Oppo and Toyota tap India’s anime fandom at Mumbai’s Anime India

Oppo and Toyota Kirloskar Motor used Anime India to reach Gen Z fans from India’s 100 million-plus anime audience. Oppo showcased smartphones, while Toyota displayed the Urban Cruiser Hyryder amid growing spending on fandom, gaming, merchandise and immersive experiences.

— Source publishedSat, 29 Aug, 2026, 16:40 IST·First seen Sat, 29 Aug, 2026, 16:48 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

Oppo and Toyota are using Anime India to engage India’s 100-million-plus anime audience, targeting Gen Z spending across smartphones, vehicles, gaming,

Key facts

  • 100 million-plus Indian anime audience
  • nearly ₹1,000 maid café entry fee

Why this matters

Brands, retailers and experiential platforms should explore partnerships with anime IP owners, convention operators and gaming communities to build scalable Gen Z acquisition channels.

What to watch

  • Growth in attendance, exhibitor renewals and sponsor categories at Anime India and comparable Indian conventions.
  • More official anime licensing deals, local-language streaming launches and retail distribution partnerships.
  • Limited-edition anime-branded smartphones, accessories, apparel, vehicles or financing offers entering the Indian market.
  • Mall operators allocating permanent space to gaming, collectibles and experiential fandom retail.
  • Evidence that event-generated QR scans, app installs, test drives or product trials convert into purchases within 30 to 90 days.
  • Build convention-specific activations around hands-on product use, not static displays, such as mobile gaming tournaments, themed vehicle experiences and creator meet-and-greets.
  • Capture opt-in first-party data through exclusive digital collectibles, merchandise raffles, accessory offers and post-event purchase codes.
  • Partner with anime licensors, regional creators, gaming communities and specialty retailers to create limited-edition products that extend demand beyond the event weekend.
  • Test mall pop-ups and marketplace drops in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad and Pune before committing to nationwide fandom campaigns.
  • Measure activation performance using qualified leads, trial-to-purchase conversion, social content output, repeat engagement and merchandise sell-through rather than footfall alone.