Guwahati: The WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!), a key event leading up to the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2024, was officially launched today at the NEDFi Convention Centre in Guwahati.
The contest, part of the “Create in India Challenge – Season 1,” aims to foster local talent in the burgeoning Indian anime and manga industry.
Organized by the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) in partnership with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the event saw 54 participants competing in Manga, Webtoon, and Anime categories. Additionally, 20 cosplayers showcased their skills, bringing a variety of anime and gaming characters to life.
Ez (Ankita Barthakur, Senior Administrator, Assam Cosplay Community) judged the Cosplay competition, while Sushil Bhasin (President, MEAI) and Rishiraj Debroy (Shiroyasha, Founder, Barak Valley Anime Community) judged the Manga, Webtoon, and Anime contests. The winners of the Cosplay competition were Rahul Patir (first place), Leo & Nunam (second place), and Siddharth Dutta (third place). Results for the Manga, Webtoon, and Anime contests are forthcoming.
The WAVES Anime & Manga Contest is an integral part of WAVES, India’s largest summit for the AVGC-XR and Media & Entertainment sectors. The contest reflects the government’s commitment to promoting “Design in India, Design for the World,” a vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 78th Independence Day address.
The “Create in India Challenge – Season One,” which was launched by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 22, 2024, includes 27 challenges spanning various fields such as music, education, and anti-piracy. These challenges aim to cultivate talent and creativity in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.
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