11:30 - 11:40 - Welcome Note

by Anil Wanvari | Founder, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, AnimationXpress.com part of Indian Television Group

11:40 - 12:00 - Keynote: Cracking the World of Comics

Speakers:

• Ram Venkatesan | Award-winning Author
• Anil Wanvari | Founder, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, AnimationXpress.com part of Indian Television Group

12:00 - 1:00 - The Art of Storytelling - Tips & tricks to sustain in comic world

Speakers:

• Abhijeet Kini | Founder, Abhijeet Kini Studios
• Sumit Kumar | Founder, Bakarmax
• Karan Vir Arora | CEO/Publisher and Editor-in-chief, Vimanika Comics
• Sanjana Kapur| Associate Editor, Amar Chitra Katha
• Saumin Suresh Patel | Chief Design Officer & Artist, Indusverse
• Charbak Dipta | Illustrator & Graphic Novelist

Moderator: Aniruddho Chakraborty | Founder, Chariot Comics

Having regaled generation after generation, comic books or graphic novels, occupy a special place in our hearts to this day. Right from the story to visuals to the fonts used, all the elements play an important role to make or break the comic. This session will cast a fresh look at the models and case studies that can help sustain it in the long run.

1:00 - 2:00 - BREAK

2:00 - 2:45 - Comic merchandising and licensing: a lucrative business

Speakers:

• Rajiv Chilaka | Founder & CEO, Green Gold Animation
• Mitali Desai | COO & co-founder, Black White Orange
• Abhijeet Kini | Founder, Abhijeet Kini Studios
• Jiggy George | Founder & CEO, DreamTheatre

Moderator: Anil Wanvari | Founder, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, AnimationXpress.com part of Indian Television Group

The popularity of the comic book characters have inspired a business that continues to thrive among its patrons. Gizmos and figurines have given a new life to these characters. This session will explore various facets of licensing and merchandising in India.

2:45 - 3:15 - Creativity in Online Education

by Rajiv Malik | Senior Director, Wacom India

3:15 - 4:15 - Forever young

Speakers:

• Kuriakose Vaisian | Editor-in-chief, Tinkle
• Richa Shah | Managing editor (Children's publishing division), Press India | Co-founder - The Bridge
• Shekhar Chopra | Group CEO, Mayapuri Group
• Bharat Gauba | Advisor, Diamond Comics
• Aanshul Verma | Director, Diamond Comics

Moderator: Ashish Kulkarni | Chairman of AVGC Forum - FICCI | Founder - Punnaryug Artvision

From Chandamama to Diamond to Tinkle to Champak, we have all grown up on a riveting diet of these comicbooks. This session will take us through the journey of finding the ingredients that made these comic books sustain for decades and what goes into it. How are they keeping the content fresh for the younger generation.

4:15 - 4:45 - No 'kid'ding: It's all about comics

Speakers:

• Shaurya Makhijani
• Pratima Tawde
• Jai Shah
• Sara Mascarenhas
• Rayyaan Shetty

Moderator: Nitin Pandey | Founder & CEO, Parentune

Hear from the best critics & readers - kids! Young comic book enthusiasts share their take on the comic books, experiences with it and what exactly do they want!

4:45 - 5:15 - Teaching the Comic way

Speakers:

• Dr Niyati Chitkara | Vice President - Schools, Chitkara Educational Trust
• Vijay Srinivas Prativadi | Founder, Efundu
• Kumkum Jagadish | Psychologist and Counsellor
• Damayanti Bhattacharya | Educationist and Principal, Jasudben M L School and Bloomingdales Pre-Primary
• Jaison Mathew | Assistant Artistic Director, The Danceworx Performing Arts Academy

Moderator: Nitin Pandey | Founder & CEO, Parentune

The maestros in the education and the creative field will share their point of view on whether comic books can be inculcated in the teaching field and if it can be beneficial for the kids. How arts can help shape up and broaden the horizon of these young minds.

5:15 - 6:00 - The Digital Publishers and Distributors

Speakers:

• Ranjeet Pratap Singh | Co-founder/CEO, Pratilipi
• Deepesh Kothari | Head of Digital Strategy, Amar Chitra Katha
• Eric Tapper | Director Of Business Development, Global Comix
• J M Thakar | CEO, River Comics

Moderator:Anil Wanvari | Founder, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, AnimationXpress.com part of Indian Television Group

For sure, the demand for digital comics in .pdf or .cbr form hasn't been explored to its entire extent in India and doubts continue to persist about the potential for digital comics in their various formats. However, comic book apps are slowly emerging as few are boldly taking steps and building their loyal followers. What are the lessons they have learned? Will this be the next Mecca?