The journey of anime movies in Indian theatres has been challenging. During the 2000s, anime had a very niche audience in India. While TV channels like Animax, Cartoon Network, and Hungama TV aired Japanese animation, the fanbase was largely confined to television.
Between 2011 and 2013, a few Doraemon and Shinchan films were released in cinemas, but these were exceptions. Anime remained a niche subculture primarily followed by small online and offline communities. This blog post explores the history of anime movies in Indian theatres, from those rare early releases to the increasingly common and exciting cinematic events we see today.
Table of Contents
Early History of Anime Movies in India (2011-2020)
Even though there is a presence of anime on Indian television from as early as the 90s on Doordarshan(Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland). The popularity of anime in India was quite obscure till the mid-2000s.
The release of Pokémon on Cartoon Network India in 2003 and the launch of anime-centric channel Animax gave rise to the formation of the earliest anime communities in the country in the early 2000s. This was followed by the entry of popular anime like Doraemon and Shinchan in India through Hungama TV (India’s first private-owned animation channel), which instantly became popular among young and older audiences.
Doraemon and Shin-chan Films (2011-2013)
The popularity of Doraemon and Shinchan on television made Disney UTV release Shinchan: Bungle in the Jungle(Crayon Shin-chan: Jungle That Invites Storm) on 1st April 2011 in Indian theatres.
This made it the first anime film ever to be commercially released in Indian theatres, which was followed by the release of Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops-Winged Angels(Doraemon In Nobita and the Steel Troops: New Age) on 6th October 2011 and Doraemon the Movie Nobita Aur Jadooi Tapu(Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles – Animal Adventure) on24th May 2013.
Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles – Animal Adventure – Official Hindi Trailer (Disney UTV)
However, these efforts were mostly considered experimental because there were no further releases of Doraemon and Shinchan films after this. The main factor was lower box office collections and the target audience being mostly young children (14 or below) who aren’t considered the ideal theatre-going group in the country.
Dragon Ball Super Broly & Weathering With You (2019)
After the increase of cheaper and faster Internet services in the country anime fan groups and online sub-culture communities started growing rapidly in India. This led to the rise in the popularity and awareness of anime among Indian audiences visible through social media and online sub-culture communities.
YouTube and Social-Media fandoms gave rise to the popularity of Dragon Ball and Naruto which was finally met with the release of Dragon Ball Super: Broly on 29th March 2019 making it the first mainstream shounen anime movie to ever release on the big screen in India.
This was soon followed by a social-media-driven movement called “India Wants Anime” in 2019 which led to the release of Weathering with You on 11th October 2019 with the help of Vkaao, a theatre-on-demand platform backed by BookMyShow.
Weathering With You Indian theatrical trailer
Here’s a list of all anime movies released in Indian theatres from 2011 to 2020. A handful of releases show the limited popularity of anime in India pre-2020s.
#
Movie Poster
Anime Movie
Release Date (INDIA)
Release Date (JAPAN)
Distributed By (IN)
1
Crayon Shin-chan: Jungle That Invites Storm
Apr 01, 2011
Apr 22, 2000
Disney UTV
Alt. Title:
Shinchan: Bungle in the Jungle
2
Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops – The New Age
Oct 06, 2011
Mar 05, 2011
Disney UTV
Alt. Title:
Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops-Winged Angels
3
Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles – Animal Adventure
2021 marked a turning point for anime films in India, with increased theatrical releases and the entry of Singapore-based anime distributor Odex into the Indian market. Although MediaLink Group distributed the first two My Hero Academia films, Odex handled the third, signaling a shift.
The success of My Hero Academia movies this year played a key role in paving the way for the series’ telecast on Cartoon Network India (see: “My Hero Academia on CN India“), effectively re-introducing popular shonen anime to Indian television after a period of absence.
The year began with My Hero Academia: Two Heroes and Heroes Rising, distributed by PVR Pictures. However, the standout release was Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, which became the most successful anime film of the year in India, mirroring its global success.
Fate/Grand Order Final Singularity Grand Temple of Time: Solomon and My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission followed later in the year. The growing number of anime film releases, driven by distributors like PVR Pictures and Odex, highlighted the increasing popularity and commercial viability of anime in India.
#
Anime Movie
Release Date (INDIA)
Release Date (JAPAN)
Distributed By (India)
1
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
Feb 12, 2021
Aug 03, 2018
PVR Pictures
2
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
Mar 12, 2021
Dec 30, 2019
PVR Pictures
3
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train
Aug 13, 2021
Oct 16, 2020
PVR Pictures, Odex
4
Fate/Grand Order Final Singularity Grand Temple of Time: Solomon
2022 further solidified the growing popularity of anime films in India, with several major releases attracting significant audience attention. PVR Pictures and Odex continued to be key distributors, bringing titles like Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night and Free! The Final Stroke Part 2 to Indian cinemas.
However, the year’s standout success was Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie, which became one of the highest-grossing anime films in India, earning ₹5.4 Crore in its opening weekend. This demonstrated the strong commercial appeal of the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise to Indian viewers.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero also made a notable impact, becoming the first anime film to be released in India with both English and Hindi dubs, alongside the standard Japanese with English subtitles. Despite this wider release, it grossed ₹2.5 crore in its first five days.
One Piece Film: Red marked a significant milestone as the first One Piece film to receive a theatrical release in India. The film achieved impressive results, grossing ₹3.15 Crores (US$382,339) in its first ten days, surpassing the total box office earnings of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero despite a more limited distribution. One Piece Film: Red was also released in a Hindi dub, indicating a growing trend of catering to Hindi-speaking audiences.
The success of films like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and One Piece Film: Red highlighted the increasing mainstream acceptance of anime in India and the growing demand for dubbed versions to cater to a wider audience.
The success of One Piece Film: Red, in particular, paved the way for the introduction of One Piece on Cartoon Network India (see: One Piece East Blue on CN India and One Piece Land of Wano). Similarly, Jujutsu Kaisen‘s success led to the dubbing of the show on Crunchyroll in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, and later a second dub on Sony Yay (see: Jujutsu Kaisen on Sony Yay).
#
Anime Movie
Release Date (INDIA)
Release Date (JAPAN)
Distributed By (India)
1
Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night
2023 saw a diverse range of anime films hit Indian theaters, catering to various fan preferences and demonstrating the expanding market. PVR Pictures and Odex continued their collaboration, distributing titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- and Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night.
Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume was a major highlight of the year. Following a fan screening on April 9th, the film received a general release on April 21st, 2023. Suzume achieved significant success, grossing over ₹10 crore and becoming the highest-grossing anime film in India. The film’s popularity led to a re-release on February 9th, 2024, and it was also released in a Hindi dub.
2023 also marked the theatrical debut of the Detective Conan franchise in India, with the release of Detective Conan: The Story of Ai Haibara and Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine. PVR Inox Pictures and Odex distributed both films.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Scarlet Bond, distributed by Muse India, also contributed to the year’s anime offerings. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out (PVR Inox Pictures, Odex) grossed ₹4.13 lakhs. This was a notable achievement given the film’s niche appeal, requiring viewers to have seen the preceding anime series and film.
The First Slam Dunk, distributed by PVR Inox Pictures and Odex, also found its way to Indian screens. Psycho-Pass: Providence, distributed by Sony Pictures India and Crunchyroll, further showcased the diversity of anime genres finding an audience in India.
#
Anime Movie
Release Date (INDIA)
Release Date (JAPAN)
Distributed By (India)
1
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Mar 17, 2023
Feb 03, 2023
PVR Pictures, Odex
2
Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night
Apr 14, 2023
Oct 22, 2022
PVR Pictures, Odex
3
Suzume
Apr 21, 2023
Nov 11, 2022
PVR Pictures
4
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Scarlet Bond
2024 continued the trend of increasing anime film releases in India, showcasing a mix of established franchises and standalone titles. The year began with Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, followed by a re-release of Suzume by PVR Inox Pictures and Comix Wave. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training(Sony Pictures India, Crunchyroll) grossed ₹5.19 crore in its first week.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning film, The Boy and the Heron (Warner Bros. India, Encore Films), also found an audience in India, grossing ₹3.05 crores.
The popular Spy × Family franchise expanded into film with Spy × Family Code: White (PVR Inox Pictures), which was also made available for free on Muse India’s YouTube channel for a limited time, starting December 2, 2024.
Following the success of previous years’ releases, 2024 saw the release of Detective Conan vs. Kid the Phantom Thief and Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram (PVR Inox Pictures, Odex).
Blue Giant (PVR Inox Pictures), a standalone film, earned ₹5.5 lakhs (~$6,600) despite a limited release in Tier-1 cities. Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle (PVR Inox Pictures, Medialink) grossed ₹5.04 crores.
Solo Leveling – ReAwakening (Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures India) was also released in a Hindi dub, continuing the trend of catering to a wider audience.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros. India), an American-produced anime film, was the weakest release of the year and was released in English dub.
The release slate for 2024 demonstrates the growing diversity and market penetration of anime films in India, with both franchise films and standalone works finding their way to Indian screens.
#
Anime Movie
Release Date (INDIA)
Release Date (JAPAN)
Distributed By (India)
1
Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
Jan 05, 2024
Oct 05, 2023
PVR Inox Pictures
2
Suzume (Re-Release)
Feb 09, 2024
Nov 11, 2022
PVR Inox Pictures, Comix Wave
3
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To The Hashira Training
2025 began with the release of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom in January, followed by the 4K Remastered version of Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama.
This release of Ramayana (4K Remaster) made it the first national theatrical debut of the film in India. Previously, the film had only been shown at fan screenings and film festivals. After a long postponement from its initially slated date of October 18, 2024, the film was finally released on January 24, 2025, with new Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbing.
My Hero Academia: You’re Next (Medialink, PVR Inox Pictures) was released in late January. Warner Bros. India and Encore Films released Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning in February. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures India released Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon in April.
The release of Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary marked the return of the Shin-chan franchise in India after a long gap of 14 years. The film collected ₹2.50 crore in the first week of its release.
Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil
Oct 02, 2026
Feb 27, 2026
Disney India
5
Attack on Titan: The Last Attack
Coming Soon
Nov 08, 2024
Medialink, PVR Inox Pictures
6
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
Coming Soon
Feb 26, 2026
Muse Communication
Conclusion
This is your comprehensive list of all anime movies released in Indian theatres. It will be updated whenever a new anime film is released in Indian cinemas. Bookmark this page for the latest releases and updates!
Mirchi Seth is an anime enthusiast and independent researcher dedicated to uncovering the forgotten History of Anime in India. He's on a mission to document every single anime that has ever aired in the country. He's also the creator behind the Anime Mirchi YouTube channel.
