comedic and have one storyline per episode with no continuity. They are also aimed at children’s entertainment.	Anime has various storylines, character arcs, and appeals to enjoyers of all genres. They also target different demographics.
Merchandising	Indian cartoons generally do not have official merchandise.	Japanese anime has a wide range of merchandise, including action figures, manga (comic books), music, and video games, keeping the fan base constantly hooked.

Famous Indian Cartoons That Built An Audience In Foreign Markets

While we might not be in the same league as Japan’s century-old animation industry, there is a silver lining in the dark cloud that we call the Indian animation industry. Several famous Indian cartoons have managed to attract an audience in foreign countries as well. Here are some Indian cartoons that managed to break into foreign markets. 

• Mighty Little Bheem:- 

This Netflix-released cartoon broke into several markets, including Brazil and Norway. The main reason for its success is said to be its non-verbal nature, which appeals to many toddlers who are in their early stages of development. 

• Chhota Bheem:-

 This Pogo show quickly became a domestic hit and slowly found success in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. The shared cultural relations between India and Southeast Asian countries might have been the reason behind its popularity. 

• Motu Patlu:- 

The Laurel and Hardy-esque duo of Motu and Patlu started off as a comic strip in 1969, and now, it enjoys considerable success in European and Asian markets. It is constantly ranked among the most successful TV shows, animated or otherwise, on YouTube. 

• Roll No. 21:- 

This modern rendition of Lord Krishna’s tale in an innovative boarding-school setting was immensely popular during its run for its comic timing, interesting take on mythology, and unique animation and art style. It was also popular in North African and Middle Eastern countries, as it was in India. 

• Jungle Book: Shere Khan’s Return:-

 This famous kids’ show was actually made by an Indian studio called DQ Entertainment. The Jungle Book IP is owned by American and British stakeholders, but its origins are very much rooted in India. The show was aired on major European TV networks, and it also earned an Emmy nomination. 

• Pakdam Pakdai:- 

This famous Indian cartoon, which was inspired by Oggy and the Cockroaches, aired under the name ‘Rat-a-Tat ' in the United States, Philippines, and Ecuador, among others. 

Can The Indian Animation Industry Profit From The Rise Of Anime In India?

It is surely possible that India’s animation industry will become capable of competing against Japanese and Western animation studios. The revenue of the Indian animation industry is speculated to be around $2.4 billion, which is a good sign for the future of our country’s soft power and cultural success in the form of animation. 

However, there are some hindrances that might make the success of Indian cartoons seem like a distant dream rather than an attainable objective. First of all, India anime industry suffers from a serious lack of content. Most Indian animated shows and even live-action TV shows are based on mythology. While mythology is a great source of content, it has definitely been overused to the point that Indian artists teeter on the line of unoriginality while adapting these stories.

Regardless, the release of two of the highest grossing anime movies in India proves that the most famous anime in India will continue to ride the highs of popularity and fame, while a niche of local animators can capitalize on this opportunity to set up new studios and compete with foreign providers. The future of the Indian animation industry doesn’t seem too bleak either if we think about it. 

Not only is the rise of anime in India a new opportunity for animators to collaborate with foreign studios, but many local studios have also worked with foreign artists in the past. Classic mythology shows like Little Krishna and Roll Number 21 were made in collaboration with foreign studios. Plus, India’s upcoming animated blockbuster Baahubali: The Eternal War is being made by a joint project consisting of Indian and foreign artists. 

Conclusion

In the end, it is worth noting that India is experiencing a cultural boom that was once considered a niche hobby but has now become a growing industry. Keep in mind that the anime India industry and fan base are still in their infancy, so making accurate predictions in a sensitive market like India is very challenging. Regardless, it would be right to say that the growth of anime in India might just be the creative, technical, artistic, and commercial push Indian animators need to secure success in the global animation industry.