Anime and animated films/shows have become an increasingly popular storytelling medium, capturing a growing fanbase in India.
Although often dismissed as “just for kids” or labelled as “cartoons,” this medium holds a treasure trove of powerful stories waiting to be discovered.
Shows like Bojak Jackman, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, Naruto, Demon Slayer, etc, have a growing fanbase over the years all over the world.
But what if Bollywood produced its own animated show?
Hard to imagine, isn’t it?
This may be because anime/animated content is still stereotyped as ‘cartoon’ and ‘not for adults’. The fan base for such content is extremely tight in India.
India doesn’t lack in talent, in fact, most of the major Hollywood productions’ vfx and CGI are outsourced to India. But we don’t have an audience and visionary filmmakers to explore that medium yet.
Moreover, producing these types of films in India at the moment poses a significant financial risk. The returns are unlikely to be substantial, and the process is both more complex and time-consuming compared to traditional filmmaking.
Bollywood tried experimenting with animation in the last decade with films like Roadside Romeo, Toonpur Ka Superhero and Anurag Kashyap’s Return of Hanuman, but they weren’t able to capture the market like they wished to.
At IFFI 2023, Goa, the Piku director, Shoojit Sircar talked about how for the animation segment to grow, big stars should be willing to take part and help the industry take off. He also adds how it is a time-consuming format and can get a boost in India if given tax concession or subsidy.
A breakthrough in this segment is only a matter of time, and audiences are eagerly awaiting an animated show with deep, authentic Indian roots.
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