Animax India

Animax India was an Indian television channel owned by Sony Pictures Networks India that launched in 2004. The channel primarily aired anime series and films dubbed in Hindi and, for a period, English, as well as with subtitles. It was the only channel in India to simulcast anime series on the same day as Japan. On 18 April 2017, Animax ceased broadcasting in India, with Sony Yay ultimately replacing the network.

Animax India
CountryIndia
Broadcast areaSouth Asia
NetworkAnimax
HeadquartersMumbai, India
Programming
Language(s)Japanese
English
Hindi (2004-2006)
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerSony Pictures Networks India
History
Launched4 July 2004 (2004-07-04)[1]
Closed18 April 2017
Replaced bySony YAY! (original)
Animax Asia

Animax's Asian feed would later be made available in India on digital platform SonyLIV, until 8 May 2020, after several Sony-branded networks were acquired by KC Global Media. On 20 January 2023, Animax Asia resumed broadcasting in India via JioTV. [2][3]

History

Original format
Animax's logo between 2010 and 2013.

Animax began operations across India and the rest of Indian subcontinent from 5 July 2004 with Irfan Pathan as a brand ambassador.[4] It was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. It was also the first animation channel that targets the age 15–25 demographic and was the only channel in India to simulcast anime in the same week and on the same day as Japan. Animax India started with 12 hours Hindi feed that targeted young kids and teens ages 7–14 and it had planned to launch Hindi and English language audio tracks.[5]

From 15 August 2006, Animax entirely shut down its Hindi feed but kept its English one, since it changed its target audience to the ages 15–24 group.[6]

In 2007, the network would begin airing live-action content like Tech Max, Game Max, Animax Press Play, Imagination and Speak Out and movies like Spider-Man 2, Kung Fu Hustle and Hellboy.[7]

On 1 January 2008, Animax South Asia merged with Animax Asia's but had separate feed for india. Animax India rebranded its logo along with Singapore on 4 May 2010. Animax became the first channel to simulcast Tears to Tiara[8] on April 6, 2009, Animax also aired Korean entertainment shows like Live Power Music, Pretty Boys & Girls and Comedy Boot Camp in Korean audio with English subtitles. Animax added American reality shows to their list with the premiere of Scare Tactics.[9] Animax also simulcasted the yearly Video Game Awards hosted by Spike TV.[10]

With the premiere of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Animax stopped dubbing anime and started airing them in Japanese audio with English subtitles instead.[11] However, Animax continued to dub a few anime shows like the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.[12] Animax continued to simulcast all the shows aired on AXN, its sister channel. The Shows Ghost Adventures, Chuck and Fear Itself were originally aired on AXN India.[13][14][15] In 2012, the channel stopped airing such shows and reverted to its old logo, focusing only on anime. Moreover, all DTH providers in India delisted Animax as the channel couldn't pay carriage fees.[16] Animax made its way back into the DTH networks in 2016 with its addition on Tata Sky at LCN 686.[17]

Animax's logo as seen before 2010.

Closure
Main article: Animax Asia

Animax ceased broadcasting in India on 18 April 2017. The Asian feed would launch on Sony's Indian digital platform, Sony LIV, as a replacement.[18]

On 8 May 2020, the Asian feed would cease streaming on Sony LIV as a result of KC Global Media’s acquisition of several Asian Sony-owned networks .[19][20]

Animax Asia would resume broadcasting on the streaming platform JioTV on 20 January 2023. The initial launch was considered to be test phase, only airing Japanese-language anime.[2][21] In June 2023, the Asian feed would launch on Prime Video.[22]


Animax Kool Kidz

An Animax-branded Hindi block, "Animax Kool Kidz", was launched on Sony Entertainment Television from 5 December 2004. This block featured shows like Astro Boy, Cyborg 009, Daigunder, Fancy Lala, Princess Comet, Princess Sarah, Princess Tutu, Tales of Little Women and UFO Baby.[23]

See also

References
  1. "Animax to launch in India in July". Asia Image. 1 June 2004. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  2. Nair, Rupesh (22 January 2023). "Animax, the Popular 24-Hour Network for Anime Is Finally Back in India With Reliance JioTV". IGN India. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. "KC Global Media Expands to India by Fans' Popular Demand with the Debut of Animas on JIOTV". www.linkedin.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  4. Viveat Susan Pinto (6 July 2004). "Irfan to bowl for Sony's Animax". Afaqs news bureau. afaqs. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. "Animax plans to go Hindi soon". thehindubusinessline. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  6. "Animax goes all English from 15 August". indiantelevision. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  7. "Animax India in overhaul, infuses live action content". 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  8. "Animax-Asia To Simulcast Tears to Tiara (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. "Animax India's official website for Scare Tactics". Animax India. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  10. "Animax India's official website for Video Game Awards". Animax India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  11. "Animax India's official website for Nurarihyon No Mago". Animax India. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  12. "Animax India's official website for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2". Animax India. Archived from the original on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  13. "AXN India's Official page for Ghost Adventures". AXN India. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  14. "AXN India's official page for Fear Itself". AXN India. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  15. "AXN India's Official Page for Chuck 3". AXN India. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  16. "Why was Animax removed?". Animax the Resistance. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. "Animax on Tata Sky". Tata Sky. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. "Sony LIV". www.sonyliv.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017.
  19. "Sony Pictures Sells Asia Channels to Former Executives Andy Kaplan and George Chien". 7 January 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  20. "Animax Asia Channel Removed from 'Sony LIV' Streaming App". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  21. "Animax returns to India via Jio TV". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  22. "Animax + GEM". www.primevideo.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  23. "Animax now on Sony Entertainment Television". 4 December 2004. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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