This year’s workshop will be hosted by an incredible lineup of cosplay experts:

• Saurabh Singh Rawat (@metalbenderstudios), the Indian Cosplay Champion of 2024, is an accomplished artist and former art director with a decade of experience in the television industry. He now runs his studio, creating intricate costumes and props, and has collaborated with global brands like Ubisoft.
• Shaikh Sameer Kalim (@thereapersam_ohoo) – A dedicated cosplayer from Latur, Maharashtra, who has been crafting stunning foam-based costumes and props since 2018. A three-time Indian Cosplay Championship qualifier (2020, 2023, 2024) and PGAX 2019 winner in Chennai, Sameer has won over 17+ cosplay competitions and has worked with several renowned brands.
• wait Mestri (@rogue_ninja14) – A passionate cosplayer who enjoys bringing her favorite characters to life. While not a professional, she deeply values the creative process and the fun of cosplay.

Event Details:
Date: 16th February 2025
Time: noon onwards

Open to all and Completely free
Venue: Qala Cafe and Co-works, Baner, Pune

The workshop will be setting the stage for an unforgettable day of creativity and community ahead of Pune Comic Con 2025 (8th & 9th March)

The post Pune’s Comic Con India Hosts Exciting Cosplay 101 Workshop on February 16th appeared first on NRI News.

MUMBAI: Toei Animation has announced that the legendary anime series One Piece will be embarking on a hiatus following today’s release of Episode 1122. The series will return in April 2025 with fresh episodes from the Egghead arc. During the hiatus, fans can look forward to new content, including One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga, a special re-envisioned edition of the iconic arc streaming on Crunchyroll.

This special 21-episode cutdown will showcase the Fish-Man Island Arc with a fresh look and feel, bringing a contemporary visual style and new animation sequences, including opening and ending themes. The new opening theme, “We Go!” by Kitadani Hiroshi, will include a special guest collaboration to be announced soon, while the ending theme, “Sailing” (TV version) by BE: FIRST, adds an exciting new touch. Designed to capture the essence of this fan-favorite storyline in a concise format, One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga is set to captivate One Piece fans, worldwide, all over again!

Additionally, on October 20, a special 25th Anniversary Episode will premiere, honoring One Piece’s enduring legacy with a 30-minute ensemble depicting the reunion of the Straw Hat crew from the perspective of the non-pirate characters. Set in the Sabaody Archipelago after the Summit War, the story follows its protagonist, a young girl and admirer of Nami, as she sets off on a small adventure. Fans can look forward to the episode being available on Crunchyroll, too. 

One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga Official Synopsis:

The Straw Hats reunite at Sabaody! The promised day has arrived. The Straw Hats have made it back to the Sabaody Archipelago after two arduous years of separation. In the very same place where they once lost to Pacifista, the Straw Hats have proven themselves to be stronger and ready to begin their journey to the New World. With the Thousand Sunny now equipped to travel underwater, the next stop is the Fish-Man Island. “One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga” is a special edited version of the original arc from “One Piece”, in an abridged 21-episode story with an enhanced contemporary visual look. 

One Piece, based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda, follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates to find the ultimate treasure, The One Piece, and become the Pirate King. This long-running series continues to captivate fans around the world with its unique blend of action, humor, and heartfelt storytelling.

For more information and to get ready for the festivities, visit our official One Piece show page on Crunchyroll and the official English X (formerly known as Twitter) home for One Piece.

Crediting Photo assets: © Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha, Toei Animation

The post Fish-Man Island Saga: Unraveling the Magic of the 25th Anniversary Episode appeared first on NRI News.

INDIA: Crunchyroll, the global anime brand serving millions of fans in more than 200 countries and territories, will add 13 new dubs, across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, for 9 series and seasons in February 2024! Below is the list of the upcoming new dubbed anime shows.

1.  The Daily Life of the Immortal King, Season 3
   Dubs: Hindi
   When: In a batch on 4th February 2024 at 11:30 AM
   Genre:  Action, Comedy and Fantasy

Synopsis: For cultivation prodigy Wang Ling, defeating a demon king at age 6 is nothing compared to fitting in at high school. And now with supernatural threats on the rise, Wang may have to put his magic studies on hold to save the world!

2. Fire Force Season 2
   Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
   When: Weekly starting 7th February 2024 at 12 PM
   Genre:  Action, Fantasy and Supernatural

Synopsis: Tokyo is burning, and citizens are mysteriously suffering from spontaneous human combustion throughout the city! Responsible for snuffing out this inferno is the Fire Force, and Shinra is ready to join their fight. Now, as part of Company 8, he’ll use his devil’s footprints to help keep the city from turning to ash! But his past and a burning secret behind the scenes could set everything ablaze.

3. Tower of God Season 1
   Dubs: Hindi
   When: Weekly starting 8th February 2024 at 11:30 AM
   Genre:  Action, Fantasy and Adventure

Synopsis: Reach the top, and everything will be yours. At the top of the tower exists everything in this world, and all of it can be yours. You can become a god. This is the story of the beginning and the end of Rachel, the girl who climbed the tower so she could see the stars, and Bam, the boy who needed nothing but her.

4. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
   Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
   When: Weekly starting 15th February 2024 at 11 AM
   Genre:  Action, Fantasy and Romance

Synopsis: Hatori Chise has lived a life full of neglect and abuse, devoid of anything resembling love. Far from the warmth of family, she has had her share of troubles and pitfalls. Just when all hope seems lost, a fateful encounter awaits her. When a man with the head of a beast, wielding strange powers, obtains her through a slave auction, Chise’s life will never be the same again.

The man is a “magus”,a sorcerer of great power, who decides to free Chise from the bonds of captivity. The magus then makes a bold statement: Chise will become his apprentice–and his bride!

5. Assassination Classroom Season 1
   Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
   When: Weekly starting 16th February 2024 at 10:30 AM
   Genre:  Action, Sci-Fi, and Comedy

Synopsis: Forget about homework and pop quizzes. The students of Class 3E have a far more important assignment: kill their teacher before the end of the year! A tentacle-d sensei that moves at Mach 20 is out to conquer the classroom after destroying seventy percent of the moon. In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, the murderous monster behind the lectern will teach his students everything he knows about the assassination game. Should some eager beaver prove to be a quick study in killing, he or she will save Earth from extinction – and collect a hefty reward.

6. SPY x FAMILY Season 1
   Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
   When: In a batch on 17th February 2024 at 11 AM
   Genre:  Comedy and Drama

Synopsis: World peace is at stake and secret agent Twilight must undergo his most difficult mission yet—pretend to be a family man. Posing as a loving husband and father, he’ll infiltrate an elite school to get close to a high-profile politician. He has the perfect cover, except his wife’s a deadly assassin and neither knows each other’s identity. But someone does, his adopted daughter who’s a telepath!

7. SPY x FAMILY Season 1 Part 2
   Dubs: Hindi
   When: In a batch on 17th February 2024 at 11 AM
   Genre: Comedy and Drama

Synopsis: World peace is at stake and secret agent Twilight must undergo his most difficult mission yet—pretend to be a family man. Posing as a loving husband and father, he’ll infiltrate an elite school to get close to a high-profile politician. He has the perfect cover, except his wife’s a deadly assassin and neither knows each other’s identity. But someone does, his adopted daughter who’s a telepath!

8. SPY x FAMILY Season 2

Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
When: Weekly starting 24th February 2024 at 11 AM
Genre: Comedy and Drama

Synopsis: World peace is at stake and secret agent Twilight must undergo his most difficult mission yet—pretend to be a family man. Posing as a loving husband and father, he’ll infiltrate an elite school to get close to a high-profile politician. He has the perfect cover, except his wife’s a deadly assassin and neither knows each other’s identity. But someone does, his adopted daughter who’s a telepath!

9. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
   Dubs: Tamil and Telugu
   When: Weekly starting 21st February 2024 at 11 AM
   Genre:  Fantasy, Action and Adventure

Synopsis: Corporate worker Mikami Satoru is stabbed by a random killer, and is reborn to an alternate world. But he turns out to be reborn a slime! Thrown into this new world with the name Rimuru, he begins his quest to create a world that’s welcoming to all races.

The post Crunchyroll the global anime brand serving millions of fans will add 13 new dubs in 3 Indian Languages appeared first on NRI News.

AVAF has partnered with the Government of India (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) and the world’s most prominent Annecy International Animation Festival to bring the world to India and take Indian AVGC-XR to the world. The festival will provide an unprecedented opportunity for Indian creators, emerging talent, and professionals in Animation, Gaming, VFX, Comics, and XR (AVGC-XR) to showcase their talent and network with industry experts.

AniMela will feature film screenings, gaming experiential zones, comic book/graphic novel creators, knowledge-sharing and mentoring sessions, immersive experience zones, and networking opportunities. The festival is organizing a 4-day workshop for promising talent mentored by internationally renowned industry veterans and experts from Annecy Festival– MIFA (among the world’s most prominent marketplaces for AVGC, France) where AVAF will support 5 animation projects (feature, shorts, or series) to be pitched globally to top producers, platforms & collaborators.

AniMela is India’s gateway to revolutionizing the AVGC-XR narrative, elevating the industry to its deserved recognition internationally. The festival stands on four pillars: Film Festival, Experiential Zone, Knowledge-sharing and Mentoring, and Networking. The festival will provide several opportunities through networking lunches and dinners with international guests (studios, distributors, buyers) from Canada, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, Turkey, and Japan, amongst others.

Kireet Khurana, Festival Director of AniMela, said, “India is making content at par with international standards, but lacks a narrative as a Creator of world-class content. With AniMela, we intend to align with our Government’s thrust of Create-In-India and build a platform of international pedigree to exhibit excellent films, games, and other forms of visual arts created by Indian independent talent and studios to a larger audience and promote them internationally.“

Neha Jain, Executive Director at AniMela, mentioned, “Most audiences in India perceive animation as children’s content, there is no understanding of adult animation. Similarly, there is very limited knowledge about the possibilities around VFX, Gaming, and XR. With AniMela, we seek to break away from these restrictive perceptions and create more awareness and interest around the industry.“

Anne Doshi, Artistic Director at AniMela, added, “In the AVGC industry, the creators are the stars, and the artists are given their due. And AniMela will reflect this by highlighting their talent and supporting them in their journeys. The festival will empower Indian talents and aspirants to engage in a cross-cultural exchange of ideas, explore beyond their horizons, and help nurture the growth of this community. It intends to fill the gaps via training and mentoring and propel India’s international presence in the global AVGC landscape.“

Registrations for AniMela will open soon on Paytm Insider (insider.in). Besides the I&B Ministry, GOI, and Annecy Festival (France), AniMela is also supported by multiple organizations like the French Institute in India, Media & Entertainment Skills Council, Assemblage Entertainment, Frameboxx, Wayu Digital, Indie Comix Fest, Whistling Woods International, Hi-Tech Animation, Animatzione Animation Academy, Tulsea, School of Visual Arts (USA), and Rubika School. Moreover, AniMela will be available on Heftyverse, Hungama Digital’s metaverse platform from January 19-21, 2024. AniMela will travel to the remote parts of the country through this platform.

The post India’s First International AVGC-XR Festival AniMela Set to Debut in Mumbai in January 2024 appeared first on NRI News.

“SPY x FAMILY” follows secret agent <Twilight> (aka Loid Forger) as he forms a fake family to carry out Operation Strix and prevent war between two rival countries. However, his fake wife is a deadly assassin, and his adopted daughter Anya is a telepath who knows both their secrets.

The Hindi dub cast includes Krutarth Trivedi as Agent <Twilight>, Shilpi Pandey as Yor Forger, and Merlyn James as Anya Forger. The series is produced by TOHO Animation and adapted from the widely acclaimed manga series of the same name by Tatsuya Endo.

“SPY x FAMILY” has become a bestseller on The New York Times’ Graphic Books and Manga list and has been nominated for both Harvey and Eisner Awards. Crunchyroll offers anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime, with simulcasts available immediately after the Japanese broadcast.

Fans in India can try Crunchyroll free for 14 days by visiting crunchyroll.com/welcome or downloading the Crunchyroll application from their favorite mobile store. Crunchyroll subscription plans start as low as Rs 79 per month, with payments now available through UPI.

The Hindi dub cast includes:

• Agent <Twilight> (aka Loid Forger) voiced by Krutarth Trivedi
• Yor Forger voiced by Shilpi Pandey
• Anya Forger voiced by Merlyn James
• Bond voiced by Warren Dsouza
• Franky voiced by Manikant Sarbhoy
• Becky Blackbell voiced by Kasturi Ajay Joglekar
• Yuri Briar voiced by Rohan Jadhav
• Damian Desmond voiced by Sheena Rattan
• Fiona Frost voiced by Shambhavi Pandey
• Camilla voiced by Nehal Pandey
• Sharon voiced by Renu Sharda
• Millie voiced by Shristi Wadhwa
• Commander voiced by Rachit Kumar

The post Crunchyroll Launches Hindi Dub of “SPY x FAMILY” Season One in India appeared first on NRI News.

In recent times, the influence of anime has extended beyond entertainment, permeating various aspects of Japanese culture. The rise of Anime in India has been greatly influenced by the cross-cultural interactions between Japan and India, where Indian film enthusiasts draw many similarities from their own culture. This has paved the way for emotionally charged movies like “Suzume” crossing record-breaking marks at the Box Office.

Director General of Japan Foundation New Delhi, Mr. Koji Sato, remarked “We are very happy to hear that many Indian people enjoyed the beautiful masterpiece ”Suzume”.

Commenting on the film achieving 10 Cr Box Office, Kamal Gianchandani, CEO – of PVRINOX Pictures said, “We at PVRINOX Pictures are excited to bring this fascinating world of Anime to our enthusiastic movie buffs. The Indian Otakus have welcomed this distinctive storytelling method, colorful graphics, and cultural intricacies portrayed in anime, fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of Japanese culture. We look forward to showcasing more of such exemplary work in the upcoming times.”

With its distinct storytelling techniques, vibrant animation, and compelling characters, people of all age brackets are now drawn into the artistic and emotionally titillating world of Anime. Films like ‘Suzume’ have inspired our Indian moviegoers to partake in viewing more varied genres and opening their minds to exploring new-age cinema.

The post Embracing the Anime Wave: ‘Suzume’ Wins Hearts & Crosses INR 10 Crore at the Indian Box Office appeared first on NRI News.

The following acclaimed films will feature in the Shinkai Festival:

Your Name: An unforgettable story of connection and fate unfolds in the captivating anime “Your Name” by two strangers named Mitsuha and Taki who mysteriously switch bodies and set out to find each other across time and space, woven together by romance, fantasy, and stunning animation.

Weathering With You: The captivating anime “Weathering With You” explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the tenacity of the human spirit while delving into the enchanted tie between Hodaka and Hina, where she appears to be able to manipulate the weather, in a world of magical connections.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices: A coming-of-age, captivating tale with adolescent love and a young heroine drawn into a secret realm by a mysterious melody emanating from a crystal radio left as a keepsake by her absent father.

5 Centimeters Per Second: We trace the journey of a young guy named Takaki through his life in three interconnected segments as harsh winters, cold technology, and finally adult responsibilities and commitments converge to test the delicate petals of love.

Suzume: The visually striking animated drama “Suzume” centers on a 17-year-old high school girl who joins an enigmatic young man on a fantastical journey. What occurs following forms the core of the thrilling journey after they are tasked with closing and sealing inter-dimensional gateways that may wipe out the entire planet.

India has seen an astounding rise in anime’s popularity and adoration. With its distinctive storytelling methods and visually stunning creativity, this Japanese animation style has won over Indian audiences of all ages. PVRINOX Pictures is at the forefront of celebrating this scintillating genre.

Commenting on the much anticipated Shinkai Festival, Kamal Gianchandani, CEO – of PVRINOX Pictures said, “India’s evolving relationship with Anime showcases the power of cross-cultural exchange, as it continues to captivate and inspire a new generation of viewers in the country. We are thrilled to showcase and pay homage to one of the most brilliant Anime directors and his beloved films. We look forward to celebrating this beloved genre and catering to the ever-enthused moviegoers with unforgettable moments on the big screen.”

Mark your calendars and stay tuned to enter the enchanting world of Makoto Shinkai and the magic of Anime at the Shinkai Festival, this May.

The post SHINKAI FESTIVAL: AN ANIME EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURING THE MASTERPIECES OF MAKOTO SHINKAI appeared first on NRI News.