The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies has announced the launch of the IndieVerse Comics Challenge, a national contest inviting young creators to reinterpret Indian folklore, tribal legends and cultural heritage through original comic storytelling, with selected works to be showcased at Animela 2026.

The competition is open to individual participants aged 18 to 25 and calls for original comic submissions of two to eight pages. The initiative aims to encourage fresh visual narratives rooted in India’s cultural traditions while allowing creators the freedom to experiment with genre, style and contemporary themes. Participation in the challenge is free.

Selected and winning entries will receive scholarships and the opportunity to present their work at Animela 2026, a key platform for the animation, comics, gaming and immersive media community.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said,

“India’s storytelling heritage is not static, it has always grown through reinterpretation. With the IndieVerse Comics Challenge, we want to empower young creators to engage with folklore and indigenous narratives in ways that feel authentic to their generation, while giving them meaningful industry exposure through Animela.”

Archana Trasy, Co-Founder, Animela Festival, added, “Comics have always been a powerful bridge between tradition and contemporary imagination. Through the IndieVerse Comics Challenge, we’re excited to spotlight young voices that are re-examining India’s folklore with fresh visual language and bold perspectives.”