WAM! 2025 Concludes with Creative Surge at Regional Level Setting Stage for Epic National Finale

Anurag Dwivedi

17/04/2025

Bengaluru marked the final stop in a historic nationwide journey as the WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) concluded its city-wise run on April 15, 2025. Having toured eleven Indian cities, including Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Hyderabad, WAM! arrived in the Silicon Valley of India with unmatched energy, drawing creators, cosplayers, and storytellers from across the country.

WAM! Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s Creative Fire Ignites

Date: March 27, 2025
Venue: Karnavati University, Ahmedabad

WAM! Ahmedabad set a high benchmark with 206 participants and 11 cosplayers, showcasing Gujarat’s vibrant creative ecosystem. Hosted at Karnavati University, the event highlighted the state’s growing influence in animation and design, with UID ensuring a seamless and inspiring experience.

Jury Panel

Sushil Bhasin, Chairman, Bhasin Group & President, MEAI
Ankur Bhasin, CEO, Encore Films & Secretary, MEAI
Gurleen Singh, Animation Expert & Mentor
Dhruv Thakkar, Founder, Gujarat Anime Club

Winners

Manga (Student): Ameya Bhardwaj
Manga (Professional): Palash
Webtoon (Professional): Manan Agrawal
Anime (Professional): Preyan Mehta, Rishika Lunia, Jaimin Raval
Cosplay:
- Winner: Pragnesh Parmar
- First Runner-Up: Hatvi Gohel
- Second Runner-Up: Abhijit Rajvar

WAM! Ahmedabad has proven that Gujarat is a powerhouse of creative talent. We’re proud to connect these artists with industry leaders and global opportunities.”
– Col Surojit Bose, Head of Institution, UID, Karnavati University

WAM! Chennai: Southern Storytelling Shines

Date: April 5, 2025
Venue: Raj Park Hotel, Chennai

With over 90 participants from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, WAM! Chennai celebrated the region’s rich visual storytelling heritage. The event amplified the diversity of Indian narratives, with creators blending local culture into anime, manga, and webtoons.

Jury Panel

Sushil Bhasin, Chairman, Bhasin Group & President, MEAI
Abhishek Prakash, Director, Content & New Media, Tick Entertainment & GIRI
Navin Daswani, Founder, Super Audio Madras & Klay Studios

Winners

Manga (Student): Haris Raj T
Manga (Professional): S. Balagurumoorthi
Anime (Student): Gnanashekar, Vikram S
Voice Acting: Raeeza

“Chennai’s creators are weaving regional stories into global formats, proving India’s potential to lead in anime and manga.”
– Ankur Bhasin, Secretary, MEAI

WAM! Hyderabad: Telangana’s Creative Powerhouse

Date: April 12, 2025
Venue: Telangana Academy For Skill and Knowledge (TASK), Hyderabad
Organised with: Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA)

Hyderabad’s edition was a dynamic showcase of Telangana’s fast-growing animation and gaming ecosystem. Supported by TASK and TVAGA, the event highlighted original Indian IPs, with creators pushing boundaries in anime, manga, and cosplay.

Jury Panel

Manoj Mishra, CEO, Powerkids Entertainment
Rajeshwari Roy, Head of Children’s Content, Ramoji Group
Bharath Laxmipati, Chief Commercial Officer, Green Gold
BP Acharya, IAS
V. Satish Kumar, Dept. of Animation, JNAFAU
Rahul Reddy, Cosplay Jury
Chief Guest: Shrikant Sinha, CEO, TASK

Winners

Manga (Student): Saakshi Shirali
Manga (Professional): Vamsi Bandaru
Anime (Professional): Premanand, Sai Charan, M. Sai Sudeep
Cosplay:
- Winner: Satya
- First Runner-Up: Bharath
- Second Runner-Up: Tharun R

“Hyderabad has cemented its place as a creative force. WAM! is building a future where Indian stories resonate worldwide.”
– Ankur Bhasin, Secretary, MEAI

WAM! Bengaluru: The Grand Finale Ignites India’s Creative Future

Date: April 15, 2025
Venue: VVN Degree College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru

The final regional qualifier, WAM! Bengaluru was a vibrant celebration of India’s creative diversity, with participants as young as 9 years old and creators traveling from Raipur and Chennai. The event marked the launch of the Anime Bengaluru Club, fostering a community for anime and manga enthusiasts through watch parties, reading circles, and meetups.

Jury Panel

Veerendra Patil, Founder, Zebu Animation
Ajay Apparoop, Head of Special Projects, Studio Illuzion
Sushil Bhasin, Chairman & Managing Director, Bhasin Group
Vishakh Vijayan, Toonsutra

Winners

Manga (Student): Rohit Sharma
Manga (Professional): Mukunda K
Webtoon (Professional): Vishal Maravi
Anime (Professional): Ganesh
Cosplay:
- Winner: Puneeth V
- First Runner-Up: Prerana Bagrecha
- Second Runner-Up: Sherone D’Souza
Voice Acting:
- Winner: Poonam Tripathi
- Runner-Up: Sherone D’Souza

“From 9-year-olds to professionals, Bengaluru’s creators showcased bold, Indian-rooted stories. This is the future of global anime and manga.”
– Ankur Bhasin, Secretary, MEAI

About WAM!

WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest) is India’s first national initiative to promote original Indian IPs in anime, manga, webtoons, cosplay, and voice acting. Organized by MEAI and supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, WAM! is a cornerstone of WAVES, India’s largest AVGC-XR and media industry platform.

Closing Remarks

From the eastern hills of Guwahati to the tech lanes of Bengaluru, WAM! 2025 proved that India’s anime, manga, and webtoon creators are ready for the world stage. The overwhelming response from students, professionals, and institutions signals the rise of a new wave of storytelling—born in India, inspired by its culture, and crafted for global audiences.

The WAM! National Finale at WAVES 2025 is now the most awaited stage, where the best of the best will compete to become the face of India’s next creative revolution.

Bookmark our Website to stay tuned for more updates as WAM! continues to inspire and celebrate India’s creative brilliance