Tag: Animation

Events in Goa

Grand Parade Marks Historic, Carnival-Style Opening of 56th IFFI in Panaji

allycaralgoa

Panaji witnessed a historic and spectacular opening to the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2025) as the festival kicked off with its first-ever grand parade on 20 November. In a departure from tradition, IFFI embraced an open, carnival-style inauguration that brought cinema directly to the people.

The parade completely transformed DB Road into a dazzling cultural stretch, as floats from film production houses, state pavilions, animation studios, and performing troupes moved from the Old Goa Medical College building to the Kala Academy. Over two dozen floats participated, including 12 presented by the Goa government, each portraying vibrant themes inspired by India’s cinematic heritage, regional arts, and animation.

One of the most striking segments of the parade was the large-scale folk production “Bharat Ek Soor”, staged by the Central Bureau of Communication under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Featuring more than 100 artists, the performance showcased traditional dance forms from across the country, creating an energetic and culturally rich spectacle.

The appearance of beloved animated characters—including Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu, and Bittu Bahanebaaz—added a playful and heartwarming element to the parade, drawing cheers from children and adults alike.

The atmosphere throughout Panaji was festive and immersive, reflecting Goa’s iconic carnival spirit. Thousands of locals, tourists, students, and delegates lined the streets to witness the vibrant floats, live music, dance performances, and cultural showcases. What had traditionally been a closed-door opening ceremony became a public celebration, allowing the community to be at the heart of the festival’s excitement.

The grand parade not only set a joyful and inclusive tone for the nine-day film festival but also marked a significant step towards making IFFI more accessible and engaging for all.

Films

Disney’s Bold Double Trailer Drop: Devil Wears Prada 2 & Toy Story 5 Smash 24-Hour View Records

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Disney continues to disrupt traditional movie marketing, this time with a bold and unexpected double trailer release that instantly dominated global conversation. The studio dropped the highly anticipated trailers for Devil Wears Prada 2 and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 simultaneously, generating massive first-day viewership and setting the stage for two major summer 2026 theatrical events.

Leading the charge was Devil Wears Prada 2, reuniting Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci under the direction of returning filmmaker David Frankel. The trailer soared to 185 million views in its first 24 hours, ranking as the second most-viewed trailer of the year behind Fantastic Four: First Family. It became the top trailer of 2024 on Instagram with 79 million views and added another 60 million on TikTok. Fan sentiment has been overwhelmingly positive, with early reactions praising the film’s return to the iconic Runway universe and its pitch-perfect tease that gives just enough without revealing too much. The film is set to launch the 2026 summer box office on May 1.

Pixar’s Toy Story 5 delivered its own commanding performance with 142 million views in 24 hours, outpacing many recent animated franchise debuts. Instagram led the platform engagement with 47 million views, followed by TikTok with 37 million. The trailer also generated more than 142,000 social mentions across platforms, pushing the film and its characters into the top trending positions on Twitter/X. Conversation has centered around fans’ excitement for the franchise’s return to theaters, along with enthusiasm for the film’s timely “toys vs tech” storyline, which many find relevant and fresh. With Toy Story 4 holding the franchise’s domestic opening weekend record at $120.9 million and the series already surpassing $3 billion worldwide, the fifth installment is positioned for another major theatrical moment when it arrives Father’s Day weekend, June 19–21, 2026.

Disney’s unexpected trailer strategy proved highly effective, sparking enormous reach, cross-platform momentum, and widespread fan enthusiasm for both films. As anticipation builds, the double drop underscores the studio’s ability to command cultural attention and generate massive engagement long before audiences arrive at theaters.

Special Occasion

International Animation Day 2025: Celebrating the Magic That Moves Us

Tanisha Cardozo

On October 28, the world celebrates a medium that defies limits — animation. International Animation Day 2025 is more than a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder that every frame, drawing, and pixel tells a story only motion can capture.

The celebration traces back to 1892, when Émile Reynaud projected the first animated film to a live audience in Paris. Over a century later, his flickering lights have evolved into galaxies of creativity — from the timeless magic of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the emotional depth of Coco and the artistic revolution of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Animation has always been a universal language. It makes us laugh with Shrek, cry with Up, and dream with Your Name. It pushes technology forward while keeping storytelling at its heart. Whether hand-drawn, stop-motion, or CGI, animation blends art and science in a dance of imagination that transcends borders and age.

And we cannot talk about animation without acknowledging the cultural power of anime — Japan’s gift to the world. From the dreamlike wonder of Spirited Away to the futuristic visions of Akira, from the emotional resonance of A Silent Voice to the breathtaking artistry of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, anime has redefined how stories are told. Its influence reaches far beyond Japan — inspiring global audiences and even shaping Western animation styles and storytelling techniques.

This year, creators around the world will mark the day with film screenings, workshops, and tributes to pioneers who shaped the industry. ASIFA continues to lead this global celebration, recognizing animation not only as an art form but as a cultural bridge — connecting stories from Tokyo to Toronto, Mumbai to Mexico City.

As audiences, we celebrate not just the films but the artists behind them — the animators who spend countless hours crafting emotion from light, movement, and patience. Every frame is a heartbeat of creativity, and every scene a reminder that stories move us because they move.

So on this International Animation Day, pause your scrolling and revisit a world that shaped your imagination. Maybe it’s the lantern-lit sky of Tangled, the surreal dreamscapes of Paprika, or the quiet beauty of Whisper of the Heart. Each of these stories began as still images — until someone dared to make them move.

Animation doesn’t just entertain us. It reminds us to wonder, to imagine, and to believe that even the simplest sketch can change the world when given motion.

TechPulse

Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Enters Fortnite With Playable Mode and Creator Assets

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters is officially stepping into the metaverse with a full-scale integration into Epic Games’ Fortnite, blending streaming, gaming, and K-pop fandom in one dynamic collaboration. The crossover launched on October 2 and will run through November 1, allowing Fortnite players to dive into a brand-new game mode and experience the world of KPop Demon Hunters firsthand.

In the newly introduced “Demon Rush Mode,” fans can team up with the elite demon-slaying crew HUNTR/X to defend the mystical Honmoon from relentless waves of faceless demons. Players can also take on the personas of fan-favorite characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—complete with custom outfits, accessories, and signature items like spicy ramyeon, which has already become an iconic part of the film’s visual branding.

In a major move for user-generated content, Netflix is also enabling Fortnite creators to design and publish their own games using official KPop Demon Hunters assets. These assets are now accessible through Fortnite’s creator tools and are fully licensed, giving fans a creative outlet to expand the universe of the film inside one of the world’s most popular games.

The collaboration reflects the increasing convergence of entertainment platforms—bringing cinematic universes to life within interactive digital spaces. With K-pop’s global influence, Fortnite’s massive user base, and Netflix’s storytelling reach, this partnership positions KPop Demon Hunters not just as a film, but as a living, playable IP.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into gaming, but it’s one of its boldest, tying in a culturally resonant title with a gaming ecosystem known for its crossovers and community engagement. With a rising number of users exploring Fortnite Creative, the timing couldn’t be better for fans to interact with the KPop Demon Hunters universe in new and imaginative ways.

Whether you’re a K-pop stan, a Netflix binge-watcher, or a Fortnite creator, KPop Demon Hunters in Fortnite is a crossover that promises energy, creativity, and plenty of demon-slaying fun—one spicy ramyeon at a time.

Entertainment

Pop Mart’s Labubu Craze Fuels Global Expansion as Brand Eyes $2.78B Revenue

Tanisha Cardozo

Pop Mart, the Beijing-based collectibles powerhouse known for its blind-box toys, is making bold moves to transform itself from a retail sensation into a full-fledged global cultural brand. At the heart of this transformation is Labubu, a mischievous and toothy character from artist Kasing Lung’s The Monsters series, which has taken the world by storm and captured the attention of fans and celebrities alike—including Rihanna and David Beckham.

At a recent investor briefing, CEO Wang Ning told analysts that Pop Mart is on track to generate 20 billion yuan ($2.78 billion) in revenue by 2025, confidently suggesting that 30 billion yuan this year “should be quite easy” following a blockbuster first half. The company reported an extraordinary near-400% surge in net profit, driven largely by robust international demand where margins tend to be higher than in China.

With over 40 stores already in the United States, Pop Mart is doubling down with plans to open 10 more by the end of the year. But the expansion doesn’t stop there. Company executives pointed to promising markets across the Middle East, Central Europe, and Latin America, adding that sales from North America and Asia-Pacific could match China’s by as early as 2024.

The company’s signature product remains the blind box: a sealed toy package priced between $10–$20, beloved by collectors for the thrill of the unknown. But Pop Mart is now evolving its intellectual properties beyond the toy aisle. Labubu, its flagship character, is being adapted into new formats, including a mini phone charm launching this week—part of a strategy to extend the character’s influence across everyday consumer culture.

The bigger vision? Entertainment. Wang revealed the company is investing in animated films, theme parks, and other storytelling mediums that could make Pop Mart’s characters fixtures in global pop culture. While these moves may not yield immediate revenue, they are central to Pop Mart’s ambition to become “Asia’s answer to Disney or Sanrio”—companies that have turned beloved characters into multi-generational global franchises.

From humble beginnings in retail to ambitious IP-driven growth, Pop Mart’s trajectory signals the rising global influence of Asian consumer brands. With strong creative assets and a growing fanbase, its transformation could reshape the global entertainment and merchandising landscape—and Labubu might just be the face that leads the charge.