Naruto to nationwide fandom: How Anime and Manga became India's cultural bridge to Japan
In recent years, readers in India have increased in engaging with a wide range of manga genres, extending beyond traditionally dominant titles into slice-of-life and novels. Let's take a look at how anime and manga have made a soft power bridge between India and Japan.
Anime and Manga's bridge between India and Japan
Anime and manga transformed from a niche pastime into one of India's fastest-growing movements in recent years. The content, including compelling stories and unforgettable characters in both forms, has captivated the audience. In doing so, anime has become one of Japan's most effective soft-power exports, strengthening cultural ties between the two nations and creating a vibrant community that extends far beyond the screen. Ahead of Japan PM Sanae Takaichi's visit to India, let's take a look at the rise of anime and manga in the country.
What's the difference between anime and manga?
‘Anime’ is a term for the Japanese style of animation. Basically animated shows and movies, which are full in colour, episodic and feature voice acting, soundtracks and sound effects. ‘Manga’ refers to Japanese comic books and graphic novels with compelling storylines. However, both have similar artistic styles.
Beginning of anime and manga in India
What started as children's programming gradually evolved into a passionate fandom spanning teenagers and adults alike. The story of anime in India began quietly in the early 2000s with dubbed shows like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto and Pokémon airing on kids' channels. At the time, ‘anime’ was not even an industry standard; many simply assumed it was a colloquial term for Japanese cartoons. While the manga boom in India began around the Covid period, 2019-2020, which primarily has seen the rise. "Shonen" titles like One Piece, Naruto, and Attack on Titan dominate sales; Indian audiences are rapidly diversifying into genres like seinen and slice-of-life.
How did anime and manga became everyone's favourite?
Anime first gained a foothold in India during the 1990s and early 2000s via cable television, but its massive, mainstream explosion occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). The surge in anime streaming that began during the pandemic created a massive influx of anime fans in India. This directly translated to a massive spike in physical and digital manga consumption.
Anime consumption is soaring on streaming platforms
Anime has evolved from a subculture to a dominant force on a global level. Streaming platforms have played a pivotal role in transforming anime from a niche interest into a mainstream entertainment category in India. Services such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and JioHotstar now offer extensive anime libraries, giving Indian viewers access to both classic series and the latest simulcast episodes shortly after they premiere in Japan. Another key factor behind anime's growth is localisation. Streaming platforms have invested in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu dubs, along with subtitles, making anime more approachable for viewers across different regions of India
Anime series that built India's growing fandom
India's anime journey spans over two decades. Several Japanese shows became household names through television channels such as Cartoon Network, Hungama TV, Disney Channel, Animax, Nickelodeon, and Pogo. Classic anime that became popular in India are Shin Chan, Doraemon, Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Inazuma Eleven. With the boom of streaming platforms, several other shows have been showcased, such as Blue Lock, One Piece, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Attack on Titan, among others.
Rise of Manga in India
The growing popularity of manga in India mirrors the country's anime boom. While classics like Naruto, One Piece and Death Note introduced many readers to Japanese comics, newer titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man and Blue Lock have expanded the audience further.
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