Animax Exec Talks Anime Channel’s Relaunch in India, Reception, and Future Plans

Animax, the cherished 24×7 anime channel that introduced Japanese animation to most Indian fans, has made a triumphant return this year. Previously owned by Sony Pictures Networks India, the channel operated from 2004 until 2017. While still accessible on the SonyLIV streaming service, it was no longer a dedicated Indian feed, airing the Animax Asia feed until 2020. In a significant development, KC Global Media Entertainment acquired Animax Asia and Animax Korea alongside other Sony-owned channels in the same year.

Anime enthusiasts had to wait a long time for the return of Animax as it was the only TV channel that aired anime with English subtitles in India. The channel often aired the content on the same week as Japan. Its lineup included shows with mature themes, which distinguished it from other dubbed anime on Indian channels.

Much to the delight of fans, the news that Animax is coming back to India was announced in January 2023. The anime channel debuted on the popular streaming television service JioTV and its set-top box (STB) service. Since the launch, the Animax channel has gained a large audience.

IGN India got an opportunity to speak with Andy Kaplan, the co-founder and chairman of KC Global Media Entertainment. We discussed the company’s plans in India, how Animax has been performing in the country, and more. Check out our complete conversation with Andy below:

Rayan Sayyed: Congrats on the third anniversary of KC Global Media! Can you walk us through the creation of the company, and what inspired you and George Chien to create it? As former Sony executives, how did your experiences there influence the formation of KC Global Media, and what unique perspectives do you bring to the table as a result?

Andy Kaplan: George Chien and I founded KC Global Media Entertainment in 2020, after the acquisition of Asian pay TV channels from Sony Pictures Entertainment which includes English-language general entertainment network, AXN, anime channel Animax, South Korea entertainment channel ONE and Japanese entertainment channel GEM. George and I are strong believers in the long-term viability of the linear channel ecosystem. When Sony decided to move in a different direction, we saw the opportunity to own these powerful brands and lean into the mission of growing and expanding them. We’ve been in the business a long time and while it is certainly as dynamic, an environment as we’ve ever seen, we think we have the experience and insight to navigate the waters and thrive in this most exciting region.

Anime in the early years was a new concept among Indian youths, garnering mixed interest in the genre. There were initial perceptions that anime was a cartoon for kids…

Rayan Sayyed: How did Animax establish itself in India and Southeast Asia, and are there any interesting stories or lesser-known facts about its history that you can share? A large portion of the now-passionate Indian anime community were introduced to anime via Animax, and they would love to hear more about this.

Andy Kaplan: First introduced in India in 2004, Animax was the first anime channel in India to simulcast in the same week as Japan. Anime in the early years was a new concept among Indian youths, garnering mixed interest in the genre. There were initial perceptions that anime was a cartoon for kids, and the channel ceased broadcasting in 2020.

The interest and demand for anime continued to grow among various demographics, and through years of petition from passionate fans, KC Global Media brought Animax back to India in early 2023, partnering with JioTV, India’s largest streaming platform.

Since Animax’s launch, the reception has been overwhelming, and we don’t see this slowing down.

Rayan Sayyed: You may have noticed that many anime fans in India have taken it upon themselves to create social media pages dedicated to keeping viewers updated about Animax’s schedule out of their passion for the brand. How important do you think it is to have such dedicated fans, and do you have any message for them?

Andy Kaplan: We are grateful to have such a dedicated community of anime fans who help spread the word in promoting Animax across social media. Their passion and support for the genre inspire us to continue seeking the best anime content from around the world. We want to thank our fans for their unwavering support and will fulfil our brand promise through better anime programming.

Rayan Sayyed: How has been the reception of the Animax launch from the Indian market and audience? What is the long-term plan for Animax after this relaunch?

Andy Kaplan: Since Animax’s launch, the reception has been overwhelming, and we don’t see this slowing down. Through recent media features, viewers are getting familiar with Animax’s brand offerings and popular anime titles. The long-term plan for KC Global Media is to build on the growing anime community by fostering a space through Animax where fans can come together to celebrate their love for anime.

Rayan Sayyed: What anime series has received the highest viewership on the channel overall, and which show has been the most successful in India since Animax’s launch in the country?

Andy Kaplan: Naruto, is among the more popular titles on Animax. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the highly rated series has been well received and frequently featured across various media platforms.

Rayan Sayyed: What plans does Animax have to offer more seasonal anime content in the near future? With many other streaming services like Crunchyroll, Muse Asia, and Ani-One Asia simulcasting anime titles on the same day as Japan, how does Animax view this trend, and what are your thoughts on it?

Andy Kaplan: Over and above simulcast titles, we also want to provide volume and diversified content to fans, including highly rated and popular anime titles.

Rayan Sayyed: Could you share with us any plans for exclusive anime series that haven’t yet aired in India, which we might expect to see on Animax in the near future?

Andy Kaplan: We are currently discussing with various studios for exclusive anime content and will share more in time to come. Upcoming popular title, like Gintama will be aired in India soon.

Rayan Sayyed: Animax is known in the broader anime community for dubbing many series in English, which weren’t licensed by North American distributors or didn’t have any English adaptation counterparts. Will we see more such dubs by Animax soon? Also, do you have any plans to dub anime series into Hindi and other regional languages for the Indian audience?

Andy Kaplan: For now, we will bring these popular anime titles in their original language to enhance the true fans’ viewer experience when watching their favourite anime shows.

Rayan Sayyed: Are there any plans for expanding the availability of Animax beyond JioTV and making it a 24×7 channel on other platforms in the future?

Andy Kaplan: We will continue curating more anime contents for the fans, including highly rated and popular anime titles. Future plans on expanding to other platforms will be shared in due time.

Rayan Sayyed: We recently pointed out the level of censorship that was observed on Animax, especially when it comes to female characters. Some viewers have criticised this move while questioning whether this is an effective way to avoid censorship cuts. Could you share an insight on this and details around content censorship?

Andy Kaplan: While we wish to maintain our fan’s viewing experience, we are required to adhere to the censorship guidelines and necessary regulations in India.

Rayan Sayyed: How do you see the current state of anime production in Japan, and do you believe there is a risk of losing creativity in favour of profit-making formulas?

Andy Kaplan: While there are varying anime content offerings in the market, anime production in Japan will continue to thrive and maintain their standard of anime production. Japanese anime offers its unique storylines, thematic plots, action sequences, and character development. And this is why it remains popular, sustainable, and relatable to its fans. Japanese creators and studios are also known to stay true to their craft, and quality.

Rayan Sayyed: Additionally, what is your opinion on the potential growth of anime production in China?

Andy Kaplan: Anime is seeing a shift in demand as more high-quality production from Chinese studios are catching the eyes of content buyers and streaming platforms. Such original productions have gained a huge fan base in China, and even in Japan, which is progressively disrupting an industry once dominated by Japanese anime studios.

As the global anime sector has also seen 3D computer graphics becoming mainstream, we can expect more studios investing substantial to develop more high-quality anime productions.

Rayan Sayyed: Anime content licensed by KC Global Media as well as live-action Japanese content, which airs on Gem in Southeast Asia, was spotted on Amazon’s Prime Video. Can you give us a teaser for what’s to come? Are we going to see Animax and Gem as channels on Prime Video?

Andy Kaplan: An appropriate announcement on this would be made at a suitable time.

Rayan Sayyed: KC Global Media also has the channel One, which broadcasts Korean dramas and variety shows. K-dramas have been extremely popular in India recently. Do you think it’s a good time to also launch One in India as well?

Andy Kaplan: Given the right timing and the right partners, we are happy to explore this opportunity to bring the best of Korean entertainment to India.

Rayan Sayyed: Lastly, can you share some of your personal interests in East Asian entertainment? Are there any specific anime or other shows that you particularly enjoy or consider as your favourites?

Andy Kaplan: As an avid sports fan, anime titles such as Haikyu!! And Kuroko’s Basketball are some of my personal favourites, given the competitive plot between each character and teams to be crowned champions. Naruto is fun to watch as well!