What is India’s First Anime?

Humpy Adepu

India’s first fully homegrown anime production: Karmachakra is considered India’s first indigenous anime, created entirely by Studio Durga using authentic anime-style storytelling, animation techniques, and visual design.

Created by independent Indian studio Studio Durga: Studio Durga developed Karmachakra with original Indian narratives while maintaining Japanese anime aesthetics, pacing, character depth, and modern 2D animation style.

Story follows a young orphan uncovering hidden truths: The plot centers on a girl exploring mysteries about her parents and identity, blending suspense, emotional drama, and psychological storytelling elements.

Influenced heavily by seinen and psychological genres: Karmachakra uses mature themes, layered character arcs, tense scenes, and worldbuilding inspired by seinen anime traditions, creating a thoughtful adult-oriented narrative.

Pilot episode released in 2020 on YouTube: The 2020 pilot gained strong attention for its high-quality Indian anime production, drawing support from anime fans and online communities nationwide.

Features detailed 2D animation with expressive visuals: The show includes expressive character art, smooth movement, dynamic framing, and atmospheric backgrounds that mirror popular Japanese anime techniques effectively.

Blends Indian culture with global anime style: Karmachakra uses Indian names, environments, emotions, and cultural references while presenting them through recognizable anime conventions and cinematic storytelling styles.

Praised for breaking new ground in Indian animation: Viewers appreciated its ambition, mature tone, and polished execution, marking a crucial step forward for India’s emerging anime-inspired animation industry.

Sparked conversations about India’s anime potential: Karmachakra encouraged discussions about future Indian anime projects, creator collaborations, funding opportunities, and global recognition of India’s storytelling capabilities.

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