Mumbai went full anime mode recently, with nearly 50,000 fans showing up as their favourite characters, comparing costumes, swapping recommendations and finding fellow fans. The fourth edition of Anime India Mumbai brought cosplay, gaming, music and fan art together, showing just how far anime has travelled from niche fandom to mainstream youth culture.‘Cosplay lets me step into the world of a character’For many fans, cosplay is more than dressing up — it is a way to become part of the stories they love. “I cosplay because it lets me step into the world of a character I love. For a few hours, you are not just watching the story; you are part of it,” says Rithvik Sharma, who attended the convention dressed as one of their favourite anime characters. Pratham Jha adds, “Spider-Man is the hero I grew up with. Today, getting to dress like him and meet other fans makes the whole experience even more special.”‘Anime gives young audiences emotional stories’For Anime India co-founder Mishaal Wanvari, the growing response reflects how deeply anime has entered India’s youth culture. “There are more than 100 million anime fans in India. After COVID, anime saw a huge spike, and people now want to meet, engage and celebrate that fandom together,” he says, adding that young audiences have played a major role in its growth. “Anime gives young audiences emotional stories and characters they can connect with deeply. This event is about bringing that community together under one roof.”One Piece is what got me into anime, so I really wanted to dress as one of its characters, and Nami was my choice. This is my first time attending an event like this, and I’m so excited to see so many others who love anime like I do– Hrishita Kothari, a cosplayer.
Spider-Man is the hero I grew up with. Today, getting to dress like him and meet other fans makes the whole experience even more special – Pratham Jha, student.
