Anime India Kolkata event recap
Our community had a memorable and meaningful experience at Anime India Kolkata, especially as it marked our first major event together on such a scale. For many builders and enthusiasts, it was the first opportunity to connect beyond online spaces. The event created a welcoming environment where both beginners and experienced builders could interact, learn, and inspire each other. More than just an exhibition, it became a foundation for strengthening the community, encouraging collaboration and sparking new interest in Gunpla, and giving us a sense of identity as a growing collective in India. Overall, it was a hugely positive step forward for community building and set the tone for future meetups and events.
Anime India Kolkata proved to be a fantastic platform for both community building and outreach. The event created opportunities for genuine, friendly interactions that helped spark curiosity among newcomers while strengthening connections within the existing group. It was encouraging to see such visible growth, with more people showing interest in the hobby and engaging with it firsthand. The overall warm approach of the community made it easy for new faces to feel comfortable, turning simple introductions into lasting interest and involvement.
Community Showcase
The Indian Gunpla community proudly presented a vibrant community showcase at AIK, bringing together builders from across the country to celebrate their shared passion for Gundam model kits. The display featured a diverse range of meticulously crafted builds, from beginner-friendly straight builds to highly customized and weathered masterpieces, highlighting the creativity and skill within the community. Beyond the models, the showcase fostered connection and collaboration, allowing enthusiasts to exchange techniques, inspire one another, and introduce newcomers to the art of Gunpla building. It stood as a testament to the growing enthusiasm and talent within India’s Gunpla scene. we would also like to express our gratitude to our community members who came forward and brought there kits for the showcase, Bob piglet, Shadow monarch, Shayder, Civic rider, Juice, Gs and Monika. Without them the showcase wouldn't have been as captivating.
Live Build
The live build at the booth became an engaging focal point, as visitors gathered to watch the process unfold step by step. Many were fascinated by the sight of sprues and were intrigued by how each individual piece was carefully removed and assembled. As the model gradually came together, reactions ranged from curiosity to amazement, with people asking questions and closely observing every stage. Seeing the transformation from a set of plastic parts into a finished figure in real time made the experience feel tangible and accessible, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd. we would like to thank Shadow Monarch for giving away one of the biggest kits from his personal collection for this event.
Merch
The merchandise sales at Anime India Kolkata (AIK) turned out to be a massive success, reflecting strong community support and enthusiasm from attendees. Visitors showed great interest, contributing to impressive overall sales throughout the event. What made this especially impactful was the structure behind it around 80% of the revenue goes directly to artists within the community, supporting their work, while the remaining portion is saved to help fund future events. This approach not only uplifts creators but also ensures the continued growth and sustainability of community driven initiatives.
Raffle
we also organized a raffle at the end of each day as the final act of the day. The rules for participation were simple, attendees needed to buy any piece of our merch and be back with it at the booth by 6 o'clock, we had an amazing response at the raffle with over 50 participants on both days , on day 2 we had over 80 participants. The idea behind the raffle was to give one person the opportunity to join the community and build there very first kit so that they can experience the hobby for what it is and we are happy to say that we were successful, over the 2 days we did 3 raffles one on day 1 and two on day 3. we would also like to highlight the fact that the kits we gave away at the raffle were paid for through the community crowdfunding done before the event, without the contributions on the members of our community this event would not have been possible.
Community Appreciation
The success of our community at AIK would not have been possible without the incredible support of every member of the Indian Gunpla community. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every contributor whose passion, time, and effort helped bring this vision to life. A special thank you goes out to everyone who participated in our community crowdfunding initiative your generous financial support played a crucial role in making our booth at AIK a reality. From securing the space to setting up displays, every contribution directly helped shape the experience we were able to share. Without your unwavering support, this milestone would not have been possible, and we are truly grateful to stand together as such a dedicated and united community. Also a big thankyou to the members from Kolkata that volunteered to be at the booth Shadow monarch, Souvik, Ishin, Juice, Monikaee, Zunaid, and also Bob piglet our server admin and Shayder for flying out to kolkata at their own expense to make sure the event was a success without their help this would have been a lot more difficult to pull off , thankyou.
Bloopers
