, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, successfully hosted the electrifying WAM! (Media & Entertainment Association of India) in Delhi.){kind=link}
The Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, successfully hosted the electrifying WAM! (Media & Entertainment Association of India) in Delhi.
Held at Indian Institute of Mass Communication Delhi, this latest installment of ‘WAM!’ drew an enthusiastic crowd and showcasing the immense creative potential of India’s manga, anime, and webtoon creators.
Building on its success in Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Varanasi, WAM! Delhi featured 199 participants across categories including Manga (Japanese-style comics); Webtoon (Digital comics), and Anime (Japanese-style animation). The event also hosted 28 vibrant Cosplay and Voice Acting participants, bringing beloved anime and gaming characters to life.
The event was graced by Vietnamese actress, director, and producer Mai Thu Huyen; American-Vietnamese producer and actress Jacqueline Thao Nguyen; Mr. Sushil Kumar Bhasin, President of the Media & Entertainment Association of India; and, Mr Kamal Pahuja, Vice President of the Media & Entertainment Association of India.
Mai Thu Huyen praised the talent emerging from India. She is a prominent figure in Vietnam, known as a director, producer, actress, and entrepreneur. She is Founder & CEO of Tincom Media Company and President of the Women Leaders Intercontinental Network, comprising hundreds of members across Asia, Europe, America, and Australia, and also a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Cinema Association.
She has played leading roles in over 30 movies and TV series, produced 16 films and 7 TV shows, directing 2 movies. Her latest film “A Fragile Flower”, which she directed, produced and starred in, won 16 awards at international film festivals in the US, France, Germany and India. The film was released in Vietnam, the US, France, the UK and India. She shared her excitement for her the release of ‘A Fragile Flower’. She introduced the film as a powerful story of resilience and self-discovery, blending breathtaking visuals with a profound emotional narrative.
Cosplay competition and Voice Acting contest: The highlight of the day was the highly anticipated Cosplay competition, where participants embodied their favorite anime and gaming characters with creativity and precision. The Voice Acting contest, featuring 14 skilled participants, further demonstrated India’s growing expertise in performance arts.
Adding to the excitement, the event featured an exclusive sneak peek of TRIO, India’s first anime currently under development by Vaibhavi Studios, igniting inspiration and anticipation among the audience.
Set against the backdrop of a small Indian town- Jamshedpur, “Trio” introduces to the lives of Genia aka GE, Bonnie aka BO, and Sonnie aka SO – three school girls raised in an orphanage bound by their shared curiosity and unbreakable bond. The objective here is to engage Indian youth on all good, environmental, behavioral and social things that need their attention through a fantastical story.
The day concluded with a grand award ceremony, where winners were felicitated. Winners received cash prizes, pen tablets by WACOM, goodie hampers by Faber-Castell, and official merchandise of TRIO, celebrating their outstanding achievements.
WAM! is more than just a competition—it’s a movement to inspire and empower India’s creative minds. By nurturing talent and catalyzing intellectual property creation, it aims to position India as a global hub for manga, anime, and webtoons. The passion and innovation displayed here are a testament to the bright future of India’s creator economy.
WAM! aims to tap into the burgeoning consumption of manga and anime in India by organizing state-level competitions in 11 cities, culminating in a grand national finale in Delhi. The event seeks to establish a strong platform for creative expression, offering substantial marketing support and opportunities for international recognition. The competitions in more cities including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and again State Levels in Delhi are to go till 5th of February, 2025.
For participation, Scripts are being provided on the spot for all categories. Participants are required to create and submit their work within the specified time frame and according to the given format.
As part of WAVES (World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit – https://wavesindia.org), WAM! is at the forefront of efforts to elevate India’s animation, gaming, and manga sectors. With each city, it inspires a new wave of creators, fostering innovation and celebrating the vibrant art forms that captivate audiences worldwide.
WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) is an innovative initiative aimed at harnessing the growing interest in manga and anime in India and a constituent of World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES). The competition offers a platform for Indian talent to create localized versions of popular Japanese styles, appealing to both local and global audiences. The event is designed to cultivate creativity and provide opportunities for aspiring artists and creators to showcase their work, potentially leading to publishing and distribution deals.
Winners of WAM! Delhi:
Cosplay: Winner- Vish; Second Place- Dhruv Tuli
Voice Acting: Winner Resham Talwar; Second Place Deepak Saini; Third Place Yajin Vadehra
Manga: Student Category- Harshika; and, Professional Category-Rohan Das
Webtoon: Student Category-Nishant Deswal
Special Mention was made of Resham Talwar – India’s first mainstream voice actor with vision impairment.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
Comments