WAVES Anime & Manga Contest

WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) is an innovative initiative aimed at harnessing the growing interest in manga and anime in India and a constituent of World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES). The competition offers a platform for Indian talent to create localized versions of popular Japanese styles, appealing to both local and global audiences. The event is designed to cultivate creativity and provide opportunities for aspiring artists and creators to showcase their work, potentially leading to publishing and distribution deals.

World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit

World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled for 5 – 9 February 2025, is a key forum for promoting discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the M&E industry. The event will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders and innovators to discuss prospects, challenges, promote global trade and influence the sector’s future.

WAVES Website & All Challenges


WAM! Objective

WAM! aims to tap into the burgeoning consumption of manga and anime in India by organizing state-level competitions in 11 cities, culminating in a grand national finale in Delhi. The event seeks to establish a strong platform for creative expression, offering substantial marketing support and opportunities for international recognition.


Participation Verticals

  • Manga: Participants create a manga-style comic based on a provided script.
  • Webtoon: Participants create animated comics or webtoons from the provided manga.
  • Anime: Participants create an anime sequence based on the provided script or manga.


Participant Categories

  • Individual (Student): Open to students from any recognized school, college, or university.
  • Teams (Student): Student teams of up to 4 members.
  • Individual (Professional): Open to non-student individuals.
  • Teams (Professional): Non-student teams of up to 4 members.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Eligibility: Participation is open to individuals and teams as per the categories outlined.
    1. Manga and Webtoon: Individual participation for Student and Professional categories.
    2. Anime: Team participation (up to 4 people) for Student and Professional categories.
    3. Students must be currently studying in a school or undergrad college (up to 21 years of age). All others must register in the Professional category.
  2. Participation Guidelines:
    1. Scripts will be provided on the spot for all categories.
    2. Participants are required to create and submit their work within the specified time frame and according to the given format:
      1. Manga (Student & Professional): 2 pages with at least 4 panels each, ink and color (physical/digital).
      2. Webtoon (Student): 7 panels with ink and color.
      3. Webtoon (Professional): 10 panels with ink and color.
      4. Anime (Student): 10 seconds of animation as per the provided script.
      5. Anime (Professional): 15 seconds of animation as per the provided script.
  3. Submission Requirements:
    1. Only Manga category submissions can be in physical format. All other categories require digital submissions.
    2. Participants are responsible for bringing their own stationary and hardware. WAM! preferred rental partners will offer hardware for rent at discounted rates if needed.
    3. If you need to rent hardware from WAM! preferred partner, please contact at least 24 hrs before the contest. No additional hardware will be available at the contest.
  4. Event Participation:
    1. All competitions will be held offline; participants must be present in person.
    2. Registration for each event will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by a debriefing at 9:30 AM. The competition will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
    3. CosPlay competitions and other performances will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the same day.
  5. Identification: Participants must validate their registration with a government-issued ID (e.g., Aadhar card) to ensure a smooth registration process at the event venue.
  6. Multiple Entries: Participants are allowed to compete in more than one category, provided they can meet the submission requirements for each category.
  7. Jury and Judging:
    1. The jury will consist of representatives from MEAI, the state (anime club representative or industry) and the industry.
    2. All decisions made by the WAM! jury are final and binding.
  8. Artwork Usage: By participating, you consent to the use of your artwork for promotional purposes by WAM! and associated partners.
  9. Travel and Accommodation: Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements unless specified otherwise.
  10. Changes to Event Schedule: All event timings and schedules are subject to change and availability. Participants will be notified of any changes in advance.
  11. Liability: WAM! is not responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings during the event. Participants are advised to take care of their belongings.
  12. Agreement: By registering for and participating in WAM! events, participants agree to comply with all the terms and conditions outlined above.

These terms and conditions are designed to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all participants. Please make sure to read and understand them fully before registering for the event.

Calendar of Events

DateCityVenueRegistration
27th October, 2024BengaluruTBDClick Here
10th November, 2024ChennaiTBDClick Here
22nd November, 2024KohimaTBDClick Here
24th November, 2024KolkataTBDClick Here
26th November, 2024BhubaneswarTBDClick Here
28th November, 2024VaranasiTBDClick Here
30th November, 2024DelhiTBDClick Here
15th December, 2024MumbaiTBDClick Here
17th December, 2024AhmedabadTBDClick Here
19th December, 2024NagpurTBDClick Here
21st December, 2024HyderabadTBDClick Here
2 – 5th Feb, 2025DelhiBharat MandapamInvite Only

FAQs

Why is the entry free?

MEAI wants to encourage and support the Manga, Webtoons and Anime creator economy with the support of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. We want to enable the best talent to reach the global stage and hence this is being funded by the Ministry of I&B, MEAI and other partners to make the entries free for you.

Is this an offline event?

All WAM! competitions are offline and you need to be present in person. Several constituents of the event such as mentorship, workshops, etc will be online.

Can I participate in a city that I don’t live in or have a domicile of?

Yes. You can participate in any of the listed cities.

Why do you ask for Aadhar / id card for registration?

All competitors need to validate their participation through a government id. This will help speed up the registration at the venue on the day of the event.

Can I participate in more than one category?

Yes – provided you can submit the requisite output for each category.

Can I submit a hard copy of my work?

Only the MANGA category will accept hard copy submissions.

Will any stationery be provided?

All participants are required to carry their own stationery.

Will you provide hardware?

We expect all participants to bring their own hardware. Those who do not have their own hardware can rent it from WAM! preferred rental partners at discounted prices at their own cost. The rental must be fixed 24hrs prior to the contest. There will be no additional hardware at the contest.

What is the timing of the competition?

All state level contests will begin registration at 9am followed by debriefing at 9:30am. All contestants will have 8 hrs (10am – 6pm) to complete their works.

When will be the CosPlay and other performances?

All state level CosPlay competitions and performances will be between 6pm and 8pm on the day of the competition. The timing of these is kept after the competition ending time to ensure no disruption to the competitors. All events are subject to change and availability.

Any age limit to participate in the contests?

There is no age restriction. However, those who are currently studying in a school or undergrad college (upto 21 years of age) can participate in the Student Category. All others will need to register in the Professional Category.

Who is the Jury?

The jury will comprise of 1 representative from MEAI, 1 representative from the state (either partner anime club or from the industry) and 1 representative from the industry.

Can I use my character / background bank?

All contestants are allowed to use their character / background banks. It is encouraged to come ready with turnarounds and rigged characters to save time

Can I use AI to generate content?

No. Any content generated from AI will stand disqualified.

Community Partners

Media Partners