HYDERABAD, APRIL 12, 2025: Hyderabad witnessed a burst of imagination and youthful energy as the city hosted the regional edition of WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest) on April 12th. Held at the Telangana Academy For Skill and Knowledge (TASK), organized by Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) and co-hosted by Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA), the event brought together the best of Telangana’s emerging talent in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay.
Esteemed Jury Panel:
– Mr. Manoj Mishra, CEO, Powerkids Entertainment
– Ms. Rajeshwari Roy, Head of Content (Children’s Cluster), Ramoji Group
– Mr. Bharath Laxmipati, Chief Commercial Officer, Green Gold
– Mr. BP Acharya, IAS
– Mr. V. Satish Kumar, Assistant Professor (Adhoc) / Coordinator, Dept. of Animation, College of Fine Arts, JNAFAU
– Mr. Rahul Reddy, Cosplay Jury
– Chief Guest: Mr. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, TASK
Winners:
Cosplay
- Winner: Satya
- Runner-up: Bharath
- Second Runner-up: Tharun R
Manga (Student)
- Winner: Saakshi Shirali
Manga (Professional)
- Winner: Vamsi Bandaru
Anime (Professional)
- Winners: Premanand, Sai Charan, M Sai Sudeep
Prizes & Recognition
State-level Winners were awarded:
– WACOM Pen Tablets
– Faber-Castell Art Goodies
– Official TRIO Merchandise
– Cash Prizes
National-level WAM! Champions will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Anime Japan 2026 in Tokyo, representing India at one of the world’s largest anime events.
Additional Opportunities for Finalists:
– Winning anime pilots will be dubbed in Hindi, English, and Japanese by Gulmohar Media, unlocking global access.
– Winning webtoons will be published by Toonsutra, giving creators a worldwide digital readership.
A Word from MEAI
“WAM! is not just a competition—it’s a cultural movement that redefines what India can create and export to the world. Our stories, characters, and visions are no less compelling than global hits. Hyderabad has once again proven it’s a creative force to reckon with. At MEAI, we are proud to give young creators a serious platform to dream big and build the future of Indian storytelling.”
– Ankur Bhasin, Secretary, Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI)
We thank TVAGA for their incredible support in organizing and marketing this event, with a special thanks to Mr. Shaik Khaja Vali, Chief Operating Officer, TVAGA, and Mr. Rakesh Panakanti, Chief Relations Officer, TVAGA.
About WAM!
WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest) is India’s first national initiative to promote original IPs in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay. An initiative of the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI), WAM! is part of WAVES – World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit, supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.
Contact:
Website: https://meai.in/wam
Instagram: @meaiofficial
Email: secretary@meai.in
