India’s animation industry is looking beyond the back office and Animation & More Summit 2026 is putting that ambition centre stage. Bluestone and Geek Pictures are on board as exhibitors., making the event more engaging and interactive.
The Animation & More Summit will take place on 28 and 29 August 2026 at the Nesco Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The two-day gathering with it’s focus on this year’s theme: “India to the World: Creating Global IPs for the Next Generation,” will bring together creators, studios, technology companies, investors, broadcasters and policymakers to debate where the animation business goes next.
“At BlueStone Jewellery, we believe fandom is more than something you watch; it is something you carry, collect, and wear with pride. Anime India brings together one of the most passionate communities in the country, and we are excited to be part of that energy. Through our Naruto, Pokemon, and Hello Kitty collections, we hope to give fans beautifully crafted pieces that feel personal, nostalgic, and truly collectible,” a BlueStone Jewellery representative shared.
Participating at this edition of the event is Geek Pictures India, a leading Indo-Japanese media and entertainment company specialising in full-spectrum IP development and distribution, bridging creative collaboration between Japan and India to build next-generation pop-culture franchises. Marking a major milestone at Anime India 2026, Geek Pictures will announce Panchsheela, an original magical-girl IP centred on five schoolgirls from different regions of India, who come together to battle an ancient supernatural force. Blending the legacy of Japan’s magical-girl storytelling with India’s diverse cultural landscape, Panchsheela follows these girls as they navigate friendship, school life and their newfound powers as the Panchsheela — India’s Magical Sisterhood. The announcement will be accompanied by an exclusive first-look experience and official merchandise giveaways at the event.
“Panchsheela began with a simple idea: to create heroines who feel unmistakably Indian, characters shaped by the diversity, humour and everyday realities of growing up here, but living in a world of magic, adventure and imagination. By bringing together India’s extraordinary storytelling heritage with Japan’s deep expertise in character-driven animation, we want to create original Indian IP that can resonate deeply at home and ultimately travel to audiences around the world. Panchsheela represents an exciting new chapter in Indo-Japanese creative collaboration, and Anime India 2026 is the perfect place to introduce this sisterhood for the very first time,” said Geek Pictures co-founder and director Arjun Aggarwal.
The summit will run alongside Anime India Mumbai, turning the venue into a meeting point for industry decision-makers and the fans who ultimately make IPs travel. The three-day Anime India event, running from 28 to 30 August, will feature Japanese pop culture, anime, cosplay, gaming, merchandise and independent creators.
The guest list brings global firepower, with director of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden Date, and producer of Sakamoto Days and Dr. Stone Ryota Hasegawa, joining the programme. Anime India will also bring the Japan pavilion, fandom realm, artists alley, versus experience and cosplay circuit to the floor, alongside Aidol, cosplay competitions, a maid café, Dome 360, an anisong concert and fan-focused programming.
“Our vision has always been to connect global anime creators with one of the world’s most passionate fan bases,” stated Anime India co-founder Mishaal Wanvari. “Bringing Director Hayato Date to Mumbai is a milestone. His work shaped Naruto for more than two decades. Fans will get a direct line to the craft behind the stories they grew up with.”
“India is now one of anime’s critical growth markets,” added Anime India co-founder Neha Mehta. “Hosting Date shows the international industry is watching. His work set a global standard. Putting a creator of that stature in Mumbai is a clear signal about the scale of the Indian anime ecosystem.”
The summit will culminate in the ANN Awards 2026, recognising work across animation, digital content and creative storytelling, including the Arnab Chaudhuri Award, Ram Mohan Award, Ramoji Animation Excellence Awards and DigiCon6 Asia Awards.
The exhibitors joining the summit and Anime India bringing the fandom into the same space, Mumbai is set for three days where boardroom strategy meets fan-floor energy and where the next Indian IP could find its passport to the world.
For more information, visit: https://www.animationandmoresummit.com/
Tickets for Anime India Mumbai are available here.
