WAM! in Hyderabad puts spotlight on India’s homegrown anime and cosplay creators

Hyderabad: On Saturday, a burst of colour, creativity and quirky personalities took over the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) as Hyderabad hosted the regional edition of WAM! — India’s first national competition focused on anime, manga, webtoons and cosplay. For a city known more for its tech parks and biryani, this event carved out space for a different kind of expression: one driven by animation, storytelling and fan-made art.

And the turnout proved it—Hyderabad’s growing creator community is ready for the spotlight.

A national stage for niche subcultures

WAM!, short for WAVES Anime & Manga Contest, isn’t your average fan convention. It’s a structured, competitive platform to discover original Indian intellectual property across art forms that have typically belonged to Japan or Korea. Organised by the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) and co-hosted by the Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA), the contest aims to turn passion projects into global exports.

Think of it as Comic-Con with a career pipeline.

“WAM! is not just a competition—it’s a cultural movement,” said Ankur Bhasin, secretary of MEAI. “Our stories, characters, and visions are no less compelling than global hits.”

That statement didn’t feel like an exaggeration. Whether it was hand-drawn manga, animated shorts, or elaborate cosplay recreations, the talent on display was ambitious and original.

New stories steered by Indian voices

In the cosplay category, Satya claimed the top spot, with Bharath and Tharun R taking second and third. Satya’s transformation into a fantasy warrior had onlookers scrambling for selfies, and the judges were impressed by the craftsmanship.

In the manga and anime categories, both students and professionals stepped up.

Student Manga Winner: Saakshi Shirali

Professional Manga Winner: Vamsi Bandaru

Anime (Professional) Winners: Premanand, Sai Charan, and M Sai Sudeep

Each category brought something different: humour, action, emotion—and most importantly, a clear Indian voice. These weren’t imitations of Japanese classics but new stories rooted in local settings, languages and experiences.

Anime pilots to get

The winners walked away with WACOM pen tablets, Faber-Castell art kits, TRIO merchandise and cash prizes. But the real reward? Visibility and opportunity.

Finalists will now compete at the national level for a chance to attend Anime Japan 2026 in Tokyo—all expenses paid. That’s not just a trip. It’s a career-launching invitation to one of the world’s biggest anime expos.

Some winning anime pilots will also be dubbed into Hindi, English and Japanese by Gulmohar Media, while select webtoons will be published by Toonsutra, opening access to international audiences.

India’s anime and manga scene emerges

What stood out most at WAM! Hyderabad wasn’t just the talent—it was the sense of community. Attendees weren’t just competing; they were connecting, collaborating, and celebrating shared passions that have long existed online but rarely had a space offline.

With events like WAM!, that’s starting to change. India’s anime and manga scene may still be young, but if Saturday was any indication, it’s growing fast—and it’s growing in its voice.