AM Summit 2024 brought Japanese, Malaysian, and Indian stakeholders together; partners share their excitement and what to expect

Animation and More (AM) Summit, the highly anticipated annual animation conference organised by AnimationXpress is set to return, promising to captivate the industry once again. The two-day summit took place on 3 and 4 September 2024 at Nesco Exhibition Centre, Goregaon in Mumbai.

The theme of this fifth edition “Animation Comes Out Trumps” celebrated the dynamic evolution and resilience of the Indian animation industry. Despite global challenges such as economic uncertainties and industry upheavals, the animation sector has surged ahead, with creativity flourishing across feature films, advertisements, series, and short films.

In addition to the summit, India’s most prestigious animation accolades, the Ann Awards, was presented on 4 September, the second day of the event, recognising the top talents in the industry.

This monumental gathering of the animation ecosystem brought together a diverse array of participants, including broadcasters, brands, government officials, international companies, studios, institutes, freelancers, creative professionals, and educational institutions. Notable industry stakeholders attending the event include Sony YAY!, DNEG Animation, philmCGI, Toonz Media Group, Cosmos Maya and more.

This year, the AM Summit was hosting two country pavilions: the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Jetro is a government-related organisation that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, while MDEC is an agency under the Ministry of Digital Malaysia that drives the nation’s digital economy. These pavilions brought diverse global perspectives to the event, as studios from Japan and Malaysia join us to showcase their talents and innovations.

AM Summit 2024’s knowledge partner is AMD. It was co-powered by Hungama, 88 Pictures and ElevenLabs. The networking partner is Maxon; associate partners are Autodesk and Zebu Animation Studios; lanyard and badges partner is PowerKids Entertainment; and the country partners are JETRO and MDEC; the state partner is KeralaIT and Centre For Development of Imaging Technology (CDIT). The industry partners of the event are Huion, Micro Star International (MSI), Reliance Animation, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Rhymes, Wackytoon Studio, Women in Cloud, TVPaint, Tron School of Animation and XPPen. The outdoor partner is Bright Outdoor Media, community partner is Asifa India, skill partner is MESC (Media and Entertainment Skills Council), and the festival partner is DigiCon6 Asia. AM Summit 2024 is executed by ITV 2.0.

Here’s what AM Summit 2024 partners have to say about the event:

AMD shared, “AMD was poised to showcase its technology leadership in the graphics and animation industry. With key innovations in production and rendering capabilities, enhanced with AI, AMD demonstrated how its solutions help advance the visual effects ecosystem. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the latest advancements from AMD which are used by the industry to create stunning, lifelike animations.”

88 Pictures founder and CEO Milind Shinde expressed, “As we approach the Animation & More Summit by Animation Xpress, I am delighted to observe the extraordinary evolution of the Indian animation industry. This year’s emphasis on Animation Comes Out Trumps is the triumph of animation and it encapsulates the unwavering resilience and transformative progress of our sector. Despite global challenges, the animation industry has not only endured but has flourished, unveiling unparalleled creativity across feature films, advertisements, series, and short films. At 88 Pictures, it is our privilege to be part of this vibrant ecosystem and to co-power a summit that celebrates the very essence of animation’s indomitable spirit.”

ElevenLabs revenue VP Carles Reina exclaimed, “We are thrilled to be at the AM Summit and meet with the top companies innovating in the production space. We hope that with our AI Audio and dubbing capabilities more companies was able to create high quality content for global audiences, unlocking new levels of creativity and efficiency.”

Maxon highlighted, “We’re excited to be a Networking Partner at the Animation & More Summit 2024. Visit the Maxon Networking Lounge booth B5 for exclusive opportunities to connect with the team. Plus, don’t miss our CEO, David McGavran, delivering a keynote at the event. We can’t wait to see you there.”

Zebu Animation Studios shared, “In 2024, Zebu Animation Studios is excited to participate in the Animation and More Summit, where they shared insights gained from their creative adventures over the past year. The event provided a platform for Zebu to showcase their latest projects and the talented artists behind them. Additionally, the summit offers an excellent opportunity to network with other studios and creative professionals, as Zebu continues to explore new horizons in animation and storytelling.”

PowerKids Entertainment mentioned, “PowerKids Entertainment once again has the privilege of being part of AM Summit 2024, one of the most recognised events where industry professionals come to celebrate creativity and excellence. The ANN Awards are more than just an event; they are a testament to the passion and dedication that fuels our industry. We are excited to join our peers in this spectacular event and continue our journey of bringing inspiring content to young audiences worldwide.”

JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) expressed, “Jetro is dedicated to enhancing Japan’s content industry, with a particular emphasis on fostering growth in the animation, gaming, music, and comic sectors. To this end, Jetro is undertaking initiatives to strengthen its B-2-B support system by leveraging its overseas offices and industry partnerships. Our objective is not only to promote the Japanese content industry in India but also to raise awareness of the Indian market among Japanese companies. This was accomplished through the organisation of business development activities and the expansion of networks with Indian stakeholders.”

MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) stated, “MDEC is focused on boosting Malaysia’s digital creative content industry, to support growth in animation, gaming, digital arts, and creative tech through talent development, and industry partnerships. We aim to position Malaysia as a regional leader in digital content creation and foster innovation in the creative economy.”

MSI exclaimed, “MSI is thrilled to announce its participation in the upcoming Animation and More Summit 2024! As a leading brand in gaming and creative technology, MSI is committed to empowering creators and animators with its innovative hardware solutions. At the summit, MSI showcased its latest lineup of powerful studio laptops and handheld,including the renowned MSI Prestige and Stealth studio laptops to tackle demanding tasks like video editing and MSI Claw, a portable powerhouse of a pc made for gamers and creators. Visit the MSI booth to experience the latest technology and discover how MSI can help take your creative projects to the next level!”

Wackytoon Studio expressed, “Wackytoon Studio is eager to collaborate with AnimationXpress, recognising its role as the host of the prestigious Ann Awards. These awards are India’s leading honours for excellence in the animation industry, and Wackytoon aims to contribute to this celebration of creativity and achievement in animation.”

Women in Cloud co-founder & president Chaitra Vedullapalli mentioned, “We are excited to formulate a powerful partnership with Animation and More Summit aimed at creating $1 billion in economic access for women entrepreneurs, creators and innovators. Together, we are unlocking unprecedented opportunities in technology, fostering inclusive growth, and empowering women to lead in the digital economy. This collaboration will be a catalyst for transformative change, driving economic empowerment at a global scale.”