Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
WAM! Ahmedabad 2025 concludes with a stunning showcase of India’s Anime, Manga and Webtoon talent
Posted On:
27 MAR 2025 7:52PM by PIB Ahmedabad
India’s premier anime, manga and webtoon competition, WMA! Ahmedabad 2025, concluded today at Karnavati University. It has left an indelible mark on the creative landscape of the region.
The historic event, organised by the Media and Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and Karnavati University, brought together 206 talented participants and 11 passionate cosplay artists from across India.
A platform for India's rising creative stars
Following the success of WAM! in Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Delhi and Nagpur, the Ahmedabad edition reaffirmed its commitment to promoting India's animation, manga and webtoon ecosystem under the Create in India initiative.
WAM! Ahmedabad is an integral part of WAVES (World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit - https://wavesindia.org/), India's largest AVGC-XR and media industry platform. The event provided a national platform to young artists, animators and storytellers to showcase their creativity and gain industry recognition.
Celebrating Excellence - Competition Winners
Exciting competition in key categories was the highlight of the event
Manga (Japanese-style comics)
• Student Series: Ameya Bhardwaj
• Professional Series: Palash
Webtoon (Digital Comics)
• Professional Series: Manan Agarwal
Anime (Japanese-style animation)
• Professional Series: Pretan Mehta, Rishika Lunia, Jaimin Rawal
Cosplay Competition
• Winner: Pragnesh Parmar
• First Runner-up: Hetavi Gohel
• Second Runner-up: Abhijit Rajwar
These winners not only received prestigious awards but also exclusive career opportunities in the industry.
Esteemed Jury Panel that recognizes the best talent:
The competition was judged by an esteemed panel of industry experts, ensuring the highest standards of evaluation:
• Mr. Sushil Bhasin – Chairman, Bhasin Group and President, Media and Entertainment Association of India
• Mr. Ankur Bhasin – CEO, Anchor Films and Secretary, Media and Entertainment Association of India
Mr. Gurleen Singh – Animation Expert, Mentor and Industry Advisor
• Mr. Dhruv Thakkar – Founder, Gujarat Anime Club
His deep insight and years of expertise helped identify the next generation of anime, manga and webtoon creators from India.
Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID), Karnavati University played a crucial role in organizing the event, ensuring a seamless experience for the participants, industry professionals and the audience.
Speaking at the event, Colonel Surojit Bose, Head of the Institute of UID, Karnavati University, said: "WAM! Ahmedabad has proven that Gujarat is an emerging hub for creative talent. We are proud to provide a platform where young artists can showcase their passion and connect with industry leaders."
WAM! Sponsors and Industry Support
The event was made a success with the support of sponsors Faber-Castell, who were present at the event, Shruti Kak – Product Marketing Manager, Faber-Castell India, Nilesh Patel – Assistant Trade Marketing Manager, Faber-Castell India.
The winners of the competition were awarded attractive prizes such as WACOM pen tablets – to empower artists with professional tools, Faber-Castell goodies – premium art supplies for creators, official merchandise from Trio – exclusive anime-themed collectibles and cash prizes – to recognize top talent along with financial support. Along with this, these winners will also get an opportunity to further their careers in the field.
Furthermore, the winners of WMA, Ahmedabad will directly benefit from global opportunities. In which the winning webtoon entry will be distributed by ToonSutra, which will increase their reach to an international audience. Winning anime pilots will be dubbed in English, Hindi and Japanese, providing an international platform for Indian creators.
A resounding success - The Future of Indian Anime and Manga
The resounding success of this event strengthened WAM!'s mission to make India a powerhouse in the global anime and manga industry. With record participation, industry support and unprecedented opportunities, WMA! Ahmedabad 2025 has set the stage for a bigger edition next year.
Ankur Bhasin, Secretary, Media and Entertainment Association of India, said:
"WAM! Ahmedabad 2025 has showcased the immense talent and passion that India has for anime, manga and webtoons. The energy, creativity and enthusiasm that we witnessed today is a testament to our belief that India is moving towards becoming a global hub for original storytelling in this field. We are committed to providing more opportunities for young creators to shine on national and international platforms."
AP/IJ/GP/JT
(Release ID: 2116092)
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